Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
1854
Description
India, 1854, 2a Green (5; SG 31). Mostly large margins to just barely touching at top left, used with 1854, 1/2 a Light Blue, Die I (2; SG 3), two singles, huge balanced margins, tied by diamond of dots cancels on 1855 blue folded letter to London Missionary Society in Finsbury, London, England, sender's directive "Via Soutampton" , red framed "BANGALORE/1855 February 25/Paid" despatch datestamp on back, Madras (Feb. 27) transit and faint London arrival backstamps, manuscript "1/-" rate marking, Very Fine, a handsome cover, the 3a paid the inland postage fee only, ex Dr. Kornan
Auction
The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History, Part 7 (Sale 9054), Lot 10133, (2026)
Same office
Other recorded marks at Bangalore
18 marks18 other pre-1854 postal markings of Bangalore are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
- Bangalore HG 1handstampBlack1800
- Bangalore HG 2handstampBlack1803–1825
- Bangalore HG 3handstampBlack1823
- Bangalore HG 4handstampBlack1823–1825
- Bangalore HG 5handstampBlack1823–1837
- Bangalore HG 6handstampRed1826–1838
+12 more at this office.View all Bangalore marks and postal history →
About this Bangalore pre stamp cover
COV-5169 is a Bangalore pre stamp cover of 1854 bearing the Bangalore HG 9 handstamp, struck in red, recorded in the census of Bangalore postal history — the office known today as Bengaluru, Madras Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?
India, 1854, 2a Green (5; SG 31). Mostly large margins to just barely touching at top left, used with 1854, 1/2 a Light Blue, Die I (2; SG 3), two singles, huge balanced margins, tied by diamond of dots cancels on 1855 blue folded letter to London Missionary Society in Finsbury, London, England, sender's directive "Via Soutampton" , red framed "BANGALORE/1855 February 25/Paid" despatch datestamp on back, Madras (Feb. 27) transit and faint London arrival backstamps, manuscript "1/-" rate marking, Very Fine, a handsome cover, the 3a paid the inland postage fee only, ex Dr. Kornan
Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History, Part 7 (Sale 9054) lot 10133 (2026).
2 images of COV-5169 are recorded; the Bangalore HG 9 mark itself is recorded in use 1837–1857.
Questions about COV-5169
- What is COV-5169?
- COV-5169 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Bangalore, Madras Presidency of 1854, bearing the Bangalore HG 9 handstamp in red. India, 1854, 2a Green (5; SG 31). Mostly large margins to just barely touching at top left, used with 1854, 1/2 a Light Blue, Die I (2; SG 3), two singles, huge balanced margins, tied by diamond of dots cancels on 1855 blue folded letter to London Missionary Society in Finsbury, London, England, sender's directive "Via Soutampton" , red framed "BANGALORE/1855 February 25/Paid" despatch datestamp on back, Madras (Feb. 27) transit and faint London arrival backstamps, manuscript "1/-" rate marking, Very Fine, a handsome cover, the 3a paid the inland postage fee only, ex Dr. Kornan
- How scarce is the Bangalore HG 9 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Bangalore HG 9 as common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1837–1857.
- What is the provenance of COV-5169?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History, Part 7 (Sale 9054) lot 10133 (2026).
- When was COV-5169 posted?
- COV-5169 is dated 1854, within the recorded period of use of Bangalore HG 9 (1837–1857).
About this record
This 1854 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Bangalore HG 9 handstamp of the Madras Presidency, a mark graded “Common” in this census — one of 37 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History, Part 7 (Sale 9054), lot 10133, (2026).