How scarce is the Cocanada HG 1 mark on this cover?

The census grades Cocanada HG 1 as common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1851–1856.

When was COV-3801 posted?

COV-3801 is dated 14 December 1852, within the recorded period of use of Cocanada HG 1 (1851–1856).

COV-3801

14 December 1852 Cocanada Cover

Back to census|Cocanada HG 1 · 2 covers recorded

COV-4596 →

Pre-stamp cover of India — 14 December 1852, Cocanada HG 1 handstruck folded letter (COV-3801)

Pre-stamp cover of India — Cocanada HG 1, scan 2 (COV-3801)

Pre-stamp cover of India — Cocanada HG 1, scan 3 (COV-3801)

Scan or Photo Courtesy of Sephils

Date

14 December 1852

Description

India–France 1852 prestamp cover from Cocanada to Marseille via Madras, showing boxed COCANADA (UNRECORDED by Giles) and MADRAS G.P.O. ds, rated “1/–”, fine folded letter in French to Dubois Frères, rare early routing

Auction

Sephils

403, Lot 0111, (2025)

Same office

Other recorded marks at Cocanada

1 mark

One other pre-1854 postal marking of Cocanada is recorded in the census. Compare it against this mark to place your cover.

Cocanada HG 2handstampBlack1848–1855

View all Cocanada marks and postal history →

About this Cocanada pre stamp cover

COV-3801 is a Cocanada pre stamp cover of 14 December 1852 bearing the Cocanada HG 1 handstamp, struck in orange, recorded in the census of Cocanada postal history — the office known today as Kakinada, Madras Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?

Its recorded auction history runs through Sephils 403 lot 0111 (2025).

3 images of COV-3801 are recorded; the Cocanada HG 1 mark itself is recorded in use 1851–1856.

Questions about COV-3801

What is COV-3801?: COV-3801 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Cocanada, Madras Presidency of 14 December 1852, bearing the Cocanada HG 1 handstamp in orange. India–France 1852 prestamp cover from Cocanada to Marseille via Madras, showing boxed COCANADA (UNRECORDED by Giles) and MADRAS G.P.O. ds, rated “1/–”, fine folded letter in French to Dubois Frères, rare early routing
How scarce is the Cocanada HG 1 mark on this cover?: The census grades Cocanada HG 1 as common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1851–1856.
What is the provenance of COV-3801?: Its recorded auction history runs through Sephils 403 lot 0111 (2025).
When was COV-3801 posted?: COV-3801 is dated 14 December 1852, within the recorded period of use of Cocanada HG 1 (1851–1856).

About this record

This 14 December 1852 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Cocanada HG 1 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 Sephils, 403, lot 0111, (2025).