

Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
28 June 1843
Description
India, Calicut, 1843-52, "CALICUT/Paid" and "CALICUT/Bearing" Framed Handstamps (Giles 2-3). Two covers, first red "Paid" with manuscript "28 6 43" date and "3as" rate added on back of petite folded cover to Madras, red framed "AM" handstamp, second black "Bearing" with manuscript "1-9-52" date added on back of incoming cover from Bombay, Bombay Aug. 23, 1852 despatch datestamp with manuscript "R 1" rate added, latter with slight bleaching around Calicut handstamp, otherwise Very Fine pair, the "Bearing" marking is a particularly late use (only recorded in 1840 by Giles)
Auction
Sale 9042, Lot 10046, — The Magnolia Collection Part 6
Provenance
"Magnolia"
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-386 is a Calicut pre stamp cover of 28 June 1843 bearing the Calicut HG 2 handstamp, struck in red, recorded in the census of Calicut postal history — the office known today as Kozhikode, Madras Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?
India, Calicut, 1843-52, "CALICUT/Paid" and "CALICUT/Bearing" Framed Handstamps (Giles 2-3). Two covers, first red "Paid" with manuscript "28 6 43" date and "3as" rate added on back of petite folded cover to Madras, red framed "AM" handstamp, second black "Bearing" with manuscript "1-9-52" date added on back of incoming cover from Bombay, Bombay Aug. 23, 1852 despatch datestamp with manuscript "R 1" rate added, latter with slight bleaching around Calicut handstamp, otherwise Very Fine pair, the "Bearing" marking is a particularly late use (only recorded in 1840 by Giles)
Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Sale 9042 lot 10046.
2 images of COV-386 are recorded (back, front); the Calicut HG 2 mark itself is recorded in use 1843–1856.
Questions about COV-386
- What is COV-386?
- COV-386 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Calicut, Madras Presidency of 28 June 1843, bearing the Calicut HG 2 handstamp in red. India, Calicut, 1843-52, "CALICUT/Paid" and "CALICUT/Bearing" Framed Handstamps (Giles 2-3). Two covers, first red "Paid" with manuscript "28 6 43" date and "3as" rate added on back of petite folded cover to Madras, red framed "AM" handstamp, second black "Bearing" with manuscript "1-9-52" date added on back of incoming cover from Bombay, Bombay Aug. 23, 1852 despatch datestamp with manuscript "R 1" rate added, latter with slight bleaching around Calicut handstamp, otherwise Very Fine pair, the "Bearing" marking is a particularly late use (only recorded in 1840 by Giles)
- How scarce is the Calicut HG 2 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Calicut HG 2 as common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1843–1856.
- What is the provenance of COV-386?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Sale 9042 lot 10046.
- When was COV-386 posted?
- COV-386 is dated 28 June 1843, within the recorded period of use of Calicut HG 2 (1843–1856).
About this record
This 28 June 1843 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Calicut HG 2 handstamp of the Madras Presidency, a mark graded “Common” in this census — one of 2 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Sale 9042, lot 10046.

