Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
30 September 1820
Description
Siegel - India, Mount (St. Thomas's Mount), 1820, "MOUNT/POST PAID" Oval Handstamp (Giles 1). Bold watery strike on 1820 folded cover (missing inner sheet) to Seringapatam, manuscript "A 6" (6 annas) rate and "Mount 30th Sept. 1820" despatch docketing, Madras (Oct. 1) transit datestamp, few minute edge tears just affecting handstamp VERY FINE STRIKE OF THE "MOUNT POST PAID" OVAL HANDSTAMP—GILES NO. 1. NOTED AS THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE. We are unaware of any other examples. Missing from both Dr. Contractor and Giles collections. Cavendish - MADRAS, MEERUT, MIDNAPORE & MOUNT PAID MARKS INC. UNIQUE(?) EARLY “MOUNT/POST PAID”; 1820-54 covers with 30 Sept. 1820 E to Seringapatam with v. fine large oval-framed “MOUNT/POST PAID” (HG1; “1 example recorded”) on the front, 1838 EL to Calcutta with mainly v. fine red large encircled “MIDNAPORE/Pt Pd/18” (HG3), battered 1839 EL to Saugor with fine red boxed “MEERUT/Paid”, and Jan. 1854 EL from Calcutta to Madras with v. fine scarce black encircled “MADRAS/B.P.P./Bg.” (HG SR7) and partly fine large matching boxed “BEARING” (not recorded in HG?). Plus a c.1830 print of Fort George. (4 covers + 1 print) PHOTO - see page 41.
Auction
Provenance
"Magnolia" Michael Manning
- •2025, Robert A. Siegel Sale No. 1325, Lot 3043
Same office
Other recorded marks at Mount
6 marks6 other pre-1854 postal markings of Mount are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
About this record
This 30 September 1820 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Mount HG 1 handstamp of the Madras Presidency, a mark with 1 example recorded in this census — the only surviving cover with this mark recorded so far. It has appeared at auction with Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd, Manning, lot 128, (Sept. 2015); Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, lot 3043, (Jun. 2024).