Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
23 October 1821
Description
India, Calicut, 1821, "CALICUT/POST PAID" Framed Handstamp (Giles 1). Clear and virtually complete strike in blue with manuscript "23 Oct 1821" date and "As 2" rate marking on folded letter to Nanjappa Iyer, the Diwan to the Cochin Raja in Trichoor, receipt endorsement "Arrived at the Trichoor P Office on the 26th Oct 1821 @ 11 AM" , cover with some internal splitting along folds (one mended with tape), minor ink erosion, and slight soiling, Very Fine strike of this exceptionally rare postal marking, Giles notes "2 examples known", this being the earlier of the two, the other example (ex Magnolia, Sale 9020, Lot 10029) was dated 1823
Auction
The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History, Part 8 (Sale 9061, 21 October 2026), Lot 10067, (2026)
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-5278 is a Calicut pre stamp cover of 23 October 1821 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?
India, Calicut, 1821, "CALICUT/POST PAID" Framed Handstamp (Giles 1). Clear and virtually complete strike in blue with manuscript "23 Oct 1821" date and "As 2" rate marking on folded letter to Nanjappa Iyer, the Diwan to the Cochin Raja in Trichoor, receipt endorsement "Arrived at the Trichoor P Office on the 26th Oct 1821 @ 11 AM" , cover with some internal splitting along folds (one mended with tape), minor ink erosion, and slight soiling, Very Fine strike of this exceptionally rare postal marking, Giles notes "2 examples known", this being the earlier of the two, the other example (ex Magnolia, Sale 9020, Lot 10029) was dated 1823
Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History, Part 8 (Sale 9061, 21 October 2026) lot 10067 (2026).
2 images of COV-5278 are recorded; the Calicut HG 1 mark itself is recorded in use 1821–1823.
Questions about COV-5278
- What is COV-5278?
- COV-5278 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Calicut, Madras Presidency of 23 October 1821, bearing the Calicut HG 1 handstamp in black. India, Calicut, 1821, "CALICUT/POST PAID" Framed Handstamp (Giles 1). Clear and virtually complete strike in blue with manuscript "23 Oct 1821" date and "As 2" rate marking on folded letter to Nanjappa Iyer, the Diwan to the Cochin Raja in Trichoor, receipt endorsement "Arrived at the Trichoor P Office on the 26th Oct 1821 @ 11 AM" , cover with some internal splitting along folds (one mended with tape), minor ink erosion, and slight soiling, Very Fine strike of this exceptionally rare postal marking, Giles notes "2 examples known", this being the earlier of the two, the other example (ex Magnolia, Sale 9020, Lot 10029) was dated 1823
- 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-5278?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History, Part 8 (Sale 9061, 21 October 2026) lot 10067 (2026).
- When was COV-5278 posted?
- COV-5278 is dated 23 October 1821, within the recorded period of use of Calicut HG 1 (1821–1823).
About this record
This 23 October 1821 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 Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History, Part 8 (Sale 9061, 21 October 2026), lot 10067, (2026).