Scan or Photo Courtesy of Gowtham BJ
Date
1837
Description
1837-38 Military Postmaster's postal record of letters posted with postmarks impressed within the notebook reflecting addressee, place of posting and cost of postage; the postmarks comprise unframed "chicacole/post paid" in red (unlisted by Hammond Giles), unframed "chicacole/post not paid" in black (unlisted), "chicacole/Bearing" (unlisted), "chicacole/Paid" in red, "vizianagram/Paid" in red (unlisted), "payakerowpet/Paid" in red-black (unlisted), "rajamundry/Paid", oval-framed "rajamundry/free" in red, "ellore/Paid", "comercolly/Paid", "monigalah/Paid" (unlisted), "secunderabad/Paid" d.s. in red, "secunderabad/Bearing" d.s. and "jaulnah/Paid" d.s. in red, most with multiple strikes ranging from poor to fine. A most remarkable record.
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-544 is a Rajamundry pre stamp cover of 1837 bearing the Rajamundry HG 3 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?
1837-38 Military Postmaster's postal record of letters posted with postmarks impressed within the notebook reflecting addressee, place of posting and cost of postage; the postmarks comprise unframed "chicacole/post paid" in red (unlisted by Hammond Giles), unframed "chicacole/post not paid" in black (unlisted), "chicacole/Bearing" (unlisted), "chicacole/Paid" in red, "vizianagram/Paid" in red (unlisted), "payakerowpet/Paid" in red-black (unlisted), "rajamundry/Paid", oval-framed "rajamundry/free" in red, "ellore/Paid", "comercolly/Paid", "monigalah/Paid" (unlisted), "secunderabad/Paid" d.s. in red, "secunderabad/Bearing" d.s. and "jaulnah/Paid" d.s. in red, most with multiple strikes ranging from poor to fine. A most remarkable record.
Its recorded auction history runs through Spink lot Lot 5120.
1 image of COV-544 is recorded (front); the Rajamundry HG 3 mark itself is recorded in use 1837–1844.
Questions about COV-544
- What is COV-544?
- COV-544 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Rajamundry, Madras Presidency of 1837, bearing the Rajamundry HG 3 handstamp in red. 1837-38 Military Postmaster's postal record of letters posted with postmarks impressed within the notebook reflecting addressee, place of posting and cost of postage; the postmarks comprise unframed "chicacole/post paid" in red (unlisted by Hammond Giles), unframed "chicacole/post not paid" in black (unlisted), "chicacole/Bearing" (unlisted), "chicacole/Paid" in red, "vizianagram/Paid" in red (unlisted), "payakerowpet/Paid" in red-black (unlisted), "rajamundry/Paid", oval-framed "rajamundry/free" in red, "ellore/Paid", "comercolly/Paid", "monigalah/Paid" (unlisted), "secunderabad/Paid" d.s. in red, "secunderabad/Bearing" d.s. and "jaulnah/Paid" d.s. in red, most with multiple strikes ranging from poor to fine. A most remarkable record.
- How scarce is the Rajamundry HG 3 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Rajamundry HG 3 as common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1837–1844.
- What is the provenance of COV-544?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Spink lot Lot 5120.
- When was COV-544 posted?
- COV-544 is dated 1837, within the recorded period of use of Rajamundry HG 3 (1837–1844).
About this record
This 1837 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Rajamundry HG 3 handstamp of the Madras Presidency, a mark graded “Common” in this census — the only surviving cover with this mark recorded so far. It has appeared at auction with Spink, lot Lot 5120.