Scan or Photo Courtesy of Grosvenor Auctions
Date
1855
Description
India: Cancellations and Covers: 1855 (Mar. 5) entire letter (incl. an enclosed separate letter datelined at Kuarchee) “per Steamer” to England franked 4a. vertical pair (cut-to-shape, Head Die I, frame Die I) and another stamp missing from top right tied by rhomboid of dots (Cooper type 1). Framed “INDIA PAID” (Giles SD20), framed “MAHABLESHWAR”/Paid (unrecordeed by Giles), framed London tombstone datestamp and Gosport double arc arrival datestamp on reverse. Photo.
Auction
GPA 174: British Empire & Foreign Countries, Lot 924
Same office
Other recorded marks at Mahableshwar
7 marks7 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.
- Mahableshwar HG 1handstampBlack1848
- Mahableshwar HG 2handstampRed1851
- Mahableshwar HG 2ahandstampRed1849
- Mahableshwar HG 3handstampRed1853
- Mahableshwar HG 3AhandstampRed1846–1853
- Mahableshwar HG 4handstampRed1858
+1 more at this office.View all Mahableshwar marks and postal history →
About this Mahableshwar pre stamp cover
COV-5390 is a Mahableshwar pre stamp cover of 1855 bearing the Mahableshwar HG 2B handstamp, struck in red, recorded in the census of Mahableshwar postal history — the office known today as Mahabaleshwar, Bombay Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?
India: Cancellations and Covers: 1855 (Mar. 5) entire letter (incl. an enclosed separate letter datelined at Kuarchee) “per Steamer” to England franked 4a. vertical pair (cut-to-shape, Head Die I, frame Die I) and another stamp missing from top right tied by rhomboid of dots (Cooper type 1). Framed “INDIA PAID” (Giles SD20), framed “MAHABLESHWAR”/Paid (unrecordeed by Giles), framed London tombstone datestamp and Gosport double arc arrival datestamp on reverse. Photo.
Its recorded auction history runs through Grosvenor Philatelic Auctions GPA 174: British Empire & Foreign Countries lot 924.
1 image of COV-5390 is recorded; the Mahableshwar HG 2B mark itself is recorded in use 1849–1855.
Questions about COV-5390
- What is COV-5390?
- COV-5390 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Mahableshwar, Bombay Presidency of 1855, bearing the Mahableshwar HG 2B handstamp in red. India: Cancellations and Covers: 1855 (Mar. 5) entire letter (incl. an enclosed separate letter datelined at Kuarchee) “per Steamer” to England franked 4a. vertical pair (cut-to-shape, Head Die I, frame Die I) and another stamp missing from top right tied by rhomboid of dots (Cooper type 1). Framed “INDIA PAID” (Giles SD20), framed “MAHABLESHWAR”/Paid (unrecordeed by Giles), framed London tombstone datestamp and Gosport double arc arrival datestamp on reverse. Photo.
- How scarce is the Mahableshwar HG 2B mark on this cover?
- The census grades Mahableshwar HG 2B as common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1849–1855.
- What is the provenance of COV-5390?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Grosvenor Philatelic Auctions GPA 174: British Empire & Foreign Countries lot 924.
- When was COV-5390 posted?
- COV-5390 is dated 1855, within the recorded period of use of Mahableshwar HG 2B (1849–1855).
About this record
This 1855 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Mahableshwar HG 2B handstamp of the Bombay Presidency, a mark graded “Common” in this census — one of 3 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Grosvenor Philatelic Auctions, GPA 174: British Empire & Foreign Countries, lot 924.