Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
1854
Description
India, 1854, 1a Red, Die I (4; SG 12). Huge margins to ample at bottom, tied by barred "85" cancel on 1857 cover to St. Heliers, Jersey, sender's directive "via Southampton" , red framed Belgaum Mar. 28, 1857 despatch datestamp on back, red framed "INDIA UNPAID" handstamp, Bombay and London (May 2) transit and blue Jersey (May 5) arrival backstamps, "6" rate handstamp, stamps with some soiling, Very Fine and scarce use of the 1p Die III to Jersey
Auction
Worldwide Stamps and Postal History (Sale 1392, 10 November 2026), Lot 385, (2026)
Same office
Other recorded marks at Hyderabad
11 marks11 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 1handstampBlack1810–1819
- Hyderabad HG 1AhandstampBlack1815
- Hyderabad HG 2handstampBlack1817-19
- Hyderabad HG 3handstampBlack1820–1837
- Hyderabad HG 5handstampBlack1836-37
- Hyderabad HG 6handstampBlack1834–1837
+5 more at this office.View all Hyderabad marks and postal history →
About this Hyderabad pre stamp cover
COV-5659 is a Hyderabad pre stamp cover of 1854 bearing the Hyderabad HG 4 handstamp, struck in black, recorded in the census of Hyderabad postal history, Madras Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?
India, 1854, 1a Red, Die I (4; SG 12). Huge margins to ample at bottom, tied by barred "85" cancel on 1857 cover to St. Heliers, Jersey, sender's directive "via Southampton" , red framed Belgaum Mar. 28, 1857 despatch datestamp on back, red framed "INDIA UNPAID" handstamp, Bombay and London (May 2) transit and blue Jersey (May 5) arrival backstamps, "6" rate handstamp, stamps with some soiling, Very Fine and scarce use of the 1p Die III to Jersey
Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Worldwide Stamps and Postal History (Sale 1392, 10 November 2026) lot 385 (2026).
2 images of COV-5659 are recorded; the Hyderabad HG 4 mark itself is recorded in use 1832–1837.
Questions about COV-5659
- What is COV-5659?
- COV-5659 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Hyderabad, Madras Presidency of 1854, bearing the Hyderabad HG 4 handstamp in black. India, 1854, 1a Red, Die I (4; SG 12). Huge margins to ample at bottom, tied by barred "85" cancel on 1857 cover to St. Heliers, Jersey, sender's directive "via Southampton" , red framed Belgaum Mar. 28, 1857 despatch datestamp on back, red framed "INDIA UNPAID" handstamp, Bombay and London (May 2) transit and blue Jersey (May 5) arrival backstamps, "6" rate handstamp, stamps with some soiling, Very Fine and scarce use of the 1p Die III to Jersey
- How scarce is the Hyderabad HG 4 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Hyderabad HG 4 as common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1832–1837.
- What is the provenance of COV-5659?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Worldwide Stamps and Postal History (Sale 1392, 10 November 2026) lot 385 (2026).
- When was COV-5659 posted?
- COV-5659 is dated 1854, within the recorded period of use of Hyderabad HG 4 (1832–1837).
About this record
This 1854 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Hyderabad HG 4 handstamp of the Madras Presidency, a mark graded “Common” in this census — one of 12 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Worldwide Stamps and Postal History (Sale 1392, 10 November 2026), lot 385, (2026).