Scan or Photo Courtesy of David Feldman Auctions
Date
1856
Description
1856 (Mar 30) envelope from Kolapore to England with two 1854 4a head die III, frame II, just about clear margins all around, tied by “94” barred diamonds, “INDIA PAID” and London tombstone ds, Kolapore Paid boxed ds adjacent, reverse with Bombay and Exeter arrival, minor soiling, fine.
Auction
Spring 2025 Auction Series — India & Indian States, Lot 80578, (2025)
Same office
Other recorded marks at Kolapore
2 marks2 other pre-1854 postal markings of Kolapore are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
About this Kolapore pre stamp cover
COV-4995 is a Kolapore pre stamp cover of 1856 bearing the Kolapore HG 2 handstamp, struck in red, recorded in the census of Kolapore postal history — the office known today as Kolhapur, Bombay Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?
1856 (Mar 30) envelope from Kolapore to England with two 1854 4a head die III, frame II, just about clear margins all around, tied by “94” barred diamonds, “INDIA PAID” and London tombstone ds, Kolapore Paid boxed ds adjacent, reverse with Bombay and Exeter arrival, minor soiling, fine.
Its recorded auction history runs through David Feldman SA Spring 2025 Auction Series — India & Indian States lot 80578 (2025).
2 images of COV-4995 are recorded; the Kolapore HG 2 mark itself is recorded in use 1857.
Questions about COV-4995
- What is COV-4995?
- COV-4995 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Kolapore, Bombay Presidency of 1856, bearing the Kolapore HG 2 handstamp in red. 1856 (Mar 30) envelope from Kolapore to England with two 1854 4a head die III, frame II, just about clear margins all around, tied by “94” barred diamonds, “INDIA PAID” and London tombstone ds, Kolapore Paid boxed ds adjacent, reverse with Bombay and Exeter arrival, minor soiling, fine.
- How scarce is the Kolapore HG 2 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Kolapore HG 2 as scarce, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1857.
- What is the provenance of COV-4995?
- Its recorded auction history runs through David Feldman SA Spring 2025 Auction Series — India & Indian States lot 80578 (2025).
- When was COV-4995 posted?
- COV-4995 is dated 1856, within the recorded period of use of Kolapore HG 2 (1857).
About this record
This 1856 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Kolapore HG 2 handstamp of the Bombay Presidency, a mark graded “Scarce” in this census — the only surviving cover with this mark recorded so far. It has appeared at auction with David Feldman, Spring 2025 Auction Series — India & Indian States, lot 80578, (2025).