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Hand Struck Stamps

COV-824

October 1809 Negapatam Cover

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Pre-stamp cover of India — October 1809, Negapatam HG 1 handstruck folded letter (COV-824)

Scan or Photo Courtesy of Kishore Chandak

Date

October 1809

Description

1809 : H.G. 1 : NEGAPATAM, a sea port on the TANJORE coast, MADRAS Presidency. In 1799, the TANJORE kingdom came into British hands by treaty, NEGAPATAM became the District headquarters & remained so until 1845. NEGAPATAM and NAGORE were incorporated as a single municipality in 1866. Until this letter was discovered in 1972, the handstruck stamp "POST PAID / NEGAPATAM" had not been recorded, but it is quite clear in impression on this letter dated 4th October, 1809, which was sent to Madras, for shipping on the Fleet about to leave Madras on the 15th inst., according to the information in the letter. On arrival in England, the letter was stamped with the "SHIP LETTER / LONDON / Crown" on 10th April, 1810, the letter taking roughly six months in transit between India and England.

Auction

SpinkSpink

Giles, Lot 333, (Oct. 2000)

Provenance

Derek Hammond Giles

Same office

Other recorded marks at Negapatam

7 marks

7 other pre-1854 postal markings of Negapatam are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.

+1 more at this office.View all Negapatam marks and postal history →

About this Negapatam pre stamp cover

COV-824 is a Negapatam pre stamp cover of October 1809 bearing the Negapatam HG 1 handstamp, struck in black, recorded in the census of Negapatam postal history — the office known today as Nagapattinam, Madras Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?

1809 : H.G. 1 : NEGAPATAM, a sea port on the TANJORE coast, MADRAS Presidency. In 1799, the TANJORE kingdom came into British hands by treaty, NEGAPATAM became the District headquarters & remained so until 1845. NEGAPATAM and NAGORE were incorporated as a single municipality in 1866. Until this letter was discovered in 1972, the handstruck stamp "POST PAID / NEGAPATAM" had not been recorded, but it is quite clear in impression on this letter dated 4th October, 1809, which was sent to Madras, for shipping on the Fleet about to leave Madras on the 15th inst., according to the information in the letter. On arrival in England, the letter was stamped with the "SHIP LETTER / LONDON / Crown" on 10th April, 1810, the letter taking roughly six months in transit between India and England.

Its recorded auction history runs through Spink Giles lot 333 (Oct. 2000).

1 image of COV-824 is recorded; the Negapatam HG 1 mark itself is recorded in use 1809.

Questions about COV-824

What is COV-824?
COV-824 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Negapatam, Madras Presidency of October 1809, bearing the Negapatam HG 1 handstamp in black. 1809 : H.G. 1 : NEGAPATAM, a sea port on the TANJORE coast, MADRAS Presidency. In 1799, the TANJORE kingdom came into British hands by treaty, NEGAPATAM became the District headquarters & remained so until 1845. NEGAPATAM and NAGORE were incorporated as a single municipality in 1866. Until this letter was discovered in 1972, the handstruck stamp "POST PAID / NEGAPATAM" had not been recorded, but it is quite clear in impression on this letter dated 4th October, 1809, which was sent to Madras, for shipping on the Fleet about to leave Madras on the 15th inst., according to the information in the letter. On arrival in England, the letter was stamped with the "SHIP LETTER / LONDON / Crown" on 10th April, 1810, the letter taking roughly six months in transit between India and England.
How scarce is the Negapatam HG 1 mark on this cover?
The census grades Negapatam HG 1 as 1 example recorded, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1809.
What is the provenance of COV-824?
Its recorded auction history runs through Spink Giles lot 333 (Oct. 2000).
When was COV-824 posted?
COV-824 is dated October 1809, within the recorded period of use of Negapatam HG 1 (1809).

About this record

This October 1809 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Negapatam 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 Spink, Giles, lot 333, (Oct. 2000).