Scan or Photo Courtesy of Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd
Date
11 May 1819
Description
MADRAS/LONDON - RARE LINED “KINGS.POSTAGE/COMPYs. INLAND Do.” ON INDIA SHIP LETTER COVER; 11 May 1819 E (light toning and some minor faults) with mainly fine 2-ring “INDIA SHIP LETTER/[Crown]/G.P.O/LONDON” d.s. on the front to “Vizagapatam” via Agents in Madras “P [Ship] W. Miles” also having the rare lined Madras “KINGS POSTAGE...[8A-2P + 12A]” mark (HG SR2; “Very Scarce” - previously only known used June-Aug. 1819) nicely placed on the top flap. There is also a very fine oval “MADRAS” d.s. (21 Sept.) just across the join on the reverse. Good example of this very elusive Madras KINGS POSTAGE marking.
Auction
The Michael Manning Collection, Lot 221, (2015)
Provenance
Manning
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-2946 is a Madras pre stamp cover of 11 May 1819 bearing the Madras SR2 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?
MADRAS/LONDON - RARE LINED “KINGS.POSTAGE/COMPYs. INLAND Do.” ON INDIA SHIP LETTER COVER; 11 May 1819 E (light toning and some minor faults) with mainly fine 2-ring “INDIA SHIP LETTER/[Crown]/G.P.O/LONDON” d.s. on the front to “Vizagapatam” via Agents in Madras “P [Ship] W. Miles” also having the rare lined Madras “KINGS POSTAGE...[8A-2P + 12A]” mark (HG SR2; “Very Scarce” - previously only known used June-Aug. 1819) nicely placed on the top flap. There is also a very fine oval “MADRAS” d.s. (21 Sept.) just across the join on the reverse. Good example of this very elusive Madras KINGS POSTAGE marking.
Its recorded auction history runs through Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd The Michael Manning Collection lot 221 (2015).
1 image of COV-2946 is recorded (front); the Madras SR2 mark itself is recorded in use 1818–1819.
Questions about COV-2946
- What is COV-2946?
- COV-2946 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Madras, Madras Presidency of 11 May 1819, bearing the Madras SR2 handstamp in black. MADRAS/LONDON - RARE LINED “KINGS.POSTAGE/COMPYs. INLAND Do.” ON INDIA SHIP LETTER COVER; 11 May 1819 E (light toning and some minor faults) with mainly fine 2-ring “INDIA SHIP LETTER/[Crown]/G.P.O/LONDON” d.s. on the front to “Vizagapatam” via Agents in Madras “P [Ship] W. Miles” also having the rare lined Madras “KINGS POSTAGE...[8A-2P + 12A]” mark (HG SR2; “Very Scarce” - previously only known used June-Aug. 1819) nicely placed on the top flap. There is also a very fine oval “MADRAS” d.s. (21 Sept.) just across the join on the reverse. Good example of this very elusive Madras KINGS POSTAGE marking.
- How scarce is the Madras SR2 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Madras SR2 as very scarce, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1818–1819.
- What is the provenance of COV-2946?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd The Michael Manning Collection lot 221 (2015).
- When was COV-2946 posted?
- COV-2946 is dated 11 May 1819, within the recorded period of use of Madras SR2 (1818–1819).
About this record
This 11 May 1819 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Madras SR2 handstamp of the Madras Presidency, a mark graded “Very scarce” in this census — one of 6 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd, The Michael Manning Collection, lot 221, (2015).