COV-2482 — 23 October 1840 Rajkote HG 5 Cover
Scan or Photo Courtesy of Santosh MS
Census record COV-2482 is a 23 October 1840 pre-stamp cover of British India bearing the Rajkote HG 5 handstamp of the Bombay Presidency, a mark graded “Scarce” in this census — one of 3 surviving covers with this mark recorded.
Date
23 October 1840
Description
1840 Rajcote – London overland entire via Falmouth route (though sender endorsed "Via Southampton"), with Rajcote "RAJCOTE/1840 OCT 23/Paid" hand stamp & "INDIA PAID" (similar to Bombay Giles SD9) mark applied, rate "6As" (paid 6A inland rate to Bombay for a letter between ¼ and 1 tolah, travelling 400–600 miles; Rajcote to Bombay 458 miles) & "1/" in red (indicating 8A, or 1s, paid by the sender, including steam & inland postage up to London for a letter under ¼ oz.) applied in manuscript; sent to Suez via EIC steamer VICTORIA on 31st October, then travelled overland to Alexandria & reached Falmouth via P&O steamer ORIENT on 10th Dec. At London, delivery mark "PAID/14 DEC 14/1840" applied.