Scan or Photo Courtesy of Santosh MS
Census record COV-2469 is a 11 May 1853 pre-stamp cover of British India bearing the Karical HG 2 handstamp of the Madras Presidency, a mark graded “Rare” in this census — one of 3 surviving covers with this mark recorded.
Date
11 May 1853
Description
1853 Saint-Denis – Karical overland entire, with French Saint-Denis despatch and "PP" in circle (PORT PAYE means Port Paid) from France, 10 decimes packet postage up to Alexandria paid by the sender, transited through Suez and sent to India via private French vessel. Upon receipt at Pondicherry port, directly Giles 11 "PONDICHERY /1853.May.10 /Bearing" despatch hand stamp & rate "3As + 1" (comprising 3A inward ship postage & 1A inland postage for a letter not exceeding ¼ tolah, not exceeding 100 miles; here the distance was around 80 miles between Pondicherry & Karical) applied & sent to Karical. At Karical, Giles 2 "KARICAL/Bearing" hand stamp as receipt & date "11. 5. 53" applied, bearing postage collected from the recipient.