Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
23 March 1835
Description
India, Kirkee, 1836, "KIRKEE" and "POST PAID" Handstamps (Giles Unrecorded). Clear strikes in bright red watery ink on back of folded letter datelined "Kirkee 23 March 1835", addressed to Bromley, England, framed India Letter and "TP Rate 2" handstamps, London (Aug. 6) transit backstamp, cover with severe faults including severe tears affecting all markings and heavy wrinkling, Fine, despite the obvious condition shortfalls, this predates any recorded postal markings in Kirkee by three years (Giles records 1838) and thought to be the only recorded example of this early postal marking
Auction
Provenance
Magnolia
Same office
Other recorded marks at Kirkee
6 marks6 other pre-1854 postal markings of Kirkee are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
About this Kirkee pre stamp cover
COV-2225 is a Kirkee pre stamp cover of 23 March 1835 bearing the Kirkee HG 1A handstamp, struck in red, recorded in the census of Kirkee postal history — the office known today as Khadki, Bombay Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?
India, Kirkee, 1836, "KIRKEE" and "POST PAID" Handstamps (Giles Unrecorded). Clear strikes in bright red watery ink on back of folded letter datelined "Kirkee 23 March 1835", addressed to Bromley, England, framed India Letter and "TP Rate 2" handstamps, London (Aug. 6) transit backstamp, cover with severe faults including severe tears affecting all markings and heavy wrinkling, Fine, despite the obvious condition shortfalls, this predates any recorded postal markings in Kirkee by three years (Giles records 1838) and thought to be the only recorded example of this early postal marking
Its recorded auction history runs through Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd 815 - Worldwide lot 2148 (September 26, 2018); and Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries 9054 05/14/2026 The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History, Part 7 lot 10055 (2026).
2 images of COV-2225 are recorded (front, back); the Kirkee HG 1A mark itself is recorded in use 1835.
Questions about COV-2225
- What is COV-2225?
- COV-2225 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Kirkee, Bombay Presidency of 23 March 1835, bearing the Kirkee HG 1A handstamp in red. India, Kirkee, 1836, "KIRKEE" and "POST PAID" Handstamps (Giles Unrecorded). Clear strikes in bright red watery ink on back of folded letter datelined "Kirkee 23 March 1835", addressed to Bromley, England, framed India Letter and "TP Rate 2" handstamps, London (Aug. 6) transit backstamp, cover with severe faults including severe tears affecting all markings and heavy wrinkling, Fine, despite the obvious condition shortfalls, this predates any recorded postal markings in Kirkee by three years (Giles records 1838) and thought to be the only recorded example of this early postal marking
- How scarce is the Kirkee HG 1A mark on this cover?
- The census grades Kirkee HG 1A as 1 example recorded, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1835.
- What is the provenance of COV-2225?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd 815 - Worldwide lot 2148 (September 26, 2018); and Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries 9054 05/14/2026 The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History, Part 7 lot 10055 (2026).
- When was COV-2225 posted?
- COV-2225 is dated 23 March 1835, within the recorded period of use of Kirkee HG 1A (1835).
About this record
This 23 March 1835 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Kirkee HG 1A handstamp of the Bombay Presidency, a mark with 1 example recorded in this census — the only surviving cover with this mark recorded so far. It has appeared at auction with Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd, 815 - Worldwide, lot 2148, (September 26, 2018); Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, 9054 05/14/2026 The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History, Part 7, lot 10055, (2026).