Scan or Photo Courtesy of Spink
Date
1841
Description
Early Covers and Cancellations 1819-53 group of covers and fronts (5) comprising front of envelope from Madras to London with fine 'madras packet letter' oval handstamp and with boxed 'india letter/ portsmouth' cachet and 'unpaid' handstamp alongside, 1841 (8 Apr.) entire letter from Madras to London with oval 'madras/ free' cachet in red and oval 'india' handstamp in red, 1842 incoming entire to Calcutta with 'bombay/ receipt' handstamp on reverse, 1853 entire to Mauritius bearing 'calcutta/ g.p.o./ ship letter' cachet in red and with boxed 'india' in red and 1853 part entire to Liverpool with oval 'india' cachet in red and on reverse 'bombay/ g.p.o.' c.d.s.; a good to fine group
Auction
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 1handstampBlack1786–1806
- Madras HG 2handstampBlack1788
- Madras HG 3handstampBlack1791–1816
- Madras HG 4handstampBlack1795–1826
- Madras HG 5handstampBlack1799–1800
- Madras HG 6handstampBlack1802–1822
+75 more at this office.View all Madras marks and postal history →
About this Madras pre stamp cover
COV-1851 is a Madras pre stamp cover of 1841 bearing the Madras HG 21 handstamp, struck in red, recorded in the census of Madras postal history — the office known today as Chennai, Madras Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?
Early Covers and Cancellations 1819-53 group of covers and fronts (5) comprising front of envelope from Madras to London with fine 'madras packet letter' oval handstamp and with boxed 'india letter/ portsmouth' cachet and 'unpaid' handstamp alongside, 1841 (8 Apr.) entire letter from Madras to London with oval 'madras/ free' cachet in red and oval 'india' handstamp in red, 1842 incoming entire to Calcutta with 'bombay/ receipt' handstamp on reverse, 1853 entire to Mauritius bearing 'calcutta/ g.p.o./ ship letter' cachet in red and with boxed 'india' in red and 1853 part entire to Liverpool with oval 'india' cachet in red and on reverse 'bombay/ g.p.o.' c.d.s.; a good to fine group
Its recorded auction history runs through Spink 24115 - The Philatelic Collector's Series including Rhodesia Double Head and Admiral Issues from the Paul Peggie and Andrew Wilson Collections - e-Auction lot 5157.
1 image of COV-1851 is recorded; the Madras HG 21 mark itself is recorded in use 1837–1853.
Questions about COV-1851
- What is COV-1851?
- COV-1851 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Madras, Madras Presidency of 1841, bearing the Madras HG 21 handstamp in red. Early Covers and Cancellations 1819-53 group of covers and fronts (5) comprising front of envelope from Madras to London with fine 'madras packet letter' oval handstamp and with boxed 'india letter/ portsmouth' cachet and 'unpaid' handstamp alongside, 1841 (8 Apr.) entire letter from Madras to London with oval 'madras/ free' cachet in red and oval 'india' handstamp in red, 1842 incoming entire to Calcutta with 'bombay/ receipt' handstamp on reverse, 1853 entire to Mauritius bearing 'calcutta/ g.p.o./ ship letter' cachet in red and with boxed 'india' in red and 1853 part entire to Liverpool with oval 'india' cachet in red and on reverse 'bombay/ g.p.o.' c.d.s.; a good to fine group
- How scarce is the Madras HG 21 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Madras HG 21 as very common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1837–1853.
- What is the provenance of COV-1851?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Spink 24115 - The Philatelic Collector's Series including Rhodesia Double Head and Admiral Issues from the Paul Peggie and Andrew Wilson Collections - e-Auction lot 5157.
- When was COV-1851 posted?
- COV-1851 is dated 1841, within the recorded period of use of Madras HG 21 (1837–1853).
About this record
This 1841 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Madras HG 21 handstamp of the Madras Presidency, a mark graded “Very common” in this census — one of 8 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Spink, 24115 - The Philatelic Collector's Series including Rhodesia Double Head and Admiral Issues from the Paul Peggie and Andrew Wilson Collections - e-Auction, lot 5157.