Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
30 May 1816
Description
INDIA, Madras, 1816, "SHIP LETTER MADRAS" Negative Handstamp (Giles SD2). Truly exceptional strike with manuscript "30 May (181)6" date added, clearly showing the intricate details of the marking, applied to folded cover (missing internal letter) to London, England, sender's directive "per H.M. sloop Zebra", boxed "UNPAID" handstamp , Crowned India Packet Letter Oct. 13 and London Oct. 15 arrival datestamps, manuscript "3/6" rate marking EXTREMELY FINE. EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST STRIKES OF THIS RARE AND DESIRABLE MADRAS SHIP LETTER MARKING. THIS WAS USED FOR ONLY THREE MONTHS IN 1816. IT IS BELIEVED ABOUT TEN EXAMPLES EXIST. 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.
Auction
(2018)
Sale 1301, Lot 6028
Provenance
Jagmohan Kapur 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 6handstampBlack1802–1822
+75 more at this office.View all Madras marks and postal history →
About this Madras pre stamp cover
COV-97 is a Madras pre stamp cover of 30 May 1816 bearing the Madras SD3 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, 1816, "SHIP LETTER MADRAS" Negative Handstamp (Giles SD2). Truly exceptional strike with manuscript "30 May (181)6" date added, clearly showing the intricate details of the marking, applied to folded cover (missing internal letter) to London, England, sender's directive "per H.M. sloop Zebra", boxed "UNPAID" handstamp , Crowned India Packet Letter Oct. 13 and London Oct. 15 arrival datestamps, manuscript "3/6" rate marking EXTREMELY FINE. EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST STRIKES OF THIS RARE AND DESIRABLE MADRAS SHIP LETTER MARKING. THIS WAS USED FOR ONLY THREE MONTHS IN 1816. IT IS BELIEVED ABOUT TEN EXAMPLES EXIST. 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.
Its recorded auction history runs through Auktionen Gaertner (2018); and Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Sale 1301 lot 6028.
2 images of COV-97 are recorded (front, back); the Madras SD3 mark itself is recorded in use 1816–1819.
Questions about COV-97
- What is COV-97?
- COV-97 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Madras, Madras Presidency of 30 May 1816, bearing the Madras SD3 handstamp in black. INDIA, Madras, 1816, "SHIP LETTER MADRAS" Negative Handstamp (Giles SD2). Truly exceptional strike with manuscript "30 May (181)6" date added, clearly showing the intricate details of the marking, applied to folded cover (missing internal letter) to London, England, sender's directive "per H.M. sloop Zebra", boxed "UNPAID" handstamp , Crowned India Packet Letter Oct. 13 and London Oct. 15 arrival datestamps, manuscript "3/6" rate marking EXTREMELY FINE. EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST STRIKES OF THIS RARE AND DESIRABLE MADRAS SHIP LETTER MARKING. THIS WAS USED FOR ONLY THREE MONTHS IN 1816. IT IS BELIEVED ABOUT TEN EXAMPLES EXIST. 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.
- How scarce is the Madras SD3 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Madras SD3 as common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1816–1819.
- What is the provenance of COV-97?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Auktionen Gaertner (2018); and Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Sale 1301 lot 6028.
- When was COV-97 posted?
- COV-97 is dated 30 May 1816, within the recorded period of use of Madras SD3 (1816–1819).
About this record
This 30 May 1816 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Madras SD3 handstamp of the Madras Presidency, a mark graded “Common” in this census — one of 21 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Auktionen Gaertner, (2018); Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Sale 1301, lot 6028.