Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
8 June 1786
Description
India (French Settlement), Karical, 1786 Folded Letter. Folded letter datelined "A Karikal le 8 Juin 1786", presumably written to Madras though without address panel, origin and date confirmed with despatch docketing on second panel, two faint but clear strikes of "POST FREE" oval handstamps (Giles 6), pages heavily toned and completely silked, letter with some ink erosion, still about Fine, quite possibly the earliest recorded letter from Karical in private hands, likely carried privately as the British post office didn't open until 1794
Auction
Provenance
"Magnolia"
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 6AhandstampRed1809
+75 more at this office.View all Madras marks and postal history →
About this Madras pre stamp cover
COV-2099 is a Madras pre stamp cover of 8 June 1786 bearing the Madras HG 6 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 (French Settlement), Karical, 1786 Folded Letter. Folded letter datelined "A Karikal le 8 Juin 1786", presumably written to Madras though without address panel, origin and date confirmed with despatch docketing on second panel, two faint but clear strikes of "POST FREE" oval handstamps (Giles 6), pages heavily toned and completely silked, letter with some ink erosion, still about Fine, quite possibly the earliest recorded letter from Karical in private hands, likely carried privately as the British post office didn't open until 1794
Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries lot 10124, Sale 9024 (Nov. 2025).
2 images of COV-2099 are recorded; the Madras HG 6 mark itself is recorded in use 1802–1822.
Questions about COV-2099
- What is COV-2099?
- COV-2099 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Madras, Madras Presidency of 8 June 1786, bearing the Madras HG 6 handstamp in black. India (French Settlement), Karical, 1786 Folded Letter. Folded letter datelined "A Karikal le 8 Juin 1786", presumably written to Madras though without address panel, origin and date confirmed with despatch docketing on second panel, two faint but clear strikes of "POST FREE" oval handstamps (Giles 6), pages heavily toned and completely silked, letter with some ink erosion, still about Fine, quite possibly the earliest recorded letter from Karical in private hands, likely carried privately as the British post office didn't open until 1794
- How scarce is the Madras HG 6 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Madras HG 6 as common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1802–1822.
- What is the provenance of COV-2099?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries lot 10124, Sale 9024 (Nov. 2025).
- When was COV-2099 posted?
- COV-2099 is dated 8 June 1786, within the recorded period of use of Madras HG 6 (1802–1822).
About this record
This 8 June 1786 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Madras HG 6 handstamp of the Madras Presidency, a mark graded “Common” in this census — one of 13 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, lot 10124, Sale 9024, (Nov. 2025).