Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
1854
Description
India, Guntoor, 1854, "GUNTOOR/FREE" Oval Handstamp (Giles 5). Complete and mostly clear strike in red with manuscript "12th-4-54" date marking on large-sized cover to the Supreme Court in Madras, signed by the Assistant Magistrate at bottom left and manuscript "On Service" , framed "AM" and negative intaglio seal handstamps on back, red Madras G.P.O. arrival backstamp, cover with some minor file folds, Very Fine, a rare marking — this is the exact example used by Giles for inclusion in his book
Auction
Sale 9020, Lot 10049, — The Magnolia Collection Part 5
Same office
Other recorded marks at Guntoor
4 marks4 other pre-1854 postal markings of Guntoor are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
About this Guntoor pre stamp cover
COV-241 is a Guntoor pre stamp cover of 1854 bearing the Guntoor HG 5 handstamp, struck in red, recorded in the census of Guntoor postal history — the office known today as Guntur, Madras Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?
India, Guntoor, 1854, "GUNTOOR/FREE" Oval Handstamp (Giles 5). Complete and mostly clear strike in red with manuscript "12th-4-54" date marking on large-sized cover to the Supreme Court in Madras, signed by the Assistant Magistrate at bottom left and manuscript "On Service" , framed "AM" and negative intaglio seal handstamps on back, red Madras G.P.O. arrival backstamp, cover with some minor file folds, Very Fine, a rare marking — this is the exact example used by Giles for inclusion in his book
Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Sale 9020 lot 10049.
2 images of COV-241 are recorded (front, back); the Guntoor HG 5 mark itself is recorded in use 1854.
Questions about COV-241
- What is COV-241?
- COV-241 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Guntoor, Madras Presidency of 1854, bearing the Guntoor HG 5 handstamp in red. India, Guntoor, 1854, "GUNTOOR/FREE" Oval Handstamp (Giles 5). Complete and mostly clear strike in red with manuscript "12th-4-54" date marking on large-sized cover to the Supreme Court in Madras, signed by the Assistant Magistrate at bottom left and manuscript "On Service" , framed "AM" and negative intaglio seal handstamps on back, red Madras G.P.O. arrival backstamp, cover with some minor file folds, Very Fine, a rare marking — this is the exact example used by Giles for inclusion in his book
- How scarce is the Guntoor HG 5 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Guntoor HG 5 as common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1854.
- What is the provenance of COV-241?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Sale 9020 lot 10049.
- When was COV-241 posted?
- COV-241 is dated 1854, within the recorded period of use of Guntoor HG 5 (1854).
About this record
This 1854 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Guntoor HG 5 handstamp of the Madras Presidency, a mark graded “Common” in this census — the only surviving cover with this mark recorded so far. It has appeared at auction with Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Sale 9020, lot 10049.