COV-2850
July 1839 Rajamundry Cover
Scan or Photo Courtesy of Argyll Etkin Auctions
Date
July 1839
Description
Postal cover from waghorn (), bearing unknown handstamp in unknown. Dated July 1839. Scarce example of postal history from this office. Corinphila - 1839 (Feb 5): Entire letter started from Nice and completed in Toulon, France in May to Captain Cowper Rochfort, 27th Regiment of Native Infantry in Madras, India and redirected upon arrival, struck on reverse with oval framed "ROBERT GOWER / MARSEILLE / ALEXANDRIE / AUX SOINS DE THOMAS WAGHORN" handstamp in black - (Sidebottom unrecorded, Peter Smith lists as Type 12) - the unique example known annotated "159 - 3" inserted in manuscript. The entire was sent under cover via the steamer "Sesostris" from Marseille (May 21) to Syra (May 31) and thence on the French steamer "Tancrède" to Alexandria (June 4). From Suez on the EIC "Berenice" which left Suez (June 11) arriving in Bombay (June 27). Placed in the Mails there with framed BOMBAY handstamp in black, and redirected upon arrival with framed "SAMULCOTA / Bearing" handstamp in black (July 8) and again forwarded with framed "RAJAMUNDRY / Bearing" arrival (July 10). A wonderful entire with splendid contents with the lot - the entire also containing two superb hand-painted pictures. Unique and truly delightful entire. Signed Todd AIEP. Note 1: Part content: "I have long been wishing to write to you by this new conveyance of Mr. Waghorn's which will I believe convey this letter to you in 40 days, so that I will have answer from you in two months and half which really does sound pleasant to my ears...". Provenance: Collection of Rudi and Hilda Jeidel. See article in the Egypt Study Circle "Quarterly Circular", Number 118, June 1981, page 34.
Auction
375, Lot 5061, (2026)
Provenance
Rudi and Hilda Jeidel "Camellia"
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-2850 is a Rajamundry pre stamp cover of July 1839 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?
Postal cover from waghorn (), bearing unknown handstamp in unknown. Dated July 1839. Scarce example of postal history from this office. Corinphila - 1839 (Feb 5): Entire letter started from Nice and completed in Toulon, France in May to Captain Cowper Rochfort, 27th Regiment of Native Infantry in Madras, India and redirected upon arrival, struck on reverse with oval framed "ROBERT GOWER / MARSEILLE / ALEXANDRIE / AUX SOINS DE THOMAS WAGHORN" handstamp in black - (Sidebottom unrecorded, Peter Smith lists as Type 12) - the unique example known annotated "159 - 3" inserted in manuscript. The entire was sent under cover via the steamer "Sesostris" from Marseille (May 21) to Syra (May 31) and thence on the French steamer "Tancrède" to Alexandria (June 4). From Suez on the EIC "Berenice" which left Suez (June 11) arriving in Bombay (June 27). Placed in the Mails there with framed BOMBAY handstamp in black, and redirected upon arrival with framed "SAMULCOTA / Bearing" handstamp in black (July 8) and again forwarded with framed "RAJAMUNDRY / Bearing" arrival (July 10). A wonderful entire with splendid contents with the lot - the entire also containing two superb hand-painted pictures. Unique and truly delightful entire. Signed Todd AIEP. Note 1: Part content: "I have long been wishing to write to you by this new conveyance of Mr. Waghorn's which will I believe convey this letter to you in 40 days, so that I will have answer from you in two months and half which really does sound pleasant to my ears...". Provenance: Collection of Rudi and Hilda Jeidel. See article in the Egypt Study Circle "Quarterly Circular", Number 118, June 1981, page 34.
Its recorded auction history runs through Corinphila Auctions 375 lot 5061 (2026).
5 images of COV-2850 are recorded (back, front); the Rajamundry HG 2 mark itself is recorded in use 1839–1854.
Questions about COV-2850
- What is COV-2850?
- COV-2850 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Rajamundry, Madras Presidency of July 1839, bearing the Rajamundry HG 2 handstamp in black. Postal cover from waghorn (), bearing unknown handstamp in unknown. Dated July 1839. Scarce example of postal history from this office. Corinphila - 1839 (Feb 5): Entire letter started from Nice and completed in Toulon, France in May to Captain Cowper Rochfort, 27th Regiment of Native Infantry in Madras, India and redirected upon arrival, struck on reverse with oval framed "ROBERT GOWER / MARSEILLE / ALEXANDRIE / AUX SOINS DE THOMAS WAGHORN" handstamp in black - (Sidebottom unrecorded, Peter Smith lists as Type 12) - the unique example known annotated "159 - 3" inserted in manuscript. The entire was sent under cover via the steamer "Sesostris" from Marseille (May 21) to Syra (May 31) and thence on the French steamer "Tancrède" to Alexandria (June 4). From Suez on the EIC "Berenice" which left Suez (June 11) arriving in Bombay (June 27). Placed in the Mails there with framed BOMBAY handstamp in black, and redirected upon arrival with framed "SAMULCOTA / Bearing" handstamp in black (July 8) and again forwarded with framed "RAJAMUNDRY / Bearing" arrival (July 10). A wonderful entire with splendid contents with the lot - the entire also containing two superb hand-painted pictures. Unique and truly delightful entire. Signed Todd AIEP. Note 1: Part content: "I have long been wishing to write to you by this new conveyance of Mr. Waghorn's which will I believe convey this letter to you in 40 days, so that I will have answer from you in two months and half which really does sound pleasant to my ears...". Provenance: Collection of Rudi and Hilda Jeidel. See article in the Egypt Study Circle "Quarterly Circular", Number 118, June 1981, page 34.
- 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-2850?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Corinphila Auctions 375 lot 5061 (2026).
- When was COV-2850 posted?
- COV-2850 is dated July 1839, within the recorded period of use of Rajamundry HG 2 (1839–1854).
About this record
This July 1839 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 Corinphila Auctions, 375, lot 5061, (2026).