Scan or Photo Courtesy of Gowtham BJ
Date
1840
Description
French India 1840: Cover to Bordeaux with framed "PONDICHERY / Paid" handstamp of despatch in red with manuscript date (Feb 19) and rate "1r. 30 annas" and "Steamer and Inland Paid in India", with oval "OUT STATION / SHIP LETTER / MADRAS" in black (Feb 20) and oval "INDIA" in red, framed "PAQUEBOTS / DE LA / MEDITTERRANÉE" with Bordeaux arrival (April 4) and charged "19" décimes due on arrival. Sensibly opened for Exhibit display, a fine cover
Auction
Auction 333rd to 346th, Lot 2074
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-594 is a Madras pre stamp cover of 1840 bearing the Madras SD11 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?
French India 1840: Cover to Bordeaux with framed "PONDICHERY / Paid" handstamp of despatch in red with manuscript date (Feb 19) and rate "1r. 30 annas" and "Steamer and Inland Paid in India", with oval "OUT STATION / SHIP LETTER / MADRAS" in black (Feb 20) and oval "INDIA" in red, framed "PAQUEBOTS / DE LA / MEDITTERRANÉE" with Bordeaux arrival (April 4) and charged "19" décimes due on arrival. Sensibly opened for Exhibit display, a fine cover
Its recorded auction history runs through Corinphila Auctions Auction 333rd to 346th lot 2074.
1 image of COV-594 is recorded (front); the Madras SD11 mark itself is recorded in use 1824–1852.
Questions about COV-594
- What is COV-594?
- COV-594 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Madras, Madras Presidency of 1840, bearing the Madras SD11 handstamp in red. French India 1840: Cover to Bordeaux with framed "PONDICHERY / Paid" handstamp of despatch in red with manuscript date (Feb 19) and rate "1r. 30 annas" and "Steamer and Inland Paid in India", with oval "OUT STATION / SHIP LETTER / MADRAS" in black (Feb 20) and oval "INDIA" in red, framed "PAQUEBOTS / DE LA / MEDITTERRANÉE" with Bordeaux arrival (April 4) and charged "19" décimes due on arrival. Sensibly opened for Exhibit display, a fine cover
- How scarce is the Madras SD11 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Madras SD11 as very common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1824–1852.
- What is the provenance of COV-594?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Corinphila Auctions Auction 333rd to 346th lot 2074.
- When was COV-594 posted?
- COV-594 is dated 1840, within the recorded period of use of Madras SD11 (1824–1852).
About this record
This 1840 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Madras SD11 handstamp of the Madras Presidency, a mark graded “Very common” in this census — one of 52 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Corinphila Auctions, Auction 333rd to 346th, lot 2074.