Scan or Photo Courtesy of Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd
Date
1855
Description
½a FRANKINGS ON EARLY 1855 COVERS EX CALCUTTA (2) OR RAJAMUNDRY WITH DOTTED DIAMOND CANCELS; 12/18 Jan. 1855 env./EL from Calcutta to a local address (fine red 2-ring "RECEIVING HOUSE/No.6[?]" cds on back) or to Bombay with single ½a Blue (4m, fault at right, not tied) or 2 ½a Blues (v. tight 4m, tied to each other); plus 9 Feb. 1855 env. from Rajamundry to Secunderabad with two ½a Blues (4 good to large margins, slight gum stains; Stone A, pos. 30/31, group 6 retouched chignon) having fair red boxed "RAJAMUNDRY/Paid" (rare) and similar Secunderabad ds on reverse. (3 covers)
Auction
The Michael Caswell Collection of 19th Century India Postal History & Stamps Auction, Lot 1016, (13 May 2025)
Provenance
Michael Caswell
Same office
Other recorded marks at Rajamundry
2 marks2 other pre-1854 postal markings of Rajamundry are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
About this Rajamundry pre stamp cover
COV-4771 is a Rajamundry pre stamp cover of 1855 bearing the Rajamundry HG 1 handstamp, struck in red, recorded in the census of Rajamundry postal history — the office known today as Rajamahendravaram, Madras Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?
½a FRANKINGS ON EARLY 1855 COVERS EX CALCUTTA (2) OR RAJAMUNDRY WITH DOTTED DIAMOND CANCELS; 12/18 Jan. 1855 env./EL from Calcutta to a local address (fine red 2-ring "RECEIVING HOUSE/No.6[?]" cds on back) or to Bombay with single ½a Blue (4m, fault at right, not tied) or 2 ½a Blues (v. tight 4m, tied to each other); plus 9 Feb. 1855 env. from Rajamundry to Secunderabad with two ½a Blues (4 good to large margins, slight gum stains; Stone A, pos. 30/31, group 6 retouched chignon) having fair red boxed "RAJAMUNDRY/Paid" (rare) and similar Secunderabad ds on reverse. (3 covers)
Its recorded auction history runs through Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd The Michael Caswell Collection of 19th Century India Postal History & Stamps Auction lot 1016 (13 May 2025).
2 images of COV-4771 are recorded (front, back); the Rajamundry HG 1 mark itself is recorded in use 1837–1855.
Questions about COV-4771
- What is COV-4771?
- COV-4771 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Rajamundry, Madras Presidency of 1855, bearing the Rajamundry HG 1 handstamp in red. ½a FRANKINGS ON EARLY 1855 COVERS EX CALCUTTA (2) OR RAJAMUNDRY WITH DOTTED DIAMOND CANCELS; 12/18 Jan. 1855 env./EL from Calcutta to a local address (fine red 2-ring "RECEIVING HOUSE/No.6[?]" cds on back) or to Bombay with single ½a Blue (4m, fault at right, not tied) or 2 ½a Blues (v. tight 4m, tied to each other); plus 9 Feb. 1855 env. from Rajamundry to Secunderabad with two ½a Blues (4 good to large margins, slight gum stains; Stone A, pos. 30/31, group 6 retouched chignon) having fair red boxed "RAJAMUNDRY/Paid" (rare) and similar Secunderabad ds on reverse. (3 covers)
- How scarce is the Rajamundry HG 1 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Rajamundry HG 1 as common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1837–1855.
- What is the provenance of COV-4771?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd The Michael Caswell Collection of 19th Century India Postal History & Stamps Auction lot 1016 (13 May 2025).
- When was COV-4771 posted?
- COV-4771 is dated 1855, within the recorded period of use of Rajamundry HG 1 (1837–1855).
About this record
This 1855 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Rajamundry HG 1 handstamp of the Madras Presidency, a mark graded “Common” in this census — one of 2 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd, The Michael Caswell Collection of 19th Century India Postal History & Stamps Auction, lot 1016, (13 May 2025).