COV-2675
19 November 1854 Mercara HG 1 Cover
Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
19 November 1854
Description
India, 1854, 1a Red, Die I (4; SG 12). Stone "A", "L" shaped block of nine, Positions 49-54/60-62, mostly large margins, just touching in several places at top, tied by diamond of dots cancels on large portion of 1854 folded letter front only with top flap to Cheltenham, England, sender's directive "Overland via Southampton", red framed "MERCARA, Paid" (Giles 1) with manuscript "18th 11-/54" date added despatch on flap, bold red Madras (Nov. 22) and London (Jan. 5, 1855) transit, the latter also ties the block, and partial Cheltenham arrival datestamps, front with some flaws including tear thru despatch marking FINE AND RARE USE OF AN "L" SHAPED BLOCK OF NINE OF THE ONE-ANNA LITHOGRAPH FROM DIE I. Multiples of this size used on cover are rarely encountered. Not to mention, this is a very early use as stamps were issued Oct. 1, 1854.
Auction
Sale 1360 - The Magnolia Collection: India Stamps and Postal History, Part 5, Lot 69, (2025)
Same office
Other recorded marks at Mercara
2 marks2 other pre-1854 postal markings of Mercara are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
About this Mercara pre stamp cover
COV-2675 is a Mercara pre stamp cover of 19 November 1854 bearing the Mercara HG 1 handstamp, struck in red, recorded in the census of Mercara postal history — the office known today as Madikeri, Madras Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?
India, 1854, 1a Red, Die I (4; SG 12). Stone "A", "L" shaped block of nine, Positions 49-54/60-62, mostly large margins, just touching in several places at top, tied by diamond of dots cancels on large portion of 1854 folded letter front only with top flap to Cheltenham, England, sender's directive "Overland via Southampton", red framed "MERCARA, Paid" (Giles 1) with manuscript "18th 11-/54" date added despatch on flap, bold red Madras (Nov. 22) and London (Jan. 5, 1855) transit, the latter also ties the block, and partial Cheltenham arrival datestamps, front with some flaws including tear thru despatch marking FINE AND RARE USE OF AN "L" SHAPED BLOCK OF NINE OF THE ONE-ANNA LITHOGRAPH FROM DIE I. Multiples of this size used on cover are rarely encountered. Not to mention, this is a very early use as stamps were issued Oct. 1, 1854.
Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Sale 1360 - The Magnolia Collection: India Stamps and Postal History, Part 5 lot 69 (2025).
2 images of COV-2675 are recorded (front, back); the Mercara HG 1 mark itself is recorded in use 1838–1857.
Questions about COV-2675
- What is COV-2675?
- COV-2675 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Mercara, Madras Presidency of 19 November 1854, bearing the Mercara HG 1 handstamp in red. India, 1854, 1a Red, Die I (4; SG 12). Stone "A", "L" shaped block of nine, Positions 49-54/60-62, mostly large margins, just touching in several places at top, tied by diamond of dots cancels on large portion of 1854 folded letter front only with top flap to Cheltenham, England, sender's directive "Overland via Southampton", red framed "MERCARA, Paid" (Giles 1) with manuscript "18th 11-/54" date added despatch on flap, bold red Madras (Nov. 22) and London (Jan. 5, 1855) transit, the latter also ties the block, and partial Cheltenham arrival datestamps, front with some flaws including tear thru despatch marking FINE AND RARE USE OF AN "L" SHAPED BLOCK OF NINE OF THE ONE-ANNA LITHOGRAPH FROM DIE I. Multiples of this size used on cover are rarely encountered. Not to mention, this is a very early use as stamps were issued Oct. 1, 1854.
- How scarce is the Mercara HG 1 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Mercara HG 1 as common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1838–1857.
- What is the provenance of COV-2675?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Sale 1360 - The Magnolia Collection: India Stamps and Postal History, Part 5 lot 69 (2025).
- When was COV-2675 posted?
- COV-2675 is dated 19 November 1854, within the recorded period of use of Mercara HG 1 (1838–1857).
About this record
This 19 November 1854 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Mercara HG 1 handstamp of the Madras Presidency, a mark graded “Common” in this census — one of 5 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Sale 1360 - The Magnolia Collection: India Stamps and Postal History, Part 5, lot 69, (2025).