Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
4 Nov 1834
Description
India, Porto Novo, 1834, "PORTO NOVO" Circular Handstamp with Star (Giles A, 1993 Supplement). Fairly clear strike in Brownish Red with manuscript "4th Nover 1834" date and rate calculations on back of folded cover to Sir John Doveton in Madras, sender's directive "Lady Essex" , cover likely originating in England and carried privately to India, "POST NOT PAID" handstamp (slightly affected by opening tears) which is attributed by Giles to Porto Novo, Madras (Nov. 7) arrival backstamps, cover with some edgewear, Fine strikes of these exceptionally rare postal markings, we presume very few (if any) other examples exist as this was only recorded by Giles in his 1993 Supplement, the recipient Sir John Doveton (1768-1847) was a well-known British military officer who retired as a Lieutenant-General having fought in Third & Fourth Anglo-Mysore and the Third Anglo-Maratha Wars
Auction
Sale 9054, Lot 10086, — The Magnolia Collection Part 7
Same office
Other recorded marks at Porto Novo
1 markOne other pre-1854 postal marking of Porto Novo is recorded in the census. Compare it against this mark to place your cover.
About this record
This 4 Nov 1834 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Porto Novo HG A handstamp of the Madras Presidency, a mark graded “Very scarce” 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 9054, lot 10086.