COV-2470 — 22 November 1841 Pondicherry HG 7 Cover
Scan or Photo Courtesy of Santosh MS
Census record COV-2470 is a 22 November 1841 pre-stamp cover of British India bearing the Pondicherry HG 7 handstamp of the Madras Presidency, a mark graded “Common” in this census — one of 11 surviving covers with this mark recorded.
Date
22 November 1841
Description
1841 Pondicherry – Bordeaux overland entire via Marseilles route, with Pondicherry Giles 7 "PONDICHERRY/Paid" despatch hand stamp, date "22 Novr. 1841" & paid rate "1R3A + 8A" (total 27A, comprising 10A double-letter inland postage to Bombay weighing between ¼–½ tolah, 9A steam postage to Alexandria, & 8A Madras–Bombay express rate) applied in manuscript, transited through Madras, there Giles MX5 "G.P.O./1841 Nov.24" mark & at Bombay Giles SD5 "INDIA" port transit mark applied. From Bombay sent to Suez by EIC regular steamer VICTORIA, then travelled overland to Alexandria, from there sent to Malta via P&O steamer MONTROSE & then sent to Marseilles via H.M.'s packet ALECTO. There "MARSEILLE/2 JANV/1842/(12)" French transit mark & 19 decimes (French 9 decimes inland postage + 10 decimes Mediterranean steam postage) bearing postage applied in manuscript, finally reached Bordeaux & there "BORDEAUX/3 JANV/1842/(32)" delivery mark applied. Bearing postage collected from the recipient.