Scan or Photo Courtesy of Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd
Date
30 October 1854
Description
IMPERFORATE ISSUES ON INTERNAL COVERS - FIRST MONTH OFFICIAL USAGE COVER WITH ½a BLUE EX "MAHABLESHWUR" TO BOMBAY; 30 Oct. 1854 EL (slight creasing; contents ref. a 'fallen' lady teacher) franked by 4m 1854 ½a blue (Die I; A stone, pos.23, very minor gum-stains) tied (clearly through the stamp) by a light dotted diamond cancel with fine black Bombay "G.P.O/2 A.M" cds (1 Nov.) beside a very fine red boxed "MAHABLESHWUR/Paid" ds (this "...WUR" spelling not recorded by Hammond Giles) on the front with clear ms "1854 OCT 30" date in the centre. Fine early usage.
Auction
Robert Ricketts India, Lot 3, (July 15, 2026)
Provenance
Robert Ricketts
Same office
Other recorded marks at Mahableshwar
6 marks6 other pre-1854 postal markings of Mahableshwar are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
About this record
This 30 October 1854 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Mahableshwar HG 2B 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 Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd, Robert Ricketts India, lot 3, (July 15, 2026).