Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
29 June 1808
Description
India, Madras, 1808, "Post Paid/Fort St. George" Oval Handstamp (Giles 1). Two folded letters with clear Fort St. George handstamps, each written by the "Chief Secretary to Government" in Madras and addressed to the "Commissioner at Tranquebar" , first dated Jun. 29, 1808 and headed "Military Department" with letter regarding payment to a Captain at the same rate he received from the Danish government, second dated Jul. 14, 1808 and headed "Political Department" with letter regarding being "...not aware that there will be any objection to the return of Mr. Brown to Travancore, on the Condition of his take the Oath of allegiance, and of his conducting himself in an unexpectionable manner..." , each letter with some minor toning and ink erosion in places, Fine and exceptional historical documents, Tranquebar was under quite a bit of contention between the Danish and British, it was Danish until 1801 before the British briefly took over before handing it back in 1802, it was again surrendered in 1808 before the British returned it in 1815, then in 1845 Denmark sold their Indian possessions to the British
Auction
Worldwide Stamps and Postal History (Sale 1392, 10 November 2026), Lot 353, (2026)
Same office
Other recorded marks at Madras
81 marks81 other pre-1854 postal markings of Madras are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
- Madras HG 2handstampBlack1788
- Madras HG 3handstampBlack1791–1816
- Madras HG 4handstampBlack1795–1826
- Madras HG 5handstampBlack1799–1800
- Madras HG 6handstampBlack1802–1822
- Madras HG 6AhandstampRed1809
+75 more at this office.View all Madras marks and postal history →
About this Madras pre stamp cover
COV-5642 is a Madras pre stamp cover of 29 June 1808 bearing the Madras HG 1 handstamp, struck in black, recorded in the census of Madras postal history — the office known today as Chennai, Madras Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?
India, Madras, 1808, "Post Paid/Fort St. George" Oval Handstamp (Giles 1). Two folded letters with clear Fort St. George handstamps, each written by the "Chief Secretary to Government" in Madras and addressed to the "Commissioner at Tranquebar" , first dated Jun. 29, 1808 and headed "Military Department" with letter regarding payment to a Captain at the same rate he received from the Danish government, second dated Jul. 14, 1808 and headed "Political Department" with letter regarding being "...not aware that there will be any objection to the return of Mr. Brown to Travancore, on the Condition of his take the Oath of allegiance, and of his conducting himself in an unexpectionable manner..." , each letter with some minor toning and ink erosion in places, Fine and exceptional historical documents, Tranquebar was under quite a bit of contention between the Danish and British, it was Danish until 1801 before the British briefly took over before handing it back in 1802, it was again surrendered in 1808 before the British returned it in 1815, then in 1845 Denmark sold their Indian possessions to the British
Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Worldwide Stamps and Postal History (Sale 1392, 10 November 2026) lot 353 (2026).
2 images of COV-5642 are recorded; the Madras HG 1 mark itself is recorded in use 1786–1806.
Questions about COV-5642
- What is COV-5642?
- COV-5642 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Madras, Madras Presidency of 29 June 1808, bearing the Madras HG 1 handstamp in black. India, Madras, 1808, "Post Paid/Fort St. George" Oval Handstamp (Giles 1). Two folded letters with clear Fort St. George handstamps, each written by the "Chief Secretary to Government" in Madras and addressed to the "Commissioner at Tranquebar" , first dated Jun. 29, 1808 and headed "Military Department" with letter regarding payment to a Captain at the same rate he received from the Danish government, second dated Jul. 14, 1808 and headed "Political Department" with letter regarding being "...not aware that there will be any objection to the return of Mr. Brown to Travancore, on the Condition of his take the Oath of allegiance, and of his conducting himself in an unexpectionable manner..." , each letter with some minor toning and ink erosion in places, Fine and exceptional historical documents, Tranquebar was under quite a bit of contention between the Danish and British, it was Danish until 1801 before the British briefly took over before handing it back in 1802, it was again surrendered in 1808 before the British returned it in 1815, then in 1845 Denmark sold their Indian possessions to the British
- How scarce is the Madras HG 1 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Madras HG 1 as scarce, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1786–1806.
- What is the provenance of COV-5642?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Worldwide Stamps and Postal History (Sale 1392, 10 November 2026) lot 353 (2026).
- When was COV-5642 posted?
- COV-5642 is dated 29 June 1808, within the recorded period of use of Madras HG 1 (1786–1806).
About this record
This 29 June 1808 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Madras HG 1 handstamp of the Madras Presidency, a mark graded “Scarce” in this census — one of 11 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 353, (2026).