Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
19 July 1842
Description
India, Belgaum, 1842, "BELGAUM/18__ July 19/Paid" Framed Datestamp (Giles 3). Exceptional strike in red on 1842 folded letter to Albert Hervey in Palaveram, letter with fascinating references to the First Anglo-Afghan War and Scinde campaign, accompanied by partial transcript of letter stating "What say you of Affghanistan? Do you too sound a retreat? I am in amazement about it...show the Affghan barbarians our power to do & ability to abide, whatever the course expediancy may compel us to adopt, that is the only one a British officer can wish for - how can we contemplate a retreat from any country in the world, much less from a country in which we have been so confoundedly well tricked..." , Very Fine
Auction
The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History, Part 8 (Sale 9061, 21 October 2026), Lot 10018, (2026)
Same office
Other recorded marks at Belgaum
7 marks7 other pre-1854 postal markings of Belgaum are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
- Belgaum HG 1handstampRed1829–1837
- Belgaum HG 2handstampOrange1832–1837
- Belgaum HG 4handstampRed1838–1852
- Belgaum HG 4AhandstampRed1838–1843
- Belgaum HG 5handstampRed1840–1858
- Belgaum HG 6handstampBlack1851–1858
+1 more at this office.View all Belgaum marks and postal history →
About this Belgaum pre stamp cover
COV-5243 is a Belgaum pre stamp cover of 19 July 1842 bearing the Belgaum HG 3 handstamp, struck in red, recorded in the census of Belgaum postal history — the office known today as Belagavi, Bombay Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?
India, Belgaum, 1842, "BELGAUM/18__ July 19/Paid" Framed Datestamp (Giles 3). Exceptional strike in red on 1842 folded letter to Albert Hervey in Palaveram, letter with fascinating references to the First Anglo-Afghan War and Scinde campaign, accompanied by partial transcript of letter stating "What say you of Affghanistan? Do you too sound a retreat? I am in amazement about it...show the Affghan barbarians our power to do & ability to abide, whatever the course expediancy may compel us to adopt, that is the only one a British officer can wish for - how can we contemplate a retreat from any country in the world, much less from a country in which we have been so confoundedly well tricked..." , Very Fine
Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History, Part 8 (Sale 9061, 21 October 2026) lot 10018 (2026).
2 images of COV-5243 are recorded; the Belgaum HG 3 mark itself is recorded in use 1839–1854.
Questions about COV-5243
- What is COV-5243?
- COV-5243 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Belgaum, Bombay Presidency of 19 July 1842, bearing the Belgaum HG 3 handstamp in red. India, Belgaum, 1842, "BELGAUM/18__ July 19/Paid" Framed Datestamp (Giles 3). Exceptional strike in red on 1842 folded letter to Albert Hervey in Palaveram, letter with fascinating references to the First Anglo-Afghan War and Scinde campaign, accompanied by partial transcript of letter stating "What say you of Affghanistan? Do you too sound a retreat? I am in amazement about it...show the Affghan barbarians our power to do & ability to abide, whatever the course expediancy may compel us to adopt, that is the only one a British officer can wish for - how can we contemplate a retreat from any country in the world, much less from a country in which we have been so confoundedly well tricked..." , Very Fine
- How scarce is the Belgaum HG 3 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Belgaum HG 3 as common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1839–1854.
- What is the provenance of COV-5243?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History, Part 8 (Sale 9061, 21 October 2026) lot 10018 (2026).
- When was COV-5243 posted?
- COV-5243 is dated 19 July 1842, within the recorded period of use of Belgaum HG 3 (1839–1854).
About this record
This 19 July 1842 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Belgaum HG 3 handstamp of the Bombay Presidency, a mark graded “Common” in this census — one of 12 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History, Part 8 (Sale 9061, 21 October 2026), lot 10018, (2026).