Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
4 November 1804
Description
India (French Settlement), Karical, 1804, "KARICAL/POST PAID" Oval Handstamp (Giles Add. 1 -- Unrecorded). Faint but legible strike on folded letter datelined "November 4th, 1804" and addressed to "To His Excellency Serfoji, Maharajha King of Tanjore" , two faint but clear strikes of "Post Paid/Fort St. George" (Giles 1) in transit, cover with overall toning, a couple small pieces missing on front panel and completely silked/backed to prevent any further erosion of paper FINE. THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THIS NEWLY ENCOUNTERED POSTAL MARKING FROM THE FRENCH SETTLEMENT OF KARICAL. THIS NEW DISCOVERY PRE-DATES OTHER BRITISH MARKINGS BY DECADES. This is the earliest item sent through the British Post Office in Karical that we are aware of (the British Post Office opened in 1794). There is another cover that we are aware of that was sent in 1786 but only had postal markings applied upon receipt in Madras (ex "Magnolia", Siegel Sale 9042, Lot 10124). That cover was sent prior to the opening of the post office in Karical. Therefore, it was presumably carried privately and entered the mails in Madras. The next earliest postal marking listed in Giles wasn't until the 1840s. This new listing has been updated on the digitized listing of the Giles catalogue (www.handstruckstampsindia.com).
Auction
Worldwide Stamps and Postal History (Sale 1392, 10 November 2026), Lot 457, (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-5663 is a Karical pre stamp cover of 4 November 1804 bearing the Karical HG Add. 1 handstamp, struck in black, 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), Karical, 1804, "KARICAL/POST PAID" Oval Handstamp (Giles Add. 1 -- Unrecorded). Faint but legible strike on folded letter datelined "November 4th, 1804" and addressed to "To His Excellency Serfoji, Maharajha King of Tanjore" , two faint but clear strikes of "Post Paid/Fort St. George" (Giles 1) in transit, cover with overall toning, a couple small pieces missing on front panel and completely silked/backed to prevent any further erosion of paper FINE. THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THIS NEWLY ENCOUNTERED POSTAL MARKING FROM THE FRENCH SETTLEMENT OF KARICAL. THIS NEW DISCOVERY PRE-DATES OTHER BRITISH MARKINGS BY DECADES. This is the earliest item sent through the British Post Office in Karical that we are aware of (the British Post Office opened in 1794). There is another cover that we are aware of that was sent in 1786 but only had postal markings applied upon receipt in Madras (ex "Magnolia", Siegel Sale 9042, Lot 10124). That cover was sent prior to the opening of the post office in Karical. Therefore, it was presumably carried privately and entered the mails in Madras. The next earliest postal marking listed in Giles wasn't until the 1840s. This new listing has been updated on the digitized listing of the Giles catalogue (www.handstruckstampsindia.com).
Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Worldwide Stamps and Postal History (Sale 1392, 10 November 2026) lot 457 (2026).
3 images of COV-5663 are recorded (front); the Karical HG Add. 1 mark itself is recorded in use 1804.
Questions about COV-5663
- What is COV-5663?
- COV-5663 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Karical, Madras Presidency of 4 November 1804, bearing the Karical HG Add. 1 handstamp in black. India (French Settlement), Karical, 1804, "KARICAL/POST PAID" Oval Handstamp (Giles Add. 1 -- Unrecorded). Faint but legible strike on folded letter datelined "November 4th, 1804" and addressed to "To His Excellency Serfoji, Maharajha King of Tanjore" , two faint but clear strikes of "Post Paid/Fort St. George" (Giles 1) in transit, cover with overall toning, a couple small pieces missing on front panel and completely silked/backed to prevent any further erosion of paper FINE. THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THIS NEWLY ENCOUNTERED POSTAL MARKING FROM THE FRENCH SETTLEMENT OF KARICAL. THIS NEW DISCOVERY PRE-DATES OTHER BRITISH MARKINGS BY DECADES. This is the earliest item sent through the British Post Office in Karical that we are aware of (the British Post Office opened in 1794). There is another cover that we are aware of that was sent in 1786 but only had postal markings applied upon receipt in Madras (ex "Magnolia", Siegel Sale 9042, Lot 10124). That cover was sent prior to the opening of the post office in Karical. Therefore, it was presumably carried privately and entered the mails in Madras. The next earliest postal marking listed in Giles wasn't until the 1840s. This new listing has been updated on the digitized listing of the Giles catalogue (www.handstruckstampsindia.com).
- How scarce is the Karical HG Add. 1 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Karical HG Add. 1 as 1 example recorded, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1804.
- What is the provenance of COV-5663?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Worldwide Stamps and Postal History (Sale 1392, 10 November 2026) lot 457 (2026).
- When was COV-5663 posted?
- COV-5663 is dated 4 November 1804, within the recorded period of use of Karical HG Add. 1 (1804).
About this record
This 4 November 1804 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Karical HG Add. 1 handstamp of the Madras Presidency, a mark with 1 example recorded in this census — the only surviving cover with this mark recorded so far. It has appeared at auction with Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Worldwide Stamps and Postal History (Sale 1392, 10 November 2026), lot 457, (2026).