COV-896
1851 Secunderabad Cover
Scan or Photo Courtesy of David Feldman Auctions
Date
1851
Description
1851 (May 6) Complete soldier’s letter from Camp Secunderabad to Dunmanway, Ireland, with light strike of red oval “SECUNDERABAD/FREE” handstamp on reverse and oval “INDIA” postmark on front. Sent from a sergeant in the 2nd European Light Infantry in Secunderabad and countersigned by a major commanding officer. A very fine example of the scarce concession unpaid rate 2d with handstruck “2” on front; letter showing signs of aging and military usage.
Auction
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-896 is a Secunderabad pre stamp cover of 1851 bearing the Secunderabad HG 3 handstamp, struck in red, recorded in the census of Secunderabad postal history, Madras Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?
1851 (May 6) Complete soldier’s letter from Camp Secunderabad to Dunmanway, Ireland, with light strike of red oval “SECUNDERABAD/FREE” handstamp on reverse and oval “INDIA” postmark on front. Sent from a sergeant in the 2nd European Light Infantry in Secunderabad and countersigned by a major commanding officer. A very fine example of the scarce concession unpaid rate 2d with handstruck “2” on front; letter showing signs of aging and military usage.
Its recorded auction history runs through David Feldman lot 30410.
2 images of COV-896 are recorded; the Secunderabad HG 3 mark itself is recorded in use 1838–1853.
Questions about COV-896
- What is COV-896?
- COV-896 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Secunderabad, Madras Presidency of 1851, bearing the Secunderabad HG 3 handstamp in red. 1851 (May 6) Complete soldier’s letter from Camp Secunderabad to Dunmanway, Ireland, with light strike of red oval “SECUNDERABAD/FREE” handstamp on reverse and oval “INDIA” postmark on front. Sent from a sergeant in the 2nd European Light Infantry in Secunderabad and countersigned by a major commanding officer. A very fine example of the scarce concession unpaid rate 2d with handstruck “2” on front; letter showing signs of aging and military usage.
- How scarce is the Secunderabad HG 3 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Secunderabad HG 3 as common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1838–1853.
- What is the provenance of COV-896?
- Its recorded auction history runs through David Feldman lot 30410.
- When was COV-896 posted?
- COV-896 is dated 1851, within the recorded period of use of Secunderabad HG 3 (1838–1853).
About this record
This 1851 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Secunderabad HG 3 handstamp of the Madras Presidency, a mark graded “Common” in this census — one of 4 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with David Feldman, lot 30410.