COV-2455 — 5 July 1823 Bangalore HG 2 Cover
Scan or Photo Courtesy of Santosh MS
Census record COV-2455 is a 5 July 1823 pre-stamp cover of British India bearing the Bangalore HG 2 handstamp of the Madras Presidency, a mark graded “Common” in this census — one of 15 surviving covers with this mark recorded.
Date
5 July 1823
Description
1823 Bangalore – London entire via Cape route, with Bangalore Giles 2 "Post Paid/Bangalore" despatch handstamp, rate "As 6 to Madras" (6A rate was valid for single letter not exceeding 1 Tolah, between 200 to 300 miles, distance of Bangalore – Madras was 218 miles) applied in manuscript. At Madras, Giles MX3 "MADRAS/8 MR 8/1823" GPO receipt & Giles SD8 "MADRAS/G.P.O./8 MR 8/1823/SHIP LETTER" transit mark applied. Sent bearing from India to the UK via the Cape route, entered there via Dover port & there "INDIA LETTER/DOVER" transit handstamp applied & sent to London. At London "1/8" (comprising 1s 4d Dover–London double-letter inland postage + 4d India concessional rate incoming sea postage) bearing postage & "D/5 JY 5/1823" GPO receipt mark applied. Bearing 1s 8d collected from the recipient.