8 July 1816 Madras SD2 Cover

8 July 1816

Siegel: Madras, 1816, "Ship Letter Madras" Negative Handstamp (Giles SD2). Exceptionally sharp strike dated Jul. 9, 1816 clearly showing the intricate details of the marking with "POSTPAID" in oval handstamp at top (Giles SD4) on folded cover to Middlesex, England, sender's directive "per H.M.S. Horitio, Kings Postage Paid" , red London "Paid India Packet Letter, 12 NO 12, 1816" and tombstone datestamps, rated "8" due, missing side flap and minor edgewear EXTREMELY FINE. PROBABLY THE FINEST STRIKE OF THIS RARE AND DISTINCTIVE MADRAS SHIP LETTER MARKING, WHICH WAS USED FOR ONLY THREE MONTHS IN 1816. IT IS BELIEVED THERE ARE ONLY TEN EXTANT EXAMPLES. Giles records this marking as very scarce . It was used between May and July 1816 as a temporary measure before the standard datestamp was received from London. It is also rarer on prepaid mail. Ex Manning. Cavendish: THE VERY SHORT-LIVED & RARE INTAGLIO “[Crown]/MADRAS SHIP LETER/GPO” D.S. ON PREPAID COVER TO G.B.; Spectacular 8 July 1816 E (one side-flap removed) to Harrow “Pr H.M.S. Horitio. Kings Postage paid” with a wonderfully clear strike of the fully dated black Intaglio “[Crown]MADRAS SHIP LETER/GPO” d.s. (H Giles SD2; “very scarce”) nicely placed on the front beside a matching very fine oval-framed “POST PAID” with a very fine red oval-framed London “PAID/INDIA/PACKET LETTER” d.s. (12 Nov.) alongside; charged “8[d]” inland rate in England. Very few examples of this unusual (and mis-spelled) Madras mark are known; it was used as an emergency measure - for Packet Letters of only three months (May, June & July 1816) - pending the arrival from London of the regular oval datestamp. It is even rarer on prepaid mail such as this. Superb Exhibition Item and one of the gems of the Manning Collection. PHOTO - see front cover.

"Magnolia" Michael Manning