Scan or Photo Courtesy of ava auctions
Date
1842
Description
The Battle of Chapu : 1842 (May 22) entire letter written by Captain Philip Anstruther, Madras Artillery, from Chapu to his cousin in Rajahmundry, India. There is no postal marking on the address panel. On the flap with boxed “AM” postmark, rectangular GPO transit (1841 Aug 27), boxed Madras Ship Letter transit and Rajahmundry arrival c.d.s. (handwritten date: 31 May 1842) . The writer documented the Battle of Chapu in which the writer, an artillery commander, underwent a difficult fight, “We could not get up with our infantry so as usual were of little use, though I tried my best and when the column scaled the city wall, we went up with our drag ropes and fairly lifted the gun, 5 of them, over the wall (which was not as high as Ben Nevis)”. 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-1738 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?
The Battle of Chapu : 1842 (May 22) entire letter written by Captain Philip Anstruther, Madras Artillery, from Chapu to his cousin in Rajahmundry, India. There is no postal marking on the address panel. On the flap with boxed “AM” postmark, rectangular GPO transit (1841 Aug 27), boxed Madras Ship Letter transit and Rajahmundry arrival c.d.s. (handwritten date: 31 May 1842) . The writer documented the Battle of Chapu in which the writer, an artillery commander, underwent a difficult fight, “We could not get up with our infantry so as usual were of little use, though I tried my best and when the column scaled the city wall, we went up with our drag ropes and fairly lifted the gun, 5 of them, over the wall (which was not as high as Ben Nevis)”. 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 1048.
1 image of COV-1738 is recorded; the Rajamundry HG 2 mark itself is recorded in use 1839–1854.
Questions about COV-1738
- What is COV-1738?
- COV-1738 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Rajamundry, Madras Presidency of 1842, bearing the Rajamundry HG 2 handstamp in black. The Battle of Chapu : 1842 (May 22) entire letter written by Captain Philip Anstruther, Madras Artillery, from Chapu to his cousin in Rajahmundry, India. There is no postal marking on the address panel. On the flap with boxed “AM” postmark, rectangular GPO transit (1841 Aug 27), boxed Madras Ship Letter transit and Rajahmundry arrival c.d.s. (handwritten date: 31 May 1842) . The writer documented the Battle of Chapu in which the writer, an artillery commander, underwent a difficult fight, “We could not get up with our infantry so as usual were of little use, though I tried my best and when the column scaled the city wall, we went up with our drag ropes and fairly lifted the gun, 5 of them, over the wall (which was not as high as Ben Nevis)”. 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-1738?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Ava Auctions lot 1048.
- When was COV-1738 posted?
- COV-1738 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 1048.