Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
1855
Description
India, (French Settlement), Karikal, 1855-64, ½a Blue (11; SG 38). Tied by well-struck "C/147" cancel on petite 1856 folded cover to Pondicherry, red framed "KARICAL/Paid" handstamp (Giles 1) with manuscript "22-12-56" date added on back, red framed Pondicherry (Dec. 24) arrival backstamp, cover with couple stray toned spots, Very Fine and scarce use of the British Post Office between two French Settlements
Auction
The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History, Part 8 (Sale 9061, 21 October 2026), Lot 10149, (2026)
Same office
Other recorded marks at Karical
3 marks3 other pre-1854 postal markings of Karical are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
About this Karical pre stamp cover
COV-5372 is a Karical pre stamp cover of 1855 bearing the Karical HG 1 handstamp, struck in red, recorded in the census of Karical postal history — the office known today as Karaikal, Madras Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?
India, (French Settlement), Karikal, 1855-64, ½a Blue (11; SG 38). Tied by well-struck "C/147" cancel on petite 1856 folded cover to Pondicherry, red framed "KARICAL/Paid" handstamp (Giles 1) with manuscript "22-12-56" date added on back, red framed Pondicherry (Dec. 24) arrival backstamp, cover with couple stray toned spots, Very Fine and scarce use of the British Post Office between two French Settlements
Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History, Part 8 (Sale 9061, 21 October 2026) lot 10149 (2026).
2 images of COV-5372 are recorded; the Karical HG 1 mark itself is recorded in use 1840–1856.
Questions about COV-5372
- What is COV-5372?
- COV-5372 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Karical, Madras Presidency of 1855, bearing the Karical HG 1 handstamp in red. India, (French Settlement), Karikal, 1855-64, ½a Blue (11; SG 38). Tied by well-struck "C/147" cancel on petite 1856 folded cover to Pondicherry, red framed "KARICAL/Paid" handstamp (Giles 1) with manuscript "22-12-56" date added on back, red framed Pondicherry (Dec. 24) arrival backstamp, cover with couple stray toned spots, Very Fine and scarce use of the British Post Office between two French Settlements
- How scarce is the Karical HG 1 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Karical HG 1 as scarce, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1840–1856.
- What is the provenance of COV-5372?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History, Part 8 (Sale 9061, 21 October 2026) lot 10149 (2026).
- When was COV-5372 posted?
- COV-5372 is dated 1855, within the recorded period of use of Karical HG 1 (1840–1856).
About this record
This 1855 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Karical HG 1 handstamp of the Madras Presidency, a mark graded “Scarce” in this census — one of 18 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History, Part 8 (Sale 9061, 21 October 2026), lot 10149, (2026).