Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
20 August 1817
Description
Siegel - Hyderabad, 1817, "POST-PAID/HYDERABAD" Handstamp (Giles 1). Oval handstamp clearly struck on folded cover with manuscript "7½ f(anam) to Madras, 20th Aug. 1817" despatch marking on folded cover to London, England, "UNPAID" in oval handstamp and charged "3/6" on arrival, Madras Packet Letter transit and "GPO AU 26, 1817" oval transit datestamps (Giles MX1, very scarce), London arrival backstamps, cover with slight soiling, still Very Fine and scarce combination of markings, the Hyderabad marking is noted as rare by Giles, ex Manning Cavendish - HYDERABAD - RARE OVAL “POST.PAID/HYDERABAD” WITH “MADRAS/PACKET LETTER” D.S. ON COVER TO G.B.; Fine and attractive 20 Aug. 1817 E from Hyderabad to London with a very fine large oval-framed “POST.PAID/HYDERABAD” (HG Type 1; “Rare”) endorsed “7½ f[anam]s to Madras” nicely placed on the front beside an equally very fine “MADRAS/PACKET LETTER”, with matching oval-framed “UNPAID” and (unusually) a mainly fine Madras “GPO” d.s. (HG Type MX1; “Very scarce”) nearby; charged “3/6” on arrival in London (23 Apr.). Exhibition Quality. PHOTO - see below.
Auction
Provenance
"Magnolia" Michael Manning
Same office
Other recorded marks at Hyderabad
9 marks9 other pre-1854 postal markings of Hyderabad are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
- Hyderabad HG 2handstampBlack1817-19
- Hyderabad HG 3handstampBlack1820–1837
- Hyderabad HG 4handstampBlack1832–1837
- Hyderabad HG 5handstampBlack1836-37
- Hyderabad HG 6handstampBlack1834–1837
- Hyderabad HG 7handstampRed1839-58
- Hyderabad HG 8handstampBlack1847-53
- Hyderabad HG 9handstampRed1853-56
- Hyderabad HG 10handstampRed1842–1856
About this record
This 20 August 1817 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Hyderabad HG 1 handstamp of the Madras Presidency, a mark graded “Rare” in this census — one of 6 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd, Manning, lot 72, (Sept. 2015); Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, 1286, lot 26, (May 2023).