Scan or Photo Courtesy of Corinphila Auctions
Date
17 July 1843
Description
Indian Post Office 1843 (July 17): Cover and contents from Nepal written and countersigned by the British Resident in Nepal, Brian H. Hodgson, to TH Maddock (the previous British Resident to Hodgson) in Calcutta, struck on reverse with oval framed "NEPAUL / FREE" handstamp in magenta with manuscript date "18th July 43" inserted, with Calcutta arrival (July 26) in red below. Fascinating content "Lord E(llenborough) wants my place for some pet soldier, of late he has shown it rather broadly so that I shall cease to cross him and go home" - Hodgson resigned in 1843 due to Ellenborough's interference and was posted to Simla. Ellenborough's 'pet', Henry Montgomery Lawrence (1806-1857) was installed in his place (he was to die at Lucknow during the Mutiny). Just five examples of the Resident's "Nepaul / Free" handstamp are recorded, all used between April and August 1843.rnrnNote: Brian Houghton Hodgson (1801-1894) was initially the Postmaster (1824) and assistant British Resident in Nepal (1825) and British Resident from 1833-1843. An outstanding linguist, naturalist and scholar with many species of birds named after him, he also wrote at length on Buddhism and authored "Essays on Language, Literature, and Religion of Nepal and Tibet" published in 1874.
Auction
Auctions 298-307, Lot 1208
Same office
Other recorded marks at Nepaul
3 marks3 other pre-1854 postal markings of Nepaul are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
About this Nepaul pre stamp cover
COV-2422 is a Nepaul pre stamp cover of 17 July 1843 bearing the Nepaul HG 3 handstamp, struck in magenta, recorded in the census of Nepaul postal history — the office known today as Kathmandu, Nepal. What is a pre stamp cover?
Indian Post Office 1843 (July 17): Cover and contents from Nepal written and countersigned by the British Resident in Nepal, Brian H. Hodgson, to TH Maddock (the previous British Resident to Hodgson) in Calcutta, struck on reverse with oval framed "NEPAUL / FREE" handstamp in magenta with manuscript date "18th July 43" inserted, with Calcutta arrival (July 26) in red below. Fascinating content "Lord E(llenborough) wants my place for some pet soldier, of late he has shown it rather broadly so that I shall cease to cross him and go home" - Hodgson resigned in 1843 due to Ellenborough's interference and was posted to Simla. Ellenborough's 'pet', Henry Montgomery Lawrence (1806-1857) was installed in his place (he was to die at Lucknow during the Mutiny). Just five examples of the Resident's "Nepaul / Free" handstamp are recorded, all used between April and August 1843.rnrnNote: Brian Houghton Hodgson (1801-1894) was initially the Postmaster (1824) and assistant British Resident in Nepal (1825) and British Resident from 1833-1843. An outstanding linguist, naturalist and scholar with many species of birds named after him, he also wrote at length on Buddhism and authored "Essays on Language, Literature, and Religion of Nepal and Tibet" published in 1874.
Its recorded auction history runs through Corinphila Auctions Auctions 298-307 lot 1208.
2 images of COV-2422 are recorded (front, back); the Nepaul HG 3 mark itself is recorded in use 1843.
Questions about COV-2422
- What is COV-2422?
- COV-2422 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Nepaul, Nepal of 17 July 1843, bearing the Nepaul HG 3 handstamp in magenta. Indian Post Office 1843 (July 17): Cover and contents from Nepal written and countersigned by the British Resident in Nepal, Brian H. Hodgson, to TH Maddock (the previous British Resident to Hodgson) in Calcutta, struck on reverse with oval framed "NEPAUL / FREE" handstamp in magenta with manuscript date "18th July 43" inserted, with Calcutta arrival (July 26) in red below. Fascinating content "Lord E(llenborough) wants my place for some pet soldier, of late he has shown it rather broadly so that I shall cease to cross him and go home" - Hodgson resigned in 1843 due to Ellenborough's interference and was posted to Simla. Ellenborough's 'pet', Henry Montgomery Lawrence (1806-1857) was installed in his place (he was to die at Lucknow during the Mutiny). Just five examples of the Resident's "Nepaul / Free" handstamp are recorded, all used between April and August 1843.rnrnNote: Brian Houghton Hodgson (1801-1894) was initially the Postmaster (1824) and assistant British Resident in Nepal (1825) and British Resident from 1833-1843. An outstanding linguist, naturalist and scholar with many species of birds named after him, he also wrote at length on Buddhism and authored "Essays on Language, Literature, and Religion of Nepal and Tibet" published in 1874.
- How scarce is the Nepaul HG 3 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Nepaul HG 3 as 5 examples recorded, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1843.
- What is the provenance of COV-2422?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Corinphila Auctions Auctions 298-307 lot 1208.
- When was COV-2422 posted?
- COV-2422 is dated 17 July 1843, within the recorded period of use of Nepaul HG 3 (1843).
About this record
This 17 July 1843 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Nepaul HG 3 handstamp of the Nepal, a mark with 5 examples recorded in this census — one of 3 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Corinphila Auctions, Auctions 298-307, lot 1208.