9 November 1836 Tirhoot HG 1 Cover

9 November 1836

INDIA. BENGAL PRESIDENCY / LOWER PROVINCES. MOONGYR BEARING, DPO, TIRHOOT/POST PAID, BUXAR BEARING, ALLAHABAD BEARING. 1836: H.G. 2, 1, 3, 1, 3: Letter posted from TIRHOOT [13 Nov.] to ALLAHABAD [25 Nov.]. However, from ALLAHABAD it was redirected to BUXAR [30 Nov.] to DINAPORE [2 Dec.] to MOONGYR [4 Dec.] to BERHAMPORE [9 Dec.] In the course of time the total payment was like this. Prepaid at TIRHOOT 1Re. 2 as. Bearing postage at ALLAHABAD to BUXAR 10 as. Bearing postage at BUXAR to DINAPORE 1 Re. Bearing postage D.P.O. to MOONGYR 1Re. 4 as. Bearing postage from MOONGYR to BERHAMPORE 4 as. This cover is probably unique for the number of rare stamps on it. UNIDENTIFIED BILINGUAL HANDSTAMP. The only recorded example of the "DPO." mark of 1836, in an oval, first thought to be for DACCA P.O., but it differs from the DACCA stamp, and the letter never went there. In its transit it went to several different places, including DINAPORE, identifying the stamp as one used at DINAPORE POST OFFICE. H.G.1: Double oval "TIRHOOT / POST PAID / 18", used during 1836 in red colour. H.G.3: Oval "ALLAHABAD / BEARg / 18", used during 1836 in red colour. H.G.3: Small oval "DPO", used during 1836 in black colour at DINAPORE. H.G.2: Intaglio oval "Bear / Moongyr / Post", used during 1836 in black colour. H.G.1: Oval "BUXAR / BEARg / 18". The most important thing of MOONGYR intaglio handstamp is that its a BILINGUAL one, the fact never been recorded by any one so far. This might be due to smudged and unclear handstamps. Hence the URDU wordings in the handstamps were taken as the design rather the wordings. This quite a clear handstamp shows MO on right side and NAGIR on left side of BEARg in the first line in URDU script and SUL and MAHA on left and right side of POST on bottom line i.e. MAHASUL i.e. BEARING. URDU is a Vernacular Indian language which is read from right to left and accordingly the setting is done. Ex. Giles.

Derek Hammond Giles