COV-1805
22 December 1851 Pondicherry Cover
Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
22 December 1851
Description
1851, "FORWARDED BY/WAGHORN & CO/OVERLAND AGENT/BOMBAY" (Unlisted in Sidebottom; Smith 13). Well-struck four-line boxed handstamp on flap of folded letter datelined Pondicherry Dec. 22, 1851, addressed to Bordeaux, France, sender's directive "Overland Mail, via Bombay", bold Pondicherry Dec. 1851 boxed despatch, Marseilles transit, and Bordeaux arrival datestamps, red "India Paid" crescent moon handstamp VERY FINE STRIKE OF ONE OF THE RAREST WAGHORN HANDSTAMPS. WE KNOW OF ONLY TWO EXAMPLES--THIS IS AN ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE USE FROM THE FRENCH SETTLEMENT OF PONDICHERRY. Sidebottom does not list this handstamp in his book. The Smith book lists this as Type 13 with only one example recorded, the cover offered here. We know of one other example, datelined Jul. 12, 1850, from Calcutta to Liverpool, which is in a private collection and has not been on the market in decades. We know of no other Waghorn covers originating in Pondicherry. As an interesting historical note, Thomas Waghorn was out of the overland business by 1844, but the overland service continued through various competitors. Waghorn died in January 1850, almost two years before this cover was mailed. The style of the handstamp is identical to certain Harnden & Co.'s markings. With photocopy of undated Robson Lowe certificate
Auction
1286, Lot 73, (May 2023)
Provenance
"Magnolia"
Certificates
Robson Lowe
Same office
Other recorded marks at Pondicherry
15 marks15 other pre-1854 postal markings of Pondicherry are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
- Pondicherry HG 1handstampBlack1786–1823
- Pondicherry HG 1ahandstampBlack1818
- Pondicherry HG 2handstampBlack1795
- Pondicherry HG 3handstampBlack1804–1817
- Pondicherry HG 3AhandstampBlack1801
- Pondicherry HG 4handstampBlack1804–1815
+9 more at this office.View all Pondicherry marks and postal history →
About this Pondicherry pre stamp cover
COV-1805 is a Pondicherry pre stamp cover of 22 December 1851 bearing the Pondicherry HG 10 handstamp, struck in red, recorded in the census of Pondicherry postal history — the office known today as Puducherry, Madras Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?
1851, "FORWARDED BY/WAGHORN & CO/OVERLAND AGENT/BOMBAY" (Unlisted in Sidebottom; Smith 13). Well-struck four-line boxed handstamp on flap of folded letter datelined Pondicherry Dec. 22, 1851, addressed to Bordeaux, France, sender's directive "Overland Mail, via Bombay", bold Pondicherry Dec. 1851 boxed despatch, Marseilles transit, and Bordeaux arrival datestamps, red "India Paid" crescent moon handstamp VERY FINE STRIKE OF ONE OF THE RAREST WAGHORN HANDSTAMPS. WE KNOW OF ONLY TWO EXAMPLES--THIS IS AN ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE USE FROM THE FRENCH SETTLEMENT OF PONDICHERRY. Sidebottom does not list this handstamp in his book. The Smith book lists this as Type 13 with only one example recorded, the cover offered here. We know of one other example, datelined Jul. 12, 1850, from Calcutta to Liverpool, which is in a private collection and has not been on the market in decades. We know of no other Waghorn covers originating in Pondicherry. As an interesting historical note, Thomas Waghorn was out of the overland business by 1844, but the overland service continued through various competitors. Waghorn died in January 1850, almost two years before this cover was mailed. The style of the handstamp is identical to certain Harnden & Co.'s markings. With photocopy of undated Robson Lowe certificate
Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries 1286 lot 73 (May 2023).
1 image of COV-1805 is recorded; the Pondicherry HG 10 mark itself is recorded in use 1839–1854.
Questions about COV-1805
- What is COV-1805?
- COV-1805 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Pondicherry, Madras Presidency of 22 December 1851, bearing the Pondicherry HG 10 handstamp in red. 1851, "FORWARDED BY/WAGHORN & CO/OVERLAND AGENT/BOMBAY" (Unlisted in Sidebottom; Smith 13). Well-struck four-line boxed handstamp on flap of folded letter datelined Pondicherry Dec. 22, 1851, addressed to Bordeaux, France, sender's directive "Overland Mail, via Bombay", bold Pondicherry Dec. 1851 boxed despatch, Marseilles transit, and Bordeaux arrival datestamps, red "India Paid" crescent moon handstamp VERY FINE STRIKE OF ONE OF THE RAREST WAGHORN HANDSTAMPS. WE KNOW OF ONLY TWO EXAMPLES--THIS IS AN ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE USE FROM THE FRENCH SETTLEMENT OF PONDICHERRY. Sidebottom does not list this handstamp in his book. The Smith book lists this as Type 13 with only one example recorded, the cover offered here. We know of one other example, datelined Jul. 12, 1850, from Calcutta to Liverpool, which is in a private collection and has not been on the market in decades. We know of no other Waghorn covers originating in Pondicherry. As an interesting historical note, Thomas Waghorn was out of the overland business by 1844, but the overland service continued through various competitors. Waghorn died in January 1850, almost two years before this cover was mailed. The style of the handstamp is identical to certain Harnden & Co.'s markings. With photocopy of undated Robson Lowe certificate
- How scarce is the Pondicherry HG 10 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Pondicherry HG 10 as very common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1839–1854.
- What is the provenance of COV-1805?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries 1286 lot 73 (May 2023). Certificate: Robson Lowe.
- When was COV-1805 posted?
- COV-1805 is dated 22 December 1851, within the recorded period of use of Pondicherry HG 10 (1839–1854).
About this record
This 22 December 1851 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Pondicherry HG 10 handstamp of the Madras Presidency, a mark graded “Very common” in this census — one of 22 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, 1286, lot 73, (May 2023). Certified: Robson Lowe.