Scan or Photo Courtesy of Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd
Date
5 July 1855
Description
TO. G.B. - RAJKOTE COVER "VIA SOUTHAMPTON" WITH TWO FINE PAIRS OF ½a BLUES (DIFFERENT SHADES); Fine 5 July 1855 env. from Rajkote (partly fine red boxed "RAJKOTE/ Paid" ds on back) to Epsom "Via Southampton" franked for the internal Indian 2as rate (above ½ to 1 tola) with two fine Pairs of Die 1 (A stone) ½a Blues in very different shades; Deep Blue (good to huge margins all round except touched at top left; pos.77/78) or Pale Blue (good large margins all wound; pos.2/3) all tied by dotted diamond cancels (Deep Blue pair tied by clear indentations) and the Pale Blue pair also tied by the edge of a v. fine red oval-framed Bombay transit "INDIA". Charged "1/-" postage on delivery. Exhibition Quality and Very Rare thus.
Auction
The Michael Caswell Collection of 19th Century India Postal History & Stamps Auction, Lot 1033, (13 May 2025)
Same office
Other recorded marks at Rajkote
5 marks5 other pre-1854 postal markings of Rajkote are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
About this Rajkote pre stamp cover
COV-4796 is a Rajkote pre stamp cover of 5 July 1855 bearing the Rajkote HG 5 handstamp, struck in mauve, recorded in the census of Rajkote postal history — the office known today as Rajkot, Bombay Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?
TO. G.B. - RAJKOTE COVER "VIA SOUTHAMPTON" WITH TWO FINE PAIRS OF ½a BLUES (DIFFERENT SHADES); Fine 5 July 1855 env. from Rajkote (partly fine red boxed "RAJKOTE/ Paid" ds on back) to Epsom "Via Southampton" franked for the internal Indian 2as rate (above ½ to 1 tola) with two fine Pairs of Die 1 (A stone) ½a Blues in very different shades; Deep Blue (good to huge margins all round except touched at top left; pos.77/78) or Pale Blue (good large margins all wound; pos.2/3) all tied by dotted diamond cancels (Deep Blue pair tied by clear indentations) and the Pale Blue pair also tied by the edge of a v. fine red oval-framed Bombay transit "INDIA". Charged "1/-" postage on delivery. Exhibition Quality and Very Rare thus.
Its recorded auction history runs through Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd The Michael Caswell Collection of 19th Century India Postal History & Stamps Auction lot 1033 (13 May 2025).
2 images of COV-4796 are recorded (front, back); the Rajkote HG 5 mark itself is recorded in use 1840–1847.
Questions about COV-4796
- What is COV-4796?
- COV-4796 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Rajkote, Bombay Presidency of 5 July 1855, bearing the Rajkote HG 5 handstamp in mauve. TO. G.B. - RAJKOTE COVER "VIA SOUTHAMPTON" WITH TWO FINE PAIRS OF ½a BLUES (DIFFERENT SHADES); Fine 5 July 1855 env. from Rajkote (partly fine red boxed "RAJKOTE/ Paid" ds on back) to Epsom "Via Southampton" franked for the internal Indian 2as rate (above ½ to 1 tola) with two fine Pairs of Die 1 (A stone) ½a Blues in very different shades; Deep Blue (good to huge margins all round except touched at top left; pos.77/78) or Pale Blue (good large margins all wound; pos.2/3) all tied by dotted diamond cancels (Deep Blue pair tied by clear indentations) and the Pale Blue pair also tied by the edge of a v. fine red oval-framed Bombay transit "INDIA". Charged "1/-" postage on delivery. Exhibition Quality and Very Rare thus.
- How scarce is the Rajkote HG 5 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Rajkote HG 5 as scarce, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1840–1847.
- What is the provenance of COV-4796?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd The Michael Caswell Collection of 19th Century India Postal History & Stamps Auction lot 1033 (13 May 2025).
- When was COV-4796 posted?
- COV-4796 is dated 5 July 1855, within the recorded period of use of Rajkote HG 5 (1840–1847).
About this record
This 5 July 1855 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Rajkote HG 5 handstamp of the Bombay Presidency, a mark graded “Scarce” in this census — one of 4 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd, The Michael Caswell Collection of 19th Century India Postal History & Stamps Auction, lot 1033, (13 May 2025).