Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
29 January 1812
Description
India, Sylhet, 1812, "POST OFFICE/SYLHET" Double-Oval Handstamp (Giles 1). Clear strike with manuscript "8 as" rate and "29 Jany" date added on back of 1812 folded letter to Edinburgh, Scotland, Calcutta "Bengal G.P.O./JAN/POST PAID" (Giles SD2), red Calcutta (Feb. 4, Giles G2), and Crowned Ship Letter London (Jul. 27) transit and Edinburgh (Jul. 30) arrival datestamps, manuscript "1/5" rate marking, Fine and exceptionally rare used during the territorial period, Sylhet didn't enter British India until 1826 and was often overlooked as it was located in the far reaches of the East India Company (modern-day northeastern Bangladesh)
Auction
Sale 9020, Lot 10136, — The Magnolia Collection Part 5
Provenance
"Magnolia"
Same office
Other recorded marks at Sylhet
1 markOne other pre-1854 postal marking of Sylhet is recorded in the census. Compare it against this mark to place your cover.
About this Sylhet pre stamp cover
COV-326 is a Sylhet pre stamp cover of 29 January 1812 bearing the Sylhet HG 1 handstamp, struck in black, recorded in the census of Sylhet postal history, Bengal Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?
India, Sylhet, 1812, "POST OFFICE/SYLHET" Double-Oval Handstamp (Giles 1). Clear strike with manuscript "8 as" rate and "29 Jany" date added on back of 1812 folded letter to Edinburgh, Scotland, Calcutta "Bengal G.P.O./JAN/POST PAID" (Giles SD2), red Calcutta (Feb. 4, Giles G2), and Crowned Ship Letter London (Jul. 27) transit and Edinburgh (Jul. 30) arrival datestamps, manuscript "1/5" rate marking, Fine and exceptionally rare used during the territorial period, Sylhet didn't enter British India until 1826 and was often overlooked as it was located in the far reaches of the East India Company (modern-day northeastern Bangladesh)
Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Sale 9020 lot 10136.
2 images of COV-326 are recorded (front, back); the Sylhet HG 1 mark itself is recorded in use 1810–1831.
Questions about COV-326
- What is COV-326?
- COV-326 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Sylhet, Bengal Presidency of 29 January 1812, bearing the Sylhet HG 1 handstamp in black. India, Sylhet, 1812, "POST OFFICE/SYLHET" Double-Oval Handstamp (Giles 1). Clear strike with manuscript "8 as" rate and "29 Jany" date added on back of 1812 folded letter to Edinburgh, Scotland, Calcutta "Bengal G.P.O./JAN/POST PAID" (Giles SD2), red Calcutta (Feb. 4, Giles G2), and Crowned Ship Letter London (Jul. 27) transit and Edinburgh (Jul. 30) arrival datestamps, manuscript "1/5" rate marking, Fine and exceptionally rare used during the territorial period, Sylhet didn't enter British India until 1826 and was often overlooked as it was located in the far reaches of the East India Company (modern-day northeastern Bangladesh)
- How scarce is the Sylhet HG 1 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Sylhet HG 1 as very scarce, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1810–1831.
- What is the provenance of COV-326?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Sale 9020 lot 10136.
- When was COV-326 posted?
- COV-326 is dated 29 January 1812, within the recorded period of use of Sylhet HG 1 (1810–1831).
About this record
This 29 January 1812 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Sylhet HG 1 handstamp of the Bengal Presidency, a mark graded “Very scarce” in this census — one of 9 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Sale 9020, lot 10136.