Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
21 March 1823
Description
Siegel - India, Calicut, 1823, "CALICUT/POST PAID" Framed Handstamp (Giles 1). Bold and clear strike with manuscript "21st March" date and "12 A" rate markings on back of 1823 folded letter to Hyderabad, Very Fine strike of this rare marking, Giles notes "2 examples known" Cavendish - CALICUT - THE RARE OCTAGON-BOXED “CALICUT/POST PAID/[Manuscript date]” COVER TO HYDERABAD; 21 Mar. 1823 E to Hyderabad with a very fine rare boxed “CALICUT/POST PAID” (HG1; “2 examples known”) nicely placed on the top flap. One of the rarest of all Indian marks, apparently with only two other prestamp covers from this small P.O. known. Exhibition Quality. PHOTO - see page
Auction
Provenance
"Magnolia" Michael Manning
Same office
Other recorded marks at Calicut
5 marks5 other pre-1854 postal markings of Calicut are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
About this Calicut pre stamp cover
COV-222 is a Calicut pre stamp cover of 21 March 1823 bearing the Calicut HG 1 handstamp, struck in black, recorded in the census of Calicut postal history — the office known today as Kozhikode, Madras Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?
Siegel - India, Calicut, 1823, "CALICUT/POST PAID" Framed Handstamp (Giles 1). Bold and clear strike with manuscript "21st March" date and "12 A" rate markings on back of 1823 folded letter to Hyderabad, Very Fine strike of this rare marking, Giles notes "2 examples known" Cavendish - CALICUT - THE RARE OCTAGON-BOXED “CALICUT/POST PAID/[Manuscript date]” COVER TO HYDERABAD; 21 Mar. 1823 E to Hyderabad with a very fine rare boxed “CALICUT/POST PAID” (HG1; “2 examples known”) nicely placed on the top flap. One of the rarest of all Indian marks, apparently with only two other prestamp covers from this small P.O. known. Exhibition Quality. PHOTO - see page
Its recorded auction history runs through Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd Manning lot 120 (Sept. 2015); and Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Sale 9020 lot 10029 (Mar. 2025).
2 images of COV-222 are recorded (front, back); the Calicut HG 1 mark itself is recorded in use 1821–1823.
Questions about COV-222
- What is COV-222?
- COV-222 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Calicut, Madras Presidency of 21 March 1823, bearing the Calicut HG 1 handstamp in black. Siegel - India, Calicut, 1823, "CALICUT/POST PAID" Framed Handstamp (Giles 1). Bold and clear strike with manuscript "21st March" date and "12 A" rate markings on back of 1823 folded letter to Hyderabad, Very Fine strike of this rare marking, Giles notes "2 examples known" Cavendish - CALICUT - THE RARE OCTAGON-BOXED “CALICUT/POST PAID/[Manuscript date]” COVER TO HYDERABAD; 21 Mar. 1823 E to Hyderabad with a very fine rare boxed “CALICUT/POST PAID” (HG1; “2 examples known”) nicely placed on the top flap. One of the rarest of all Indian marks, apparently with only two other prestamp covers from this small P.O. known. Exhibition Quality. PHOTO - see page
- How scarce is the Calicut HG 1 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Calicut HG 1 as 2 examples recorded, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1821–1823.
- What is the provenance of COV-222?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd Manning lot 120 (Sept. 2015); and Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Sale 9020 lot 10029 (Mar. 2025).
- When was COV-222 posted?
- COV-222 is dated 21 March 1823, within the recorded period of use of Calicut HG 1 (1821–1823).
About this record
This 21 March 1823 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Calicut HG 1 handstamp of the Madras Presidency, a mark with 2 examples recorded in this census — one of 2 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd, Manning, lot 120, (Sept. 2015); Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Sale 9020, lot 10029, (Mar. 2025).