How scarce is the Palamcotah HG 3A mark on this cover?

The census grades Palamcotah HG 3A as rare, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1829.

When was COV-676 posted?

COV-676 is dated 1 February 1829, within the recorded period of use of Palamcotah HG 3A (1829).

COV-676

1 February 1829 Palamcotah Cover

Back to census|Palamcotah HG 3A

Pre-stamp cover of India — 1 February 1829, Palamcotah HG 3A handstruck folded letter (COV-676) — front

Pre-stamp cover of India — Palamcotah HG 3A, back (COV-676) — back

Pre-stamp cover of India — Palamcotah HG 3A, front (COV-676) — front

Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries

Date

1 February 1829

Description

India, Palamcotah, 1829, "PALLAMCOTTAH/POST FREE" Circular Handstamp (Giles Unrecorded). Clear and complete strike on back of folded letter datelined Feb. 1, 1829, addressed to Bangalore, Very Fine, a presumably very rare strike as it was not recorded by Giles in his seminal work on Indian postal markings

Auction

Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries

Sale No. 1325, Lot 3051, (2025)

Provenance

•2025, Robert A. Siegel Sale No. 1325, Lot 3051

Same office

Other recorded marks at Palamcotah

11 marks

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

+5 more at this office.View all Palamcotah marks and postal history →

About this Palamcotah pre stamp cover

COV-676 is a Palamcotah pre stamp cover of 1 February 1829 bearing the Palamcotah HG 3A handstamp, recorded in the census of Palamcotah postal history — the office known today as Palayamkottai, Madras Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?

Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Sale No. 1325 lot 3051 (2025).

3 images of COV-676 are recorded (front, back); the Palamcotah HG 3A mark itself is recorded in use 1829.

Questions about COV-676

What is COV-676?: COV-676 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Palamcotah, Madras Presidency of 1 February 1829, bearing the Palamcotah HG 3A handstamp. India, Palamcotah, 1829, "PALLAMCOTTAH/POST FREE" Circular Handstamp (Giles Unrecorded). Clear and complete strike on back of folded letter datelined Feb. 1, 1829, addressed to Bangalore, Very Fine, a presumably very rare strike as it was not recorded by Giles in his seminal work on Indian postal markings
How scarce is the Palamcotah HG 3A mark on this cover?: The census grades Palamcotah HG 3A as rare, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1829.
What is the provenance of COV-676?: Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Sale No. 1325 lot 3051 (2025).
When was COV-676 posted?: COV-676 is dated 1 February 1829, within the recorded period of use of Palamcotah HG 3A (1829).

About this record

This 1 February 1829 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Palamcotah HG 3A handstamp of the Madras Presidency, a mark graded “Rare” in this census — the only surviving cover with this mark recorded so far. It has appeared at auction with Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Sale No. 1325, lot 3051, (2025).