Scan or Photo Courtesy of Gowtham BJ
Date
August 1824
Description
1824 entire letter posted from Quilon to London, bearing 12 annas postage paid. The cover is struck in blue with the rare “India Letter / Brighton” handstamp and bears other transit markings on the reverse. The letter reached London on 27th April 1825. Cavendish - BRIGHTON - QUILON/DINAPORE “POST PAID” COVERS WITH BOXED “INDIA LETTER/BRIGHTON” MARKS; 22/23 Aug. 1824 EL (part flap lost with seal) from “Quilon” to London “Via Madras” with a very fine scarce blue framed “QUILON/POST PAID” nicely placed on the front (HG1; only known in blue for 1825 and in red only in 1824 - filing crease) and (on flap) a large part v. fine boxed “INDIA LETTER/BRIGHTON” (Rob.In.1); plus similar 24 Dec. 1824 E to London with very fine double-oval “DINAPORE/POST PAID” (HG2) slightly overlapped by a similarly very fine boxed In.1 “INDIA LETTER/BRIGHTON” on the flap. Good pair. (2 covers) PHOTO - see page 49.
Auction
Provenance
Michael Manning
Same office
Other recorded marks at Quilon
6 marks6 other pre-1854 postal markings of Quilon are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
About this Quilon pre stamp cover
COV-586 is a Quilon pre stamp cover of August 1824 bearing the Quilon HG 1 handstamp, struck in red, recorded in the census of Quilon postal history — the office known today as Kollam, Madras Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?
1824 entire letter posted from Quilon to London, bearing 12 annas postage paid. The cover is struck in blue with the rare “India Letter / Brighton” handstamp and bears other transit markings on the reverse. The letter reached London on 27th April 1825. Cavendish - BRIGHTON - QUILON/DINAPORE “POST PAID” COVERS WITH BOXED “INDIA LETTER/BRIGHTON” MARKS; 22/23 Aug. 1824 EL (part flap lost with seal) from “Quilon” to London “Via Madras” with a very fine scarce blue framed “QUILON/POST PAID” nicely placed on the front (HG1; only known in blue for 1825 and in red only in 1824 - filing crease) and (on flap) a large part v. fine boxed “INDIA LETTER/BRIGHTON” (Rob.In.1); plus similar 24 Dec. 1824 E to London with very fine double-oval “DINAPORE/POST PAID” (HG2) slightly overlapped by a similarly very fine boxed In.1 “INDIA LETTER/BRIGHTON” on the flap. Good pair. (2 covers) PHOTO - see page 49.
Its recorded auction history runs through Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd Manning lot 162 (Sept. 2015); Argyll Etkin Auction Of G.B & Worldwide Stamps and Postal History lot 469 (27 Oct 2022); and Grosvenor Philatelic Auctions lot 1804 (2024).
4 images of COV-586 are recorded (front, back); the Quilon HG 1 mark itself is recorded in use 1822–1825.
Questions about COV-586
- What is COV-586?
- COV-586 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Quilon, Madras Presidency of August 1824, bearing the Quilon HG 1 handstamp in red. 1824 entire letter posted from Quilon to London, bearing 12 annas postage paid. The cover is struck in blue with the rare “India Letter / Brighton” handstamp and bears other transit markings on the reverse. The letter reached London on 27th April 1825. Cavendish - BRIGHTON - QUILON/DINAPORE “POST PAID” COVERS WITH BOXED “INDIA LETTER/BRIGHTON” MARKS; 22/23 Aug. 1824 EL (part flap lost with seal) from “Quilon” to London “Via Madras” with a very fine scarce blue framed “QUILON/POST PAID” nicely placed on the front (HG1; only known in blue for 1825 and in red only in 1824 - filing crease) and (on flap) a large part v. fine boxed “INDIA LETTER/BRIGHTON” (Rob.In.1); plus similar 24 Dec. 1824 E to London with very fine double-oval “DINAPORE/POST PAID” (HG2) slightly overlapped by a similarly very fine boxed In.1 “INDIA LETTER/BRIGHTON” on the flap. Good pair. (2 covers) PHOTO - see page 49.
- How scarce is the Quilon HG 1 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Quilon HG 1 as very scarce, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1822–1825.
- What is the provenance of COV-586?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd Manning lot 162 (Sept. 2015); Argyll Etkin Auction Of G.B & Worldwide Stamps and Postal History lot 469 (27 Oct 2022); and Grosvenor Philatelic Auctions lot 1804 (2024).
- When was COV-586 posted?
- COV-586 is dated August 1824, within the recorded period of use of Quilon HG 1 (1822–1825).
About this record
This August 1824 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Quilon HG 1 handstamp of the Madras Presidency, a mark graded “Very scarce” in this census — one of 6 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd, Manning, lot 162, (Sept. 2015); Argyll Etkin, Auction Of G.B & Worldwide Stamps and Postal History, lot 469, (27 Oct 2022); Grosvenor Philatelic Auctions, lot 1804, (2024).