Scan or Photo Courtesy of ava auctions
Date
1842
Description
1842 (Jan) entire letter written by Captain Philip Anstruther, Madras Artillery, from Ningpo to Madras, but crossed-out and forwarded to Rajahmundry, India. There is no postal marking on the address panel but handwritten “China Expedition Letter free”. On the flap with rectangular boxed Madras Ship Letter cachet with handwritten postage of 9 Annas and Rajahmundry arrival c.d.s. (handwritten date: 2 / May / 1842).The writer wrote down his speculation on the battle in Peking and Tientsin in the letter and believed that “if the reinforcements arrive as strong as we expect at Pekin, in about August. This I hope will end the war.” However, the writer also expressed his worry that “A winter at Pekin would be frightfully severe” while “winter at Ningpo has been frightfully as bad as any I saw in England. Canals and ponds frozen for a month together. We are gradually destroying the town without intending it, but the houses are such handy firewood.” An interesting text on the weather issue during the war. The writer, Anstruther, was previously captured in the shipwreck of the Kite and was moved to Ningpo. He was released afterward in October 1841 as the Chinese abandoned the town when the British force advanced to Ningpo. He re-joined the troop and participated in several other warfares.
Auction
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-1737 is a Rajamundry pre stamp cover of 1842 bearing the Rajamundry HG 2 handstamp, struck in black, recorded in the census of Rajamundry postal history — the office known today as Rajamahendravaram, Madras Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?
1842 (Jan) entire letter written by Captain Philip Anstruther, Madras Artillery, from Ningpo to Madras, but crossed-out and forwarded to Rajahmundry, India. There is no postal marking on the address panel but handwritten “China Expedition Letter free”. On the flap with rectangular boxed Madras Ship Letter cachet with handwritten postage of 9 Annas and Rajahmundry arrival c.d.s. (handwritten date: 2 / May / 1842).The writer wrote down his speculation on the battle in Peking and Tientsin in the letter and believed that “if the reinforcements arrive as strong as we expect at Pekin, in about August. This I hope will end the war.” However, the writer also expressed his worry that “A winter at Pekin would be frightfully severe” while “winter at Ningpo has been frightfully as bad as any I saw in England. Canals and ponds frozen for a month together. We are gradually destroying the town without intending it, but the houses are such handy firewood.” An interesting text on the weather issue during the war. The writer, Anstruther, was previously captured in the shipwreck of the Kite and was moved to Ningpo. He was released afterward in October 1841 as the Chinese abandoned the town when the British force advanced to Ningpo. He re-joined the troop and participated in several other warfares.
Its recorded auction history runs through Ava Auctions lot 1047.
1 image of COV-1737 is recorded; the Rajamundry HG 2 mark itself is recorded in use 1839–1854.
Questions about COV-1737
- What is COV-1737?
- COV-1737 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Rajamundry, Madras Presidency of 1842, bearing the Rajamundry HG 2 handstamp in black. 1842 (Jan) entire letter written by Captain Philip Anstruther, Madras Artillery, from Ningpo to Madras, but crossed-out and forwarded to Rajahmundry, India. There is no postal marking on the address panel but handwritten “China Expedition Letter free”. On the flap with rectangular boxed Madras Ship Letter cachet with handwritten postage of 9 Annas and Rajahmundry arrival c.d.s. (handwritten date: 2 / May / 1842).The writer wrote down his speculation on the battle in Peking and Tientsin in the letter and believed that “if the reinforcements arrive as strong as we expect at Pekin, in about August. This I hope will end the war.” However, the writer also expressed his worry that “A winter at Pekin would be frightfully severe” while “winter at Ningpo has been frightfully as bad as any I saw in England. Canals and ponds frozen for a month together. We are gradually destroying the town without intending it, but the houses are such handy firewood.” An interesting text on the weather issue during the war. The writer, Anstruther, was previously captured in the shipwreck of the Kite and was moved to Ningpo. He was released afterward in October 1841 as the Chinese abandoned the town when the British force advanced to Ningpo. He re-joined the troop and participated in several other warfares.
- How scarce is the Rajamundry HG 2 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Rajamundry HG 2 as common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1839–1854.
- What is the provenance of COV-1737?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Ava Auctions lot 1047.
- When was COV-1737 posted?
- COV-1737 is dated 1842, within the recorded period of use of Rajamundry HG 2 (1839–1854).
About this record
This 1842 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Rajamundry HG 2 handstamp of the Madras Presidency, a mark graded “Common” in this census — one of 8 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Ava Auctions, lot 1047.