Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
5 October 1841
Description
AFGHANISTAN - First Anglo-Afghan War, 1841 "AFFGHANISTAN/PAID" Handstamp. Bold but slightly smudgy strike with manuscript "5 October 41" date and "12" (annas) rate added on back of folded letter datelined "Cabul 5th Oct 1841" and addressed to London, England, Major General Elphinstone correspondence, sender's directive "via Falmouth" , red "INDIA" oval handstamp, London arrival backstamp, manuscript "1/-" rate marking VERY FINE. A PARTICULARLY CHOICE STRIKE OF THIS RARE FIRST ANGLO-AFGHAN WAR POSTAL MARKING. SELDOM FOUND THIS COMPLETE. Major General William George Keith Elphinstone (1782-1842) was a well-known British Army officer. Having been promoted to Major General a couple years prior to the First Anglo-Afghan War, he was placed in charge of the garrison located in Kabul. He was well-known as being inept and unable to lead his garrison with respect or efficiency. Just about his entire garrison was massacred when the British retreated from Kabul in 1842. He too eventually died in captivity in Afghanistan in 1842.
Auction
Worldwide Stamps and Postal History (Sale 1303), Lot 633, (2023)
Same office
Other recorded marks at Bombay
111 marks111 other pre-1854 postal markings of Bombay are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
- Bombay HG AhandstampBlack1790
- Bombay HG 1handstampBlack1800
- Bombay HG 1BhandstampBlack1800–1801
- Bombay HG 2handstampBlack1804–1818
- Bombay HG 3handstampBlack1804–1806
- Bombay HG 4handstampBlack1809–1815
+105 more at this office.View all Bombay marks and postal history →
About this Bombay pre stamp cover
COV-5147 is a Bombay pre stamp cover of 5 October 1841 bearing the Bombay SD7 handstamp, struck in black, recorded in the census of Bombay postal history — the office known today as Mumbai, Bombay Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?
AFGHANISTAN - First Anglo-Afghan War, 1841 "AFFGHANISTAN/PAID" Handstamp. Bold but slightly smudgy strike with manuscript "5 October 41" date and "12" (annas) rate added on back of folded letter datelined "Cabul 5th Oct 1841" and addressed to London, England, Major General Elphinstone correspondence, sender's directive "via Falmouth" , red "INDIA" oval handstamp, London arrival backstamp, manuscript "1/-" rate marking VERY FINE. A PARTICULARLY CHOICE STRIKE OF THIS RARE FIRST ANGLO-AFGHAN WAR POSTAL MARKING. SELDOM FOUND THIS COMPLETE. Major General William George Keith Elphinstone (1782-1842) was a well-known British Army officer. Having been promoted to Major General a couple years prior to the First Anglo-Afghan War, he was placed in charge of the garrison located in Kabul. He was well-known as being inept and unable to lead his garrison with respect or efficiency. Just about his entire garrison was massacred when the British retreated from Kabul in 1842. He too eventually died in captivity in Afghanistan in 1842.
Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Worldwide Stamps and Postal History (Sale 1303) lot 633 (2023).
1 image of COV-5147 is recorded; the Bombay SD7 mark itself is recorded in use 1837–1856.
Questions about COV-5147
- What is COV-5147?
- COV-5147 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Bombay, Bombay Presidency of 5 October 1841, bearing the Bombay SD7 handstamp in black. AFGHANISTAN - First Anglo-Afghan War, 1841 "AFFGHANISTAN/PAID" Handstamp. Bold but slightly smudgy strike with manuscript "5 October 41" date and "12" (annas) rate added on back of folded letter datelined "Cabul 5th Oct 1841" and addressed to London, England, Major General Elphinstone correspondence, sender's directive "via Falmouth" , red "INDIA" oval handstamp, London arrival backstamp, manuscript "1/-" rate marking VERY FINE. A PARTICULARLY CHOICE STRIKE OF THIS RARE FIRST ANGLO-AFGHAN WAR POSTAL MARKING. SELDOM FOUND THIS COMPLETE. Major General William George Keith Elphinstone (1782-1842) was a well-known British Army officer. Having been promoted to Major General a couple years prior to the First Anglo-Afghan War, he was placed in charge of the garrison located in Kabul. He was well-known as being inept and unable to lead his garrison with respect or efficiency. Just about his entire garrison was massacred when the British retreated from Kabul in 1842. He too eventually died in captivity in Afghanistan in 1842.
- How scarce is the Bombay SD7 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Bombay SD7 as very common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1837–1856.
- What is the provenance of COV-5147?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Worldwide Stamps and Postal History (Sale 1303) lot 633 (2023).
- When was COV-5147 posted?
- COV-5147 is dated 5 October 1841, within the recorded period of use of Bombay SD7 (1837–1856).
About this record
This 5 October 1841 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Bombay SD7 handstamp of the Bombay Presidency, a mark graded “Very common” in this census — one of 51 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Worldwide Stamps and Postal History (Sale 1303), lot 633, (2023).