Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
1854
Description
India, 1854, ½a Pale Blue, Die I (2; SG 3). Large balanced margins, cancelled by blue dotted cancels with red "BELLARY/Paid" framed handstamp with manuscript "7-11-54" date added on folded cover to Secunderabad, blue framed "Rg HOUSE/No. 1" handstamp (unlisted in Giles), red Secunderabad arrival datestamp, Very Fine, a spectacular strike of this receiving house marking, also noteworthy is the early use which is just over a month from the issuance of the Lithograph issue on Oct. 1, ex Dr. Kornan
Auction
The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History, Part 8 (Sale 9061, 21 October 2026), Lot 10126, (2026)
Same office
Other recorded marks at Secunderabad
6 marks6 other pre-1854 postal markings of Secunderabad are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
About this Secunderabad pre stamp cover
COV-5321 is a Secunderabad pre stamp cover of 1854 bearing the Secunderabad HG 2 handstamp, struck in red, recorded in the census of Secunderabad postal history, Madras Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?
India, 1854, ½a Pale Blue, Die I (2; SG 3). Large balanced margins, cancelled by blue dotted cancels with red "BELLARY/Paid" framed handstamp with manuscript "7-11-54" date added on folded cover to Secunderabad, blue framed "Rg HOUSE/No. 1" handstamp (unlisted in Giles), red Secunderabad arrival datestamp, Very Fine, a spectacular strike of this receiving house marking, also noteworthy is the early use which is just over a month from the issuance of the Lithograph issue on Oct. 1, ex Dr. Kornan
Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History, Part 8 (Sale 9061, 21 October 2026) lot 10126 (2026).
2 images of COV-5321 are recorded; the Secunderabad HG 2 mark itself is recorded in use 1838–1858.
Questions about COV-5321
- What is COV-5321?
- COV-5321 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Secunderabad, Madras Presidency of 1854, bearing the Secunderabad HG 2 handstamp in red. India, 1854, ½a Pale Blue, Die I (2; SG 3). Large balanced margins, cancelled by blue dotted cancels with red "BELLARY/Paid" framed handstamp with manuscript "7-11-54" date added on folded cover to Secunderabad, blue framed "Rg HOUSE/No. 1" handstamp (unlisted in Giles), red Secunderabad arrival datestamp, Very Fine, a spectacular strike of this receiving house marking, also noteworthy is the early use which is just over a month from the issuance of the Lithograph issue on Oct. 1, ex Dr. Kornan
- How scarce is the Secunderabad HG 2 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Secunderabad HG 2 as common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1838–1858.
- What is the provenance of COV-5321?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History, Part 8 (Sale 9061, 21 October 2026) lot 10126 (2026).
- When was COV-5321 posted?
- COV-5321 is dated 1854, within the recorded period of use of Secunderabad HG 2 (1838–1858).
About this record
This 1854 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Secunderabad 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 Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History, Part 8 (Sale 9061, 21 October 2026), lot 10126, (2026).