How scarce is the Pondicherry HG 12 mark on this cover?

The census grades Pondicherry HG 12 as very common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1849–1858.

When was COV-4824 posted?

COV-4824 is dated 6 July 1855, within the recorded period of use of Pondicherry HG 12 (1849–1858).

COV-4824

6 July 1855 Pondicherry HG 12 Cover

Back to census|Pondicherry HG 12 · 29 covers recorded

← COV-4806

6 July 1855 Pondicherry HG 12 pre stamp cover — COV-4824 — front

Pondicherry HG 12 pre stamp cover — back (COV-4824) — back

Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries

Date

6 July 1855

Description

INDIA, (French Settlement), Pondicherry, 1854, 1a Deep Red, Die I (4a; SG 11). Horizontal pair, ample margins to touching, tied by two diamond of dots cancels and manuscript "Stamped" on blue folded letter datelined Bordeaux, France Jul. 6, 1855, to "Monsieur Jules Bellamy, Capne de la Juliette, Coringuy", carried privately to Pondicherry with red framed "Pondicherry, 1855 August 16, Paid" despatch datestamp (Giles 12) on back, Calcutta and Injeram Bearing and Paid (Aug. 20, neither listed by Giles) transit and Cocanada (Aug. 21) arrival backstamps, Very Fine, an interesting privately carried cover to the French Settlement of Pondicherry for forwarding to Cocanada

Auction

Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries

The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History and Stamps Used Abroad, Part 2, Lot 6154, (11/14/2023)

Same office

Other recorded marks at Pondicherry

15 marks

15 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.

+9 more at this office.View all Pondicherry marks and postal history →

About this Pondicherry pre stamp cover

COV-4824 is a Pondicherry pre stamp cover of 6 July 1855 bearing the Pondicherry HG 12 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?

Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History and Stamps Used Abroad, Part 2 lot 6154 (11/14/2023).

2 images of COV-4824 are recorded (front, back); the Pondicherry HG 12 mark itself is recorded in use 1849–1858.

Questions about COV-4824

What is COV-4824?: COV-4824 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Pondicherry, Madras Presidency of 6 July 1855, bearing the Pondicherry HG 12 handstamp in red. INDIA, (French Settlement), Pondicherry, 1854, 1a Deep Red, Die I (4a; SG 11). Horizontal pair, ample margins to touching, tied by two diamond of dots cancels and manuscript "Stamped" on blue folded letter datelined Bordeaux, France Jul. 6, 1855, to "Monsieur Jules Bellamy, Capne de la Juliette, Coringuy", carried privately to Pondicherry with red framed "Pondicherry, 1855 August 16, Paid" despatch datestamp (Giles 12) on back, Calcutta and Injeram Bearing and Paid (Aug. 20, neither listed by Giles) transit and Cocanada (Aug. 21) arrival backstamps, Very Fine, an interesting privately carried cover to the French Settlement of Pondicherry for forwarding to Cocanada
How scarce is the Pondicherry HG 12 mark on this cover?: The census grades Pondicherry HG 12 as very common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1849–1858.
What is the provenance of COV-4824?: Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History and Stamps Used Abroad, Part 2 lot 6154 (11/14/2023).
When was COV-4824 posted?: COV-4824 is dated 6 July 1855, within the recorded period of use of Pondicherry HG 12 (1849–1858).

About this record

This 6 July 1855 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Pondicherry HG 12 handstamp of the Madras Presidency, a mark graded “Very common” in this census — one of 29 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History and Stamps Used Abroad, Part 2, lot 6154, (11/14/2023).