Scan or Photo Courtesy of Grosvenor Auctions
Date
1831
Description
India: 1831 (June 1) entire (small faults) to Lancaster headed “From Gunner W.Braithwaite 2nd Troops 2nd/Horse Artillery Mhow” and countersigned by a Commanding Officer at lower left, sent unpaid with faint circular “INDIA SOLDIER/3/LONDON” charge mark in black and reverse with chamfered-framed “MHOW/FREE/18” datestamp (date in manuscript; Giles type 2, this example illustrated by him and only recorded used that year) and a London c.d.s. Contents include “It is expected that we will going to war with the Raja of Lahore, named Runjeet Singh. He commands a large army of horse and foot and he had plenty of ordnance, but he has not enough to daunt the hearts of British soldiers. The H.E.I Company is displeased with him because they think he is carrying on secret negotiations with the Russians.” Contemporary insight to the events that led to the First Afghan War. Photo.
Auction
GPA 174: British Empire & Foreign Countries, Lot 1069, (2026)
Same office
Other recorded marks at Mhow
5 marks5 other pre-1854 postal markings of Mhow are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
About this Mhow pre stamp cover
COV-4920 is a Mhow pre stamp cover of 1831 bearing the Mhow HG 2 handstamp, struck in black, recorded in the census of Mhow postal history, Bombay Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?
India: 1831 (June 1) entire (small faults) to Lancaster headed “From Gunner W.Braithwaite 2nd Troops 2nd/Horse Artillery Mhow” and countersigned by a Commanding Officer at lower left, sent unpaid with faint circular “INDIA SOLDIER/3/LONDON” charge mark in black and reverse with chamfered-framed “MHOW/FREE/18” datestamp (date in manuscript; Giles type 2, this example illustrated by him and only recorded used that year) and a London c.d.s. Contents include “It is expected that we will going to war with the Raja of Lahore, named Runjeet Singh. He commands a large army of horse and foot and he had plenty of ordnance, but he has not enough to daunt the hearts of British soldiers. The H.E.I Company is displeased with him because they think he is carrying on secret negotiations with the Russians.” Contemporary insight to the events that led to the First Afghan War. Photo.
Its recorded auction history runs through Grosvenor Philatelic Auctions GPA 174: British Empire & Foreign Countries lot 1069 (2026).
1 image of COV-4920 is recorded; the Mhow HG 2 mark itself is recorded in use 1831.
Questions about COV-4920
- What is COV-4920?
- COV-4920 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Mhow, Bombay Presidency of 1831, bearing the Mhow HG 2 handstamp in black. India: 1831 (June 1) entire (small faults) to Lancaster headed “From Gunner W.Braithwaite 2nd Troops 2nd/Horse Artillery Mhow” and countersigned by a Commanding Officer at lower left, sent unpaid with faint circular “INDIA SOLDIER/3/LONDON” charge mark in black and reverse with chamfered-framed “MHOW/FREE/18” datestamp (date in manuscript; Giles type 2, this example illustrated by him and only recorded used that year) and a London c.d.s. Contents include “It is expected that we will going to war with the Raja of Lahore, named Runjeet Singh. He commands a large army of horse and foot and he had plenty of ordnance, but he has not enough to daunt the hearts of British soldiers. The H.E.I Company is displeased with him because they think he is carrying on secret negotiations with the Russians.” Contemporary insight to the events that led to the First Afghan War. Photo.
- How scarce is the Mhow HG 2 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Mhow HG 2 as rare, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1831.
- What is the provenance of COV-4920?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Grosvenor Philatelic Auctions GPA 174: British Empire & Foreign Countries lot 1069 (2026).
- When was COV-4920 posted?
- COV-4920 is dated 1831, within the recorded period of use of Mhow HG 2 (1831).
About this record
This 1831 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Mhow HG 2 handstamp of the Bombay Presidency, a mark graded “Rare” 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 1069, (2026).