COV-2443
13 November 1854 Rajamundry Cover
Scan or Photo Courtesy of Santosh MS
Date
13 November 1854
Description
1854 Edinburgh – Rajahmundry via Madapolam overland cover, franked with QV 1s SG 56 Die 2 & obliterated with SG Type 7/22 Scottish numeral cancellation (131, Edinburgh). The sender paid 1s UK–India packet rate via the Southampton route for a letter not exceeding ½ oz (anywhere from UK to India inclusive). "OCT/T 3 A/1854" Edinburgh despatch & "EA/4 OC 4/1854" London transit marks applied. Sent to Alexandria via P&O steamer CANDIA, sent overland to Suez, and from there sent to Bombay via EIC regular steamer FEROZE, then forwarded to Madras. At Madras, Giles MX5 "GPO/1854 NO 9" receipt & Giles 20 "MADRAS/1854 November 9/Bearing" handstamp applied, with rate "2A" (inland postage for a letter under ¼ tolah, sent between 200–300 miles) applied in manuscript. At Madapolam, bearing handstamp applied & "2A" rate and date "13 November 1854" applied in manuscript, then sent to Rajahmundry, where Giles 2 "RAJAHMUNDRY/Bearing" handstamp & date "14 Novr. 54" were applied, bearing postage collected from the recipient.
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-2443 is a Rajamundry pre stamp cover of 13 November 1854 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?
1854 Edinburgh – Rajahmundry via Madapolam overland cover, franked with QV 1s SG 56 Die 2 & obliterated with SG Type 7/22 Scottish numeral cancellation (131, Edinburgh). The sender paid 1s UK–India packet rate via the Southampton route for a letter not exceeding ½ oz (anywhere from UK to India inclusive). "OCT/T 3 A/1854" Edinburgh despatch & "EA/4 OC 4/1854" London transit marks applied. Sent to Alexandria via P&O steamer CANDIA, sent overland to Suez, and from there sent to Bombay via EIC regular steamer FEROZE, then forwarded to Madras. At Madras, Giles MX5 "GPO/1854 NO 9" receipt & Giles 20 "MADRAS/1854 November 9/Bearing" handstamp applied, with rate "2A" (inland postage for a letter under ¼ tolah, sent between 200–300 miles) applied in manuscript. At Madapolam, bearing handstamp applied & "2A" rate and date "13 November 1854" applied in manuscript, then sent to Rajahmundry, where Giles 2 "RAJAHMUNDRY/Bearing" handstamp & date "14 Novr. 54" were applied, bearing postage collected from the recipient.
1 image of COV-2443 is recorded (front); the Rajamundry HG 2 mark itself is recorded in use 1839–1854.
Questions about COV-2443
- What is COV-2443?
- COV-2443 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Rajamundry, Madras Presidency of 13 November 1854, bearing the Rajamundry HG 2 handstamp in black. 1854 Edinburgh – Rajahmundry via Madapolam overland cover, franked with QV 1s SG 56 Die 2 & obliterated with SG Type 7/22 Scottish numeral cancellation (131, Edinburgh). The sender paid 1s UK–India packet rate via the Southampton route for a letter not exceeding ½ oz (anywhere from UK to India inclusive). "OCT/T 3 A/1854" Edinburgh despatch & "EA/4 OC 4/1854" London transit marks applied. Sent to Alexandria via P&O steamer CANDIA, sent overland to Suez, and from there sent to Bombay via EIC regular steamer FEROZE, then forwarded to Madras. At Madras, Giles MX5 "GPO/1854 NO 9" receipt & Giles 20 "MADRAS/1854 November 9/Bearing" handstamp applied, with rate "2A" (inland postage for a letter under ¼ tolah, sent between 200–300 miles) applied in manuscript. At Madapolam, bearing handstamp applied & "2A" rate and date "13 November 1854" applied in manuscript, then sent to Rajahmundry, where Giles 2 "RAJAHMUNDRY/Bearing" handstamp & date "14 Novr. 54" were applied, bearing postage collected from the recipient.
- 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.
- When was COV-2443 posted?
- COV-2443 is dated 13 November 1854, within the recorded period of use of Rajamundry HG 2 (1839–1854).
About this record
This 13 November 1854 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.