Scan or Photo Courtesy of Gowtham BJ
Date
20 February 1823
Description
Clear strike on cover from Cannanore. POST FREE oval handstamp. Fine. India, Cannanore, 1820, "CANNANORE/POST FREE" Oval Handstamp (Giles 2). Legible strike with manuscript "20th Febry 1823" date added on back of soldier's concessionary rate folded letter to Frome, England, manuscript "From J. Saunders, Corpl. Hrs. Ms. 89th Regiment" endorsement, properly countersigned by commanding officer, two strikes of "INDIA LETTER/MARGATE" handstamp (Robertson In. 1), London transit backstamp, manuscript "1/3" rate marking, accompanied by printed transcription of letter, cover with light overall soiling, Fine strike, this is the only recorded example of this Cannanore Post Free marking as noted by Giles, an important pre-stamp postal marking, even more so used on a soldier's concessionary rate cover Cavendish CANNANORE - UNIQUE(?) BOXED “CANNANORE/POST FREE” ON SOLDIER’s CONCESSION RATE COVER + LATER RED PAID; 20/21 Feb. 1823 EL (full typed transcript of contents about a southern India march and fever, etc.; some wear. slightly affecting address panel) from “Cannanore” to Somerset headed & countersigned or a Corporal for the Concession Rate and so with a partly fine unique(?) octagon-boxed “CANNANORE/POST FREE” (similar to HG Type 2, of which only a single example - possibly this cover? - is noted, also dated 1823; otherwise this is a totally unrecorded type) on the lower flap; charged “1/3” on the front with two fine/partly fine boxed “INDIA LETTER/MARGATE” marks but no clear reason why the Concessionary Rate was disallowed. Plus 1 Jan. 1845 EL (internal faults) “By Steamer Hindostan” to Aberdeen with v. fine red boxed “CANNANORE/Paid” d.s. (HG5) on the top flap. Rare pair. (2 covers)
Auction
Provenance
Michael Manning Magnolia
Same office
Other recorded marks at Cannanore
8 marks8 other pre-1854 postal markings of Cannanore are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
- Cannanore HG 1handstampBlack1820–1823
- Cannanore HG 3handstampBlack1825–1837
- Cannanore HG 4handstampBlack1827–1830
- Cannanore HG 5handstampRed1838–1845
- Cannanore HG 6handstampBlack1838-42
- Cannanore HG 7handstampRed1839-42
+2 more at this office.View all Cannanore marks and postal history →
About this Cannanore pre stamp cover
COV-25 is a Cannanore pre stamp cover of 20 February 1823 bearing the Cannanore HG 2 handstamp, struck in black, recorded in the census of Cannanore postal history — the office known today as Kannur, Madras Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?
Clear strike on cover from Cannanore. POST FREE oval handstamp. Fine. India, Cannanore, 1820, "CANNANORE/POST FREE" Oval Handstamp (Giles 2). Legible strike with manuscript "20th Febry 1823" date added on back of soldier's concessionary rate folded letter to Frome, England, manuscript "From J. Saunders, Corpl. Hrs. Ms. 89th Regiment" endorsement, properly countersigned by commanding officer, two strikes of "INDIA LETTER/MARGATE" handstamp (Robertson In. 1), London transit backstamp, manuscript "1/3" rate marking, accompanied by printed transcription of letter, cover with light overall soiling, Fine strike, this is the only recorded example of this Cannanore Post Free marking as noted by Giles, an important pre-stamp postal marking, even more so used on a soldier's concessionary rate cover Cavendish CANNANORE - UNIQUE(?) BOXED “CANNANORE/POST FREE” ON SOLDIER’s CONCESSION RATE COVER + LATER RED PAID; 20/21 Feb. 1823 EL (full typed transcript of contents about a southern India march and fever, etc.; some wear. slightly affecting address panel) from “Cannanore” to Somerset headed & countersigned or a Corporal for the Concession Rate and so with a partly fine unique(?) octagon-boxed “CANNANORE/POST FREE” (similar to HG Type 2, of which only a single example - possibly this cover? - is noted, also dated 1823; otherwise this is a totally unrecorded type) on the lower flap; charged “1/3” on the front with two fine/partly fine boxed “INDIA LETTER/MARGATE” marks but no clear reason why the Concessionary Rate was disallowed. Plus 1 Jan. 1845 EL (internal faults) “By Steamer Hindostan” to Aberdeen with v. fine red boxed “CANNANORE/Paid” d.s. (HG5) on the top flap. Rare pair. (2 covers)
Its recorded auction history runs through Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd Manning lot 98 (Sept 2015); and Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries 9054 The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History, Part 7 lot 10023 (5/14/2026).
4 images of COV-25 are recorded (front, back); the Cannanore HG 2 mark itself is recorded in use 1823.
Questions about COV-25
- What is COV-25?
- COV-25 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Cannanore, Madras Presidency of 20 February 1823, bearing the Cannanore HG 2 handstamp in black. Clear strike on cover from Cannanore. POST FREE oval handstamp. Fine. India, Cannanore, 1820, "CANNANORE/POST FREE" Oval Handstamp (Giles 2). Legible strike with manuscript "20th Febry 1823" date added on back of soldier's concessionary rate folded letter to Frome, England, manuscript "From J. Saunders, Corpl. Hrs. Ms. 89th Regiment" endorsement, properly countersigned by commanding officer, two strikes of "INDIA LETTER/MARGATE" handstamp (Robertson In. 1), London transit backstamp, manuscript "1/3" rate marking, accompanied by printed transcription of letter, cover with light overall soiling, Fine strike, this is the only recorded example of this Cannanore Post Free marking as noted by Giles, an important pre-stamp postal marking, even more so used on a soldier's concessionary rate cover Cavendish CANNANORE - UNIQUE(?) BOXED “CANNANORE/POST FREE” ON SOLDIER’s CONCESSION RATE COVER + LATER RED PAID; 20/21 Feb. 1823 EL (full typed transcript of contents about a southern India march and fever, etc.; some wear. slightly affecting address panel) from “Cannanore” to Somerset headed & countersigned or a Corporal for the Concession Rate and so with a partly fine unique(?) octagon-boxed “CANNANORE/POST FREE” (similar to HG Type 2, of which only a single example - possibly this cover? - is noted, also dated 1823; otherwise this is a totally unrecorded type) on the lower flap; charged “1/3” on the front with two fine/partly fine boxed “INDIA LETTER/MARGATE” marks but no clear reason why the Concessionary Rate was disallowed. Plus 1 Jan. 1845 EL (internal faults) “By Steamer Hindostan” to Aberdeen with v. fine red boxed “CANNANORE/Paid” d.s. (HG5) on the top flap. Rare pair. (2 covers)
- How scarce is the Cannanore HG 2 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Cannanore HG 2 as 1 example recorded, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1823.
- What is the provenance of COV-25?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd Manning lot 98 (Sept 2015); and Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries 9054 The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History, Part 7 lot 10023 (5/14/2026).
- When was COV-25 posted?
- COV-25 is dated 20 February 1823, within the recorded period of use of Cannanore HG 2 (1823).
About this record
This 20 February 1823 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Cannanore HG 2 handstamp of the Madras Presidency, a mark with 1 example recorded in this census — the only surviving cover with this mark recorded so far. It has appeared at auction with Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd, Manning, lot 98, (Sept 2015); Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, 9054 The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History, Part 7, lot 10023, (5/14/2026).