COV-2443 — 13 November 1854 Madapolum HG 1 Cover
Scan or Photo Courtesy of Santosh MS
Census record COV-2443 is a 13 November 1854 pre-stamp cover of British India bearing the Madapolum HG 1 handstamp of the Madras Presidency, a mark graded “Rare” in this census — the only surviving cover with this mark recorded so far.
Date
13 November 1854
Description
1854 Edinburgh – Rajahmundry via Madapolam overland cover, franked with QV 1s SG 56 Die 2 & obliterated with SG Type 7/22 Scottish numeral cancellation (131, Edinburgh). The sender paid 1s UK–India packet rate via the Southampton route for a letter not exceeding ½ oz (anywhere from UK to India inclusive). "OCT/T 3 A/1854" Edinburgh despatch & "EA/4 OC 4/1854" London transit marks applied. Sent to Alexandria via P&O steamer CANDIA, sent overland to Suez, and from there sent to Bombay via EIC regular steamer FEROZE, then forwarded to Madras. At Madras, Giles MX5 "GPO/1854 NO 9" receipt & Giles 20 "MADRAS/1854 November 9/Bearing" handstamp applied, with rate "2A" (inland postage for a letter under ¼ tolah, sent between 200–300 miles) applied in manuscript. At Madapolam, bearing handstamp applied & "2A" rate and date "13 November 1854" applied in manuscript, then sent to Rajahmundry, where Giles 2 "RAJAHMUNDRY/Bearing" handstamp & date "14 Novr. 54" were applied, bearing postage collected from the recipient.