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
10 marks10 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
+4 more at this office.View all Hyderabad marks and postal history →
About this Hyderabad pre stamp cover
COV-53 is a Hyderabad pre stamp cover of 20 August 1817 bearing the Hyderabad HG 1 handstamp, struck in black, recorded in the census of Hyderabad postal history, Madras Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?
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.
Its recorded auction history runs through Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd Manning lot 72 (Sept. 2015); and Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries 1286 lot 26 (May 2023).
2 images of COV-53 are recorded (front); the Hyderabad HG 1 mark itself is recorded in use 1810–1819.
Questions about COV-53
- What is COV-53?
- COV-53 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Hyderabad, Madras Presidency of 20 August 1817, bearing the Hyderabad HG 1 handstamp in black. 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.
- How scarce is the Hyderabad HG 1 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Hyderabad HG 1 as rare, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1810–1819.
- What is the provenance of COV-53?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd Manning lot 72 (Sept. 2015); and Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries 1286 lot 26 (May 2023).
- When was COV-53 posted?
- COV-53 is dated 20 August 1817, within the recorded period of use of Hyderabad HG 1 (1810–1819).
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).