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Hand Struck Stamps

COV-600

30 October 1826 Pondicherry Cover

Back to census|Pondicherry HG 5 · 13 covers recorded
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Pre-stamp cover of India — 30 October 1826, Pondicherry HG 5 handstruck folded letter (COV-600)
front
Pre-stamp cover of India — Pondicherry HG 5, back (COV-600)
back

Scan or Photo Courtesy of Gowtham BJ

Date

30 October 1826

Description

Pondichery 1826 (Oct 30): Cover to the Danish Settlement at Tranquebar, endorsed at top "Post Paid / A 4" in manuscript (prepaid 4 annas on despatch), struck on reverse with fine framed "PONDICHERRY / POST PAID" despatch handstamp in red (Hammond Giles type 5). Illustrated in the London Philatelist, vol. 119, page 336. Addressee's name carefully excised, a rare and early cover to this Danish settlement, eventually purchased by the British in 1845.

Auction

SpinkSpink

Giles, Lot 401, (Oct. 2000)

Corinphila AuctionsCorinphila Auctions

Auction 291-297, Lot 503

Provenance

Derek Hammond Giles

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-600 is a Pondicherry pre stamp cover of 30 October 1826 bearing the Pondicherry HG 5 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?

Pondichery 1826 (Oct 30): Cover to the Danish Settlement at Tranquebar, endorsed at top "Post Paid / A 4" in manuscript (prepaid 4 annas on despatch), struck on reverse with fine framed "PONDICHERRY / POST PAID" despatch handstamp in red (Hammond Giles type 5). Illustrated in the London Philatelist, vol. 119, page 336. Addressee's name carefully excised, a rare and early cover to this Danish settlement, eventually purchased by the British in 1845.

Its recorded auction history runs through Spink Giles lot 401 (Oct. 2000); and Corinphila Auctions Auction 291-297 lot 503.

2 images of COV-600 are recorded (front, back); the Pondicherry HG 5 mark itself is recorded in use 1826–1836.

Questions about COV-600

What is COV-600?
COV-600 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Pondicherry, Madras Presidency of 30 October 1826, bearing the Pondicherry HG 5 handstamp in red. Pondichery 1826 (Oct 30): Cover to the Danish Settlement at Tranquebar, endorsed at top "Post Paid / A 4" in manuscript (prepaid 4 annas on despatch), struck on reverse with fine framed "PONDICHERRY / POST PAID" despatch handstamp in red (Hammond Giles type 5). Illustrated in the London Philatelist, vol. 119, page 336. Addressee's name carefully excised, a rare and early cover to this Danish settlement, eventually purchased by the British in 1845.
How scarce is the Pondicherry HG 5 mark on this cover?
The census grades Pondicherry HG 5 as common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1826–1836.
What is the provenance of COV-600?
Its recorded auction history runs through Spink Giles lot 401 (Oct. 2000); and Corinphila Auctions Auction 291-297 lot 503.
When was COV-600 posted?
COV-600 is dated 30 October 1826, within the recorded period of use of Pondicherry HG 5 (1826–1836).

About this record

This 30 October 1826 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Pondicherry HG 5 handstamp of the Madras Presidency, a mark graded “Common” in this census — one of 13 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Spink, Giles, lot 401, (Oct. 2000); Corinphila Auctions, Auction 291-297, lot 503.