Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
4 August 1826
Description
India, Arcot, 1827, "ARCOT/POST PAID" Oval Handstamp (Giles 2). Faint but legible strike in red with manuscript "A 4" rate and "the 4th August 1827" date on back of folded letter to Edinburgh, Scotland, sender's directive "par Insan" , framed "INDIA LETTER/DEAL" handstamp (Robertson In. 3), Madras Out Station Ship Letter (Aug. 5) and London transit and Edinburgh (Mar. 12) arrival backstamps, framed "1/2" rate handstamp and "1/6" rate marking, Fine strike, Giles notes "1 example, in 1826, seen in red ink", this is clearly dated 1827 so we don't believe he was referring to the example offered here, still unlikely more than a few examples exist
Auction
Sale 9042, Lot 10008, — The Magnolia Collection Part 6
Provenance
"Magnolia"
Same office
Other recorded marks at Arcot
5 marks5 other pre-1854 postal markings of Arcot are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
About this Arcot pre stamp cover
COV-348 is an Arcot pre stamp cover of 4 August 1826 bearing the Arcot HG 2 handstamp, struck in red, recorded in the census of Arcot postal history, Madras Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?
India, Arcot, 1827, "ARCOT/POST PAID" Oval Handstamp (Giles 2). Faint but legible strike in red with manuscript "A 4" rate and "the 4th August 1827" date on back of folded letter to Edinburgh, Scotland, sender's directive "par Insan" , framed "INDIA LETTER/DEAL" handstamp (Robertson In. 3), Madras Out Station Ship Letter (Aug. 5) and London transit and Edinburgh (Mar. 12) arrival backstamps, framed "1/2" rate handstamp and "1/6" rate marking, Fine strike, Giles notes "1 example, in 1826, seen in red ink", this is clearly dated 1827 so we don't believe he was referring to the example offered here, still unlikely more than a few examples exist
Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Sale 9042 lot 10008.
2 images of COV-348 are recorded (front, back); the Arcot HG 2 mark itself is recorded in use 1821–1837.
Questions about COV-348
- What is COV-348?
- COV-348 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Arcot, Madras Presidency of 4 August 1826, bearing the Arcot HG 2 handstamp in red. India, Arcot, 1827, "ARCOT/POST PAID" Oval Handstamp (Giles 2). Faint but legible strike in red with manuscript "A 4" rate and "the 4th August 1827" date on back of folded letter to Edinburgh, Scotland, sender's directive "par Insan" , framed "INDIA LETTER/DEAL" handstamp (Robertson In. 3), Madras Out Station Ship Letter (Aug. 5) and London transit and Edinburgh (Mar. 12) arrival backstamps, framed "1/2" rate handstamp and "1/6" rate marking, Fine strike, Giles notes "1 example, in 1826, seen in red ink", this is clearly dated 1827 so we don't believe he was referring to the example offered here, still unlikely more than a few examples exist
- How scarce is the Arcot HG 2 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Arcot HG 2 as scarce, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1821–1837.
- What is the provenance of COV-348?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Sale 9042 lot 10008.
- When was COV-348 posted?
- COV-348 is dated 4 August 1826, within the recorded period of use of Arcot HG 2 (1821–1837).
About this record
This 4 August 1826 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Arcot HG 2 handstamp of the Madras Presidency, a mark graded “Scarce” in this census — one of 3 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Sale 9042, lot 10008.