COV-5020
5 October 1839 Poona Cover
Scan or Photo Courtesy of David Feldman Auctions
Date
5 October 1839
Description
An entire letter dated 5th October 1839 from Poona. On the front is the rectangular “POONAH-date-Paid” despatch stamp (HG 9 in use from 1838-54). The amount charged is 1As. which is clearly postage to Bombay. On the front also is INDIA in an oval (this is probably HG SD 7 in use from 1837). This unusual in Black. There is a manuscript charge of 3/6, the postage from Bombay to London. On the back are two London Receipt stamps, both dated 2nd December 1839. It would appear that the letter was despatched from Bombay in the “Zenobia” which left for Aden on the 7th October. It arrived in Suez on the 26th October and was carried overland to Alexandria and was loaded in the “Hermes” which sailed for Malta on the 30th October arriving on the 4th November. It was transferred to the “Tagus” which arrived in London on the 26th November. Transit time 59 days.
Auction
Autumn 2025 Auction Series - British Empire, Lot 50707, (2025)
Same office
Other recorded marks at Poona
17 marks17 other pre-1854 postal markings of Poona are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
- Poona HG 1handstampBlack1805–1812
- Poona HG 2handstampBlack1814–1836
- Poona HG 3handstampBlack1817
- Poona HG 4handstampRed1823–1835
- Poona HG 5handstampBlack1823-27
- Poona HG 6handstampRed1822-29
+11 more at this office.View all Poona marks and postal history →
About this Poona pre stamp cover
COV-5020 is a Poona pre stamp cover of 5 October 1839 bearing the Poona HG 9 handstamp, struck in red, recorded in the census of Poona postal history — the office known today as Pune, Bombay Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?
An entire letter dated 5th October 1839 from Poona. On the front is the rectangular “POONAH-date-Paid” despatch stamp (HG 9 in use from 1838-54). The amount charged is 1As. which is clearly postage to Bombay. On the front also is INDIA in an oval (this is probably HG SD 7 in use from 1837). This unusual in Black. There is a manuscript charge of 3/6, the postage from Bombay to London. On the back are two London Receipt stamps, both dated 2nd December 1839. It would appear that the letter was despatched from Bombay in the “Zenobia” which left for Aden on the 7th October. It arrived in Suez on the 26th October and was carried overland to Alexandria and was loaded in the “Hermes” which sailed for Malta on the 30th October arriving on the 4th November. It was transferred to the “Tagus” which arrived in London on the 26th November. Transit time 59 days.
Its recorded auction history runs through David Feldman SA Autumn 2025 Auction Series - British Empire lot 50707 (2025).
1 image of COV-5020 is recorded (front); the Poona HG 9 mark itself is recorded in use 1838-54.
Questions about COV-5020
- What is COV-5020?
- COV-5020 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Poona, Bombay Presidency of 5 October 1839, bearing the Poona HG 9 handstamp in red. An entire letter dated 5th October 1839 from Poona. On the front is the rectangular “POONAH-date-Paid” despatch stamp (HG 9 in use from 1838-54). The amount charged is 1As. which is clearly postage to Bombay. On the front also is INDIA in an oval (this is probably HG SD 7 in use from 1837). This unusual in Black. There is a manuscript charge of 3/6, the postage from Bombay to London. On the back are two London Receipt stamps, both dated 2nd December 1839. It would appear that the letter was despatched from Bombay in the “Zenobia” which left for Aden on the 7th October. It arrived in Suez on the 26th October and was carried overland to Alexandria and was loaded in the “Hermes” which sailed for Malta on the 30th October arriving on the 4th November. It was transferred to the “Tagus” which arrived in London on the 26th November. Transit time 59 days.
- How scarce is the Poona HG 9 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Poona HG 9 as common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1838-54.
- What is the provenance of COV-5020?
- Its recorded auction history runs through David Feldman SA Autumn 2025 Auction Series - British Empire lot 50707 (2025).
- When was COV-5020 posted?
- COV-5020 is dated 5 October 1839, within the recorded period of use of Poona HG 9 (1838-54).
About this record
This 5 October 1839 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Poona HG 9 handstamp of the Bombay Presidency, a mark graded “Common” in this census — one of 15 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with David Feldman, Autumn 2025 Auction Series - British Empire, lot 50707, (2025).