COV-694
16 November 1820 Sylhet Cover
Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
16 November 1820
Description
Siegel - India, Sylhet, 1851, "POST OFFICE/SYLHET" Handstamp (Giles 1). Excellent double-oval strike with manuscript "1rs5as" rate and "16th Nov. 1820" date on back of folded letter to Kietah, Bundelkhand, lightly struck red Calcutta transit backstamp, Very Fine, a scarce handstamp from one of the most northeastern post offices in India Cavendish - SYLHET/WALLAJAHABAD - SCARCE DOUBLE-OVAL “POST OFFICE” OR OVAL-FRAMED “POST PAID”; Fine 15 Nov. 1820 EL to Bundelkund with a very fine double-oval “*SYLHET*/POST OFFICE” (HG1; “Scarce” Ex- Territorial period; plus 11 Dec. 1823 EL to Nusseerabad “Via Ganjam” with a mainly very fine oval-framed “WALLAJAHBAUD/POST PAID” (HG4) with 3 transit backstamps inc. Calcutta 25 Dec. c.d.s. (2 covers) PHOTO - see page 43.
Auction
Provenance
"Magnolia" Michael Manning
- •2025, Robert A. Siegel Sale No. 1325, Lot 3069
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-694 is a Sylhet pre stamp cover of 16 November 1820 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?
Siegel - India, Sylhet, 1851, "POST OFFICE/SYLHET" Handstamp (Giles 1). Excellent double-oval strike with manuscript "1rs5as" rate and "16th Nov. 1820" date on back of folded letter to Kietah, Bundelkhand, lightly struck red Calcutta transit backstamp, Very Fine, a scarce handstamp from one of the most northeastern post offices in India Cavendish - SYLHET/WALLAJAHABAD - SCARCE DOUBLE-OVAL “POST OFFICE” OR OVAL-FRAMED “POST PAID”; Fine 15 Nov. 1820 EL to Bundelkund with a very fine double-oval “*SYLHET*/POST OFFICE” (HG1; “Scarce” Ex- Territorial period; plus 11 Dec. 1823 EL to Nusseerabad “Via Ganjam” with a mainly very fine oval-framed “WALLAJAHBAUD/POST PAID” (HG4) with 3 transit backstamps inc. Calcutta 25 Dec. c.d.s. (2 covers) PHOTO - see page 43.
Its recorded auction history runs through Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd Manning lot 132 (Sept. 2015); and Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Sale No. 1325 lot 3069 (Jun. 2024).
2 images of COV-694 are recorded (back, front); the Sylhet HG 1 mark itself is recorded in use 1810–1831.
Questions about COV-694
- What is COV-694?
- COV-694 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Sylhet, Bengal Presidency of 16 November 1820, bearing the Sylhet HG 1 handstamp in black. Siegel - India, Sylhet, 1851, "POST OFFICE/SYLHET" Handstamp (Giles 1). Excellent double-oval strike with manuscript "1rs5as" rate and "16th Nov. 1820" date on back of folded letter to Kietah, Bundelkhand, lightly struck red Calcutta transit backstamp, Very Fine, a scarce handstamp from one of the most northeastern post offices in India Cavendish - SYLHET/WALLAJAHABAD - SCARCE DOUBLE-OVAL “POST OFFICE” OR OVAL-FRAMED “POST PAID”; Fine 15 Nov. 1820 EL to Bundelkund with a very fine double-oval “*SYLHET*/POST OFFICE” (HG1; “Scarce” Ex- Territorial period; plus 11 Dec. 1823 EL to Nusseerabad “Via Ganjam” with a mainly very fine oval-framed “WALLAJAHBAUD/POST PAID” (HG4) with 3 transit backstamps inc. Calcutta 25 Dec. c.d.s. (2 covers) PHOTO - see page 43.
- 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-694?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd Manning lot 132 (Sept. 2015); and Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Sale No. 1325 lot 3069 (Jun. 2024).
- When was COV-694 posted?
- COV-694 is dated 16 November 1820, within the recorded period of use of Sylhet HG 1 (1810–1831).
About this record
This 16 November 1820 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 Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd, Manning, lot 132, (Sept. 2015); Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Sale No. 1325, lot 3069, (Jun. 2024).