Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
20 January 1840
Description
INDIA, Hursole, 1840, "HURSOLE/Paid" Handstamp (Giles 1). Exceptional boxed strike in magenta with manuscript "20 Jany 1840" date and "9 ans" rate on bottom flap of folded letter with "post paid to Bombay" along top flap, addressed to William Fanning in Hong Kong Bay, China, sender's directive "per first opportunity", red manuscript "1/2" EXTREMELY FINE STRIKE OF THIS HURSOLE MARKING AND SENT TO HONG KONG DURING THE FIRST OPIUM WAR. The lack of any additional postal markings indicates the possibility that this letter was carried on a military vessel to Hong Kong. During this time, most merchant vessels left Hong Kong harbor due to hostilities.
Auction
Sale 1301, Lot 6020
Same office
Other recorded marks at Hursole
1 markOne other pre-1854 postal marking of Hursole is recorded in the census. Compare it against this mark to place your cover.
About this Hursole pre stamp cover
COV-89 is a Hursole pre stamp cover of 20 January 1840 bearing the Hursole HG 1 handstamp, struck in purple, recorded in the census of Hursole postal history — the office known today as Harsol, Bombay Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?
INDIA, Hursole, 1840, "HURSOLE/Paid" Handstamp (Giles 1). Exceptional boxed strike in magenta with manuscript "20 Jany 1840" date and "9 ans" rate on bottom flap of folded letter with "post paid to Bombay" along top flap, addressed to William Fanning in Hong Kong Bay, China, sender's directive "per first opportunity", red manuscript "1/2" EXTREMELY FINE STRIKE OF THIS HURSOLE MARKING AND SENT TO HONG KONG DURING THE FIRST OPIUM WAR. The lack of any additional postal markings indicates the possibility that this letter was carried on a military vessel to Hong Kong. During this time, most merchant vessels left Hong Kong harbor due to hostilities.
Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Sale 1301 lot 6020.
2 images of COV-89 are recorded (front, back); the Hursole HG 1 mark itself is recorded in use 1840.
Questions about COV-89
- What is COV-89?
- COV-89 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Hursole, Bombay Presidency of 20 January 1840, bearing the Hursole HG 1 handstamp in purple. INDIA, Hursole, 1840, "HURSOLE/Paid" Handstamp (Giles 1). Exceptional boxed strike in magenta with manuscript "20 Jany 1840" date and "9 ans" rate on bottom flap of folded letter with "post paid to Bombay" along top flap, addressed to William Fanning in Hong Kong Bay, China, sender's directive "per first opportunity", red manuscript "1/2" EXTREMELY FINE STRIKE OF THIS HURSOLE MARKING AND SENT TO HONG KONG DURING THE FIRST OPIUM WAR. The lack of any additional postal markings indicates the possibility that this letter was carried on a military vessel to Hong Kong. During this time, most merchant vessels left Hong Kong harbor due to hostilities.
- How scarce is the Hursole HG 1 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Hursole HG 1 as common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1840.
- What is the provenance of COV-89?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Sale 1301 lot 6020.
- When was COV-89 posted?
- COV-89 is dated 20 January 1840, within the recorded period of use of Hursole HG 1 (1840).
About this record
This 20 January 1840 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Hursole HG 1 handstamp of the Bombay Presidency, a mark graded “Common” in this census — the only surviving cover with this mark recorded so far. It has appeared at auction with Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Sale 1301, lot 6020.