COV-4712
28 August 1855 Surat Cover
Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
28 August 1855
Description
India, 1854, ½a Blue, Die I, Serrated Perfs (2 var; SG 27). Stone "A", two singles both clearly showing serrated perfs, Positions 28, 27, each example with the entire right side visible, traces on the left side of right stamp, used with 1a Dull Red, Die II (4B; SG 14), mostly large margins to clear at bottom, and 4a Red & Blue, 2nd Printing, Head Die II, Frame Die I (6D; SG 19), two examples, cut to shape, margins to touching, each tied by barred "17" cancel on 1855 cover to Castlecomer, Ireland, faint red framed "SURAT/Paid" despatch datestamp on back, red framed "INDIA PAID" handstamp, Bombay (Aug. 28), London (Oct. 5), greenish Oct. 6, and Ballyragget (Oct. 7) transit and faint Castlecomer arrival datestamps, red manuscript rate marking, cover extensively soiled and excessive gum use on 1a causing toning at bottom, green arrow stickers affixed highlighting serrations FINE AND TRULY SPECTACULAR USE OF TWO EXAMPLES OF THE HALF-ANNA BLUE FROM DIE I WITH THE SERRATED PERFS ON COVER WITH THE ONE-ANNA AND TWO FOUR-ANNAS. THIS EASILY RANKING AS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT INDIA 1854 LITHOGRAPH POSTAL HISTORY ARTIFACTS IN EXISTENCE. we doubt many -- if any -- other covers exist with thiESs half-anna serrated perforations.. With so few examples recorded among all 1⁄2a, 1a, and 4a stamps, it is uncertain if this was an unofficial private perforation or if it was a government trial. According to Jatia, it is documented in a contemporary letter from the Director General Post Office in 1854 that their perforating machines were not capable of large production. Given the time constraints to produce the 1854 stamps, it is understandable why this issue was imperforate despite the benefits demonstrated by Great Britain’s perforated stamps. Of note, most certified examples are recorded used in the Madras Presidency (C122-C126). This is one of those rare exceptions used in Bombay (as noted in Stanley Gibbons). Pencil note on back "Masson-Sale, 6-7 March 12917, Glendenning & Co.". Unlisted in Scott. SG £40,000 as two off-cover singles. Undervalued as an off-cover single recently sold in Magnolia, Part 3 in Jun. 2024 (Lot 3199) for $35,000. With 2002 B.P.A. certificate.
Auction
The Magnolia Collection: India Stamps and Postal History, Part 5, Lot 171, (09/30/2025)
Certificates
Same office
Other recorded marks at Surat
3 marks3 other pre-1854 postal markings of Surat are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
About this Surat pre stamp cover
COV-4712 is a Surat pre stamp cover of 28 August 1855 bearing the Surat HG 3 handstamp, struck in red, recorded in the census of Surat postal history, Bombay Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?
India, 1854, ½a Blue, Die I, Serrated Perfs (2 var; SG 27). Stone "A", two singles both clearly showing serrated perfs, Positions 28, 27, each example with the entire right side visible, traces on the left side of right stamp, used with 1a Dull Red, Die II (4B; SG 14), mostly large margins to clear at bottom, and 4a Red & Blue, 2nd Printing, Head Die II, Frame Die I (6D; SG 19), two examples, cut to shape, margins to touching, each tied by barred "17" cancel on 1855 cover to Castlecomer, Ireland, faint red framed "SURAT/Paid" despatch datestamp on back, red framed "INDIA PAID" handstamp, Bombay (Aug. 28), London (Oct. 5), greenish Oct. 6, and Ballyragget (Oct. 7) transit and faint Castlecomer arrival datestamps, red manuscript rate marking, cover extensively soiled and excessive gum use on 1a causing toning at bottom, green arrow stickers affixed highlighting serrations FINE AND TRULY SPECTACULAR USE OF TWO EXAMPLES OF THE HALF-ANNA BLUE FROM DIE I WITH THE SERRATED PERFS ON COVER WITH THE ONE-ANNA AND TWO FOUR-ANNAS. THIS EASILY RANKING AS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT INDIA 1854 LITHOGRAPH POSTAL HISTORY ARTIFACTS IN EXISTENCE. we doubt many -- if any -- other covers exist with thiESs half-anna serrated perforations.. With so few examples recorded among all 1⁄2a, 1a, and 4a stamps, it is uncertain if this was an unofficial private perforation or if it was a government trial. According to Jatia, it is documented in a contemporary letter from the Director General Post Office in 1854 that their perforating machines were not capable of large production. Given the time constraints to produce the 1854 stamps, it is understandable why this issue was imperforate despite the benefits demonstrated by Great Britain’s perforated stamps. Of note, most certified examples are recorded used in the Madras Presidency (C122-C126). This is one of those rare exceptions used in Bombay (as noted in Stanley Gibbons). Pencil note on back "Masson-Sale, 6-7 March 12917, Glendenning & Co.". Unlisted in Scott. SG £40,000 as two off-cover singles. Undervalued as an off-cover single recently sold in Magnolia, Part 3 in Jun. 2024 (Lot 3199) for $35,000. With 2002 B.P.A. certificate.
Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries The Magnolia Collection: India Stamps and Postal History, Part 5 lot 171 (09/30/2025).
2 images of COV-4712 are recorded (front, back); the Surat HG 3 mark itself is recorded in use 1838–1857.
Questions about COV-4712
- What is COV-4712?
- COV-4712 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Surat, Bombay Presidency of 28 August 1855, bearing the Surat HG 3 handstamp in red. India, 1854, ½a Blue, Die I, Serrated Perfs (2 var; SG 27). Stone "A", two singles both clearly showing serrated perfs, Positions 28, 27, each example with the entire right side visible, traces on the left side of right stamp, used with 1a Dull Red, Die II (4B; SG 14), mostly large margins to clear at bottom, and 4a Red & Blue, 2nd Printing, Head Die II, Frame Die I (6D; SG 19), two examples, cut to shape, margins to touching, each tied by barred "17" cancel on 1855 cover to Castlecomer, Ireland, faint red framed "SURAT/Paid" despatch datestamp on back, red framed "INDIA PAID" handstamp, Bombay (Aug. 28), London (Oct. 5), greenish Oct. 6, and Ballyragget (Oct. 7) transit and faint Castlecomer arrival datestamps, red manuscript rate marking, cover extensively soiled and excessive gum use on 1a causing toning at bottom, green arrow stickers affixed highlighting serrations FINE AND TRULY SPECTACULAR USE OF TWO EXAMPLES OF THE HALF-ANNA BLUE FROM DIE I WITH THE SERRATED PERFS ON COVER WITH THE ONE-ANNA AND TWO FOUR-ANNAS. THIS EASILY RANKING AS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT INDIA 1854 LITHOGRAPH POSTAL HISTORY ARTIFACTS IN EXISTENCE. we doubt many -- if any -- other covers exist with thiESs half-anna serrated perforations.. With so few examples recorded among all 1⁄2a, 1a, and 4a stamps, it is uncertain if this was an unofficial private perforation or if it was a government trial. According to Jatia, it is documented in a contemporary letter from the Director General Post Office in 1854 that their perforating machines were not capable of large production. Given the time constraints to produce the 1854 stamps, it is understandable why this issue was imperforate despite the benefits demonstrated by Great Britain’s perforated stamps. Of note, most certified examples are recorded used in the Madras Presidency (C122-C126). This is one of those rare exceptions used in Bombay (as noted in Stanley Gibbons). Pencil note on back "Masson-Sale, 6-7 March 12917, Glendenning & Co.". Unlisted in Scott. SG £40,000 as two off-cover singles. Undervalued as an off-cover single recently sold in Magnolia, Part 3 in Jun. 2024 (Lot 3199) for $35,000. With 2002 B.P.A. certificate.
- How scarce is the Surat HG 3 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Surat HG 3 as common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1838–1857.
- What is the provenance of COV-4712?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries The Magnolia Collection: India Stamps and Postal History, Part 5 lot 171 (09/30/2025).
- When was COV-4712 posted?
- COV-4712 is dated 28 August 1855, within the recorded period of use of Surat HG 3 (1838–1857).
About this record
This 28 August 1855 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Surat HG 3 handstamp of the Bombay Presidency, a mark graded “Common” in this census — one of 11 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, The Magnolia Collection: India Stamps and Postal History, Part 5, lot 171, (09/30/2025).