Scan or Photo Courtesy of Santosh MS
Census record COV-2447 is a 15 July 1844 pre-stamp cover of British India bearing the Nowgaum HG 2 handstamp of the Madras Presidency, a mark graded “Common” in this census — one of 4 surviving covers with this mark recorded.
Date
15 July 1844
Description
1844 Nowgaum – Ootacamund via Madras GPO inland entire, with Giles 2 "NOWGAUM/Bearing" handstamp, date "15 July 1844" & rate "6A" (6A postage for a letter under ¼ tolah, travelling between 900–1000 miles. This letter travelled Nowgaum–Madras: 732 miles & Madras–Ootacamund: 338 miles, total 1070 miles) applied in manuscript. At Madras, Giles MX5 "GPO/1844 Jul. 23" transit mark applied, and finally at Ootacamund, Giles 5 "Ootacamund/29 July 1844/Bearing" (date slug inverted) handstamp applied as the delivery mark.