Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
10 July 1837
Description
Siegel - India, Cuddapah, 1837, "CUDDAPAH/POST PAID" Framed Handstamp (Giles 4). Clear and complete strike in reddish purple with manuscript "10th July 1837" date and "Inland Postage As 6 (+) Ship fee As 4 ( = ) As 10" rate calculation on back of folded letter to London, England, red framed "DEAL/INDIA LETTER" handstamp (Robertson In. 5), Madras (Jul. 18) and Madras Ship Letter (Jul. 18) transit and London (Feb. 11) arrival datestamps, front panel with file fold and couple minor prior mount stains, Very Fine strike, a rare postal marking which is only recorded in 1837 by Giles Cavendish - CUDDAPAH - DIFFERENT TYPES OF “POST PAID”/”Paid” MARKS ON DEAL/DOVER INDIA LETTERS; 15/16 July 1837 & 18 Mar. 1840 pair of ELs (latter with flap cut for display) from the same correspondence from “Cuddapah” to London with very fine purple-red boxed “CUDDAPAH/POST PAID” (HG4; scarce) or pale red partly fine boxed “CUDDAPAH/Paid” (HG5) respectively; with mainly fine (but across join) strikes of the red boxed “DEAL/INDIA LETTER” or unboxed black “INDIA LETTER/DOVER”. Good pair. (2 covers) PHOTO - see page 37
Auction
Provenance
"Magnolia" Michael Manning
Same office
Other recorded marks at Cuddapah
6 marks6 other pre-1854 postal markings of Cuddapah are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
About this Cuddapah pre stamp cover
COV-397 is a Cuddapah pre stamp cover of 10 July 1837 bearing the Cuddapah HG 4 handstamp, struck in mauve, recorded in the census of Cuddapah postal history — the office known today as Kadapa, Madras Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?
Siegel - India, Cuddapah, 1837, "CUDDAPAH/POST PAID" Framed Handstamp (Giles 4). Clear and complete strike in reddish purple with manuscript "10th July 1837" date and "Inland Postage As 6 (+) Ship fee As 4 ( = ) As 10" rate calculation on back of folded letter to London, England, red framed "DEAL/INDIA LETTER" handstamp (Robertson In. 5), Madras (Jul. 18) and Madras Ship Letter (Jul. 18) transit and London (Feb. 11) arrival datestamps, front panel with file fold and couple minor prior mount stains, Very Fine strike, a rare postal marking which is only recorded in 1837 by Giles Cavendish - CUDDAPAH - DIFFERENT TYPES OF “POST PAID”/”Paid” MARKS ON DEAL/DOVER INDIA LETTERS; 15/16 July 1837 & 18 Mar. 1840 pair of ELs (latter with flap cut for display) from the same correspondence from “Cuddapah” to London with very fine purple-red boxed “CUDDAPAH/POST PAID” (HG4; scarce) or pale red partly fine boxed “CUDDAPAH/Paid” (HG5) respectively; with mainly fine (but across join) strikes of the red boxed “DEAL/INDIA LETTER” or unboxed black “INDIA LETTER/DOVER”. Good pair. (2 covers) PHOTO - see page 37
Its recorded auction history runs through Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd Manning lot 99 (Sept. 2015); and Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Sale 9042 lot 10058 (Nov. 2025).
2 images of COV-397 are recorded (front, back); the Cuddapah HG 4 mark itself is recorded in use 1837.
Questions about COV-397
- What is COV-397?
- COV-397 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Cuddapah, Madras Presidency of 10 July 1837, bearing the Cuddapah HG 4 handstamp in mauve. Siegel - India, Cuddapah, 1837, "CUDDAPAH/POST PAID" Framed Handstamp (Giles 4). Clear and complete strike in reddish purple with manuscript "10th July 1837" date and "Inland Postage As 6 (+) Ship fee As 4 ( = ) As 10" rate calculation on back of folded letter to London, England, red framed "DEAL/INDIA LETTER" handstamp (Robertson In. 5), Madras (Jul. 18) and Madras Ship Letter (Jul. 18) transit and London (Feb. 11) arrival datestamps, front panel with file fold and couple minor prior mount stains, Very Fine strike, a rare postal marking which is only recorded in 1837 by Giles Cavendish - CUDDAPAH - DIFFERENT TYPES OF “POST PAID”/”Paid” MARKS ON DEAL/DOVER INDIA LETTERS; 15/16 July 1837 & 18 Mar. 1840 pair of ELs (latter with flap cut for display) from the same correspondence from “Cuddapah” to London with very fine purple-red boxed “CUDDAPAH/POST PAID” (HG4; scarce) or pale red partly fine boxed “CUDDAPAH/Paid” (HG5) respectively; with mainly fine (but across join) strikes of the red boxed “DEAL/INDIA LETTER” or unboxed black “INDIA LETTER/DOVER”. Good pair. (2 covers) PHOTO - see page 37
- How scarce is the Cuddapah HG 4 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Cuddapah HG 4 as rare, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1837.
- What is the provenance of COV-397?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd Manning lot 99 (Sept. 2015); and Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Sale 9042 lot 10058 (Nov. 2025).
- When was COV-397 posted?
- COV-397 is dated 10 July 1837, within the recorded period of use of Cuddapah HG 4 (1837).
About this record
This 10 July 1837 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Cuddapah HG 4 handstamp of the Madras Presidency, a mark graded “Rare” in this census — one of 2 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd, Manning, lot 99, (Sept. 2015); Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Sale 9042, lot 10058, (Nov. 2025).