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Hand Struck Stamps

COV-4392

25 April 1857 Negapatam Cover

Back to census|Negapatam HG 6
Pre-stamp cover of India — 25 April 1857, Negapatam HG 6 handstruck folded letter (COV-4392)
front
Pre-stamp cover of India — Negapatam HG 6, back (COV-4392)
back

Scan or Photo Courtesy of StampBay Auctions

Date

25 April 1857

Description

Early India Cancellations: TALOOK TAPAL/25 Apr 57 cancel in red on folded letter bearing ½a blue die III tied by “C/139” and corresponding “MADURA” double-ring alongside, to Trichinopoly, with “NEGAPATAM Bearing” Giles Unrecorded, and TRICHONOPOLY delivery in red and again in black

Auction

StampBayStampBay

Stampbay 21th Auction - India Exclusive, Lot 246, (August 29 2026)

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-4392 is a Negapatam pre stamp cover of 25 April 1857 bearing the Negapatam HG 6 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?

Early India Cancellations: TALOOK TAPAL/25 Apr 57 cancel in red on folded letter bearing ½a blue die III tied by “C/139” and corresponding “MADURA” double-ring alongside, to Trichinopoly, with “NEGAPATAM Bearing” Giles Unrecorded, and TRICHONOPOLY delivery in red and again in black

Its recorded auction history runs through StampBay Stampbay 21th Auction - India Exclusive lot 246 (August 29 2026).

2 images of COV-4392 are recorded (front, back); the Negapatam HG 6 mark itself is recorded in use 1848–1857.

Questions about COV-4392

What is COV-4392?
COV-4392 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Negapatam, Madras Presidency of 25 April 1857, bearing the Negapatam HG 6 handstamp in black. Early India Cancellations: TALOOK TAPAL/25 Apr 57 cancel in red on folded letter bearing ½a blue die III tied by “C/139” and corresponding “MADURA” double-ring alongside, to Trichinopoly, with “NEGAPATAM Bearing” Giles Unrecorded, and TRICHONOPOLY delivery in red and again in black
How scarce is the Negapatam HG 6 mark on this cover?
The census grades Negapatam HG 6 as common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1848–1857.
What is the provenance of COV-4392?
Its recorded auction history runs through StampBay Stampbay 21th Auction - India Exclusive lot 246 (August 29 2026).
When was COV-4392 posted?
COV-4392 is dated 25 April 1857, within the recorded period of use of Negapatam HG 6 (1848–1857).

About this record

This 25 April 1857 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Negapatam HG 6 handstamp of the Madras Presidency, a mark graded “Common” in this census — the only surviving cover with this mark recorded so far. It has appeared at auction with StampBay, Stampbay 21th Auction - India Exclusive, lot 246, (August 29 2026).