Scan or Photo Courtesy of Grosvenor Auctions
Date
1844
Description
India: Cancellations and Covers: 1844 (Oct. 18) entire letter “via Marseilles” to England with “INDIA PAID” crescent mark and London Paid tombstone mark, additionally endorsed “prepaid pr Steamer via Southampton/1 Tolas” with superb framed “ALEPPEE/Paid” (Giles type 2, large letter variety) with manuscript inserted “Inland Postage to Bombay As 10” and Bury St Edmunds datestamp all on reverse. Written by William Anderson to his niece. Photo.
Auction
Same office
Other recorded marks at Alleppy
6 marks6 other pre-1854 postal markings of Alleppy are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
About this Alleppy pre stamp cover
COV-5377 is an Alleppy pre stamp cover of 1844 bearing the Alleppy HG 2 handstamp, struck in red, recorded in the census of Alleppy postal history — the office known today as Alappuzha, Madras Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?
India: Cancellations and Covers: 1844 (Oct. 18) entire letter “via Marseilles” to England with “INDIA PAID” crescent mark and London Paid tombstone mark, additionally endorsed “prepaid pr Steamer via Southampton/1 Tolas” with superb framed “ALEPPEE/Paid” (Giles type 2, large letter variety) with manuscript inserted “Inland Postage to Bombay As 10” and Bury St Edmunds datestamp all on reverse. Written by William Anderson to his niece. Photo.
Its recorded auction history runs through Grosvenor Philatelic Auctions GPA 168: British Empire and Foreign Countries lot 1024 (2025); and Grosvenor Philatelic Auctions GPA 174: British Empire & Foreign Countries lot 1411 (2026).
1 image of COV-5377 is recorded; the Alleppy HG 2 mark itself is recorded in use 1840–1852.
Questions about COV-5377
- What is COV-5377?
- COV-5377 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Alleppy, Madras Presidency of 1844, bearing the Alleppy HG 2 handstamp in red. India: Cancellations and Covers: 1844 (Oct. 18) entire letter “via Marseilles” to England with “INDIA PAID” crescent mark and London Paid tombstone mark, additionally endorsed “prepaid pr Steamer via Southampton/1 Tolas” with superb framed “ALEPPEE/Paid” (Giles type 2, large letter variety) with manuscript inserted “Inland Postage to Bombay As 10” and Bury St Edmunds datestamp all on reverse. Written by William Anderson to his niece. Photo.
- How scarce is the Alleppy HG 2 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Alleppy HG 2 as common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1840–1852.
- What is the provenance of COV-5377?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Grosvenor Philatelic Auctions GPA 168: British Empire and Foreign Countries lot 1024 (2025); and Grosvenor Philatelic Auctions GPA 174: British Empire & Foreign Countries lot 1411 (2026).
- When was COV-5377 posted?
- COV-5377 is dated 1844, within the recorded period of use of Alleppy HG 2 (1840–1852).
About this record
This 1844 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Alleppy HG 2 handstamp of the Madras Presidency, a mark graded “Common” in this census — one of 4 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Grosvenor Philatelic Auctions, GPA 168: British Empire and Foreign Countries, lot 1024, (2025); Grosvenor Philatelic Auctions, GPA 174: British Empire & Foreign Countries, lot 1411, (2026).