Scan or Photo Courtesy of Spink
Date
16 May 1826
Description
Madras: 1826 (16 May) soldier's entire letter to England, countersigned by C.O., the reverse showing fine strike of the red circular "MADRAS/FREE/SOLDIERS LETTER" datestamp (HG SD10) with framed "BELLARY/POST FREE" (HG 3, much assisted), the address panel with faint large circular "INDIA SOLDIER &c/3/PORTSMOUTH"; slight toning and minor perimeter faults, otherwise fine. Photo.
Auction
Provenance
Derek Hammond Giles
Same office
Other recorded marks at Bellary
12 marks12 other pre-1854 postal markings of Bellary are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
- Bellary HG 1handstampBlack1806–1817
- Bellary HG 2handstampBlack1813
- Bellary HG 4handstampRed1828–1837
- Bellary HG 5handstampBlack1836
- Bellary HG 6handstampRed1837–1839
- Bellary HG 7handstampBlack1840-56
- Bellary HG 8handstampRed1849
- Bellary HG 9handstampRed1841–1856
- Bellary HG 10handstampBlack1842–1858
- Bellary HG 10ahandstampBlack1853
- Bellary HG 11handstampRed1838–1849
- Bellary MN 1manuscript1832
About this record
This 16 May 1826 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Bellary HG 3 handstamp of the Madras Presidency, a mark graded “Scarce” in this census — the only surviving cover with this mark recorded so far. It has appeared at auction with Spink, lot 310, (Oct. 2000).