Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
1854
Description
India, 1854, 4a Bright Red & Bright Blue, 3rd Printing, Head Die II, Frame Die I (6Ea; SG 21a). Horizontal pair showing wide setting and separating line, Positions 11-12, huge to large margins on all sides, used with 1854, 1a Red, Die II (4B; SG 14), horizontal pair, huge to full margins, tied by diamond of dots cancels on 1856 cover to Bury St. Edmonds, England, sender's directive "Via Bombay & Southampton" , red Secunderabad Feb. 18 boxed despatch datestamp (Giles 2) on back, red "INDIA PAID" crescent and manuscript marking also tie 4a, Bombay and London transit (the latter ties the 1a pair) and Bury St. Edmonds arrival datestamps, cover with minor edgewear and slight repair to backflap, left stamp of 1a pair with minor facial scrape, inconsequential toned spots (none of which are mentioned on accompanying certificate) EXTREMELY FINE AND SUPERB PAIR OF THE 4-ANNAS FROM THE RARE THIRD PRINTING -- HEAD DIE II, FRAME DIE I, SG 21a -- USED ON COVER. THIS IS CERTAINLY ONE OF THE FINEST PAIRS OF THE THIRD PRINTING KNOWN ON OR OFF COVER. The Third Printing of the 4a Lithograph has long vexed students of Indian philately. Even the most experienced specialists have trouble identifying the key characteristics of this printing. Multiples, such as the pair on cover offered here, are easier to identify. The Third Printing was by far the smallest print run. As multiples were used less frequently and singles were generally cut to shape, most Third Printing stamps cannot be positively identified and, therefore, must be assigned to the 4th Printing. Reflecting its rarity, the Stanley Gibbons Catalogue prices a pair at £20,000 off cover. Applying the SG 5x multiplier for covers, the catalogue value is £100,000. Of interest is the 10a franking on this cover. We presume the sender and possibly the Secunderabad post office were unaware of the change in rates beginning two weeks prior to the Feb. 1, 1856, mailing date. As franked, it overpaid a double rate by 2a. Per the earlier postal rates, it would have paid the 2a inland rate and up to ½ oz. rate via Southampton. Ex Gray, Piccus, Heddergott, Dr. Kornan, and "Magnolia".
Auction
Worldwide Stamps and Postal History (Sale 1392, 10 November 2026), Lot 396, (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-5661 is a Secunderabad pre stamp cover of 1854 bearing the Secunderabad HG 6 handstamp, struck in red, recorded in the census of Secunderabad postal history, Madras Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?
India, 1854, 4a Bright Red & Bright Blue, 3rd Printing, Head Die II, Frame Die I (6Ea; SG 21a). Horizontal pair showing wide setting and separating line, Positions 11-12, huge to large margins on all sides, used with 1854, 1a Red, Die II (4B; SG 14), horizontal pair, huge to full margins, tied by diamond of dots cancels on 1856 cover to Bury St. Edmonds, England, sender's directive "Via Bombay & Southampton" , red Secunderabad Feb. 18 boxed despatch datestamp (Giles 2) on back, red "INDIA PAID" crescent and manuscript marking also tie 4a, Bombay and London transit (the latter ties the 1a pair) and Bury St. Edmonds arrival datestamps, cover with minor edgewear and slight repair to backflap, left stamp of 1a pair with minor facial scrape, inconsequential toned spots (none of which are mentioned on accompanying certificate) EXTREMELY FINE AND SUPERB PAIR OF THE 4-ANNAS FROM THE RARE THIRD PRINTING -- HEAD DIE II, FRAME DIE I, SG 21a -- USED ON COVER. THIS IS CERTAINLY ONE OF THE FINEST PAIRS OF THE THIRD PRINTING KNOWN ON OR OFF COVER. The Third Printing of the 4a Lithograph has long vexed students of Indian philately. Even the most experienced specialists have trouble identifying the key characteristics of this printing. Multiples, such as the pair on cover offered here, are easier to identify. The Third Printing was by far the smallest print run. As multiples were used less frequently and singles were generally cut to shape, most Third Printing stamps cannot be positively identified and, therefore, must be assigned to the 4th Printing. Reflecting its rarity, the Stanley Gibbons Catalogue prices a pair at £20,000 off cover. Applying the SG 5x multiplier for covers, the catalogue value is £100,000. Of interest is the 10a franking on this cover. We presume the sender and possibly the Secunderabad post office were unaware of the change in rates beginning two weeks prior to the Feb. 1, 1856, mailing date. As franked, it overpaid a double rate by 2a. Per the earlier postal rates, it would have paid the 2a inland rate and up to ½ oz. rate via Southampton. Ex Gray, Piccus, Heddergott, Dr. Kornan, and "Magnolia".
Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Worldwide Stamps and Postal History (Sale 1392, 10 November 2026) lot 396 (2026).
2 images of COV-5661 are recorded; the Secunderabad HG 6 mark itself is recorded in use 1841–1855.
Questions about COV-5661
- What is COV-5661?
- COV-5661 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Secunderabad, Madras Presidency of 1854, bearing the Secunderabad HG 6 handstamp in red. India, 1854, 4a Bright Red & Bright Blue, 3rd Printing, Head Die II, Frame Die I (6Ea; SG 21a). Horizontal pair showing wide setting and separating line, Positions 11-12, huge to large margins on all sides, used with 1854, 1a Red, Die II (4B; SG 14), horizontal pair, huge to full margins, tied by diamond of dots cancels on 1856 cover to Bury St. Edmonds, England, sender's directive "Via Bombay & Southampton" , red Secunderabad Feb. 18 boxed despatch datestamp (Giles 2) on back, red "INDIA PAID" crescent and manuscript marking also tie 4a, Bombay and London transit (the latter ties the 1a pair) and Bury St. Edmonds arrival datestamps, cover with minor edgewear and slight repair to backflap, left stamp of 1a pair with minor facial scrape, inconsequential toned spots (none of which are mentioned on accompanying certificate) EXTREMELY FINE AND SUPERB PAIR OF THE 4-ANNAS FROM THE RARE THIRD PRINTING -- HEAD DIE II, FRAME DIE I, SG 21a -- USED ON COVER. THIS IS CERTAINLY ONE OF THE FINEST PAIRS OF THE THIRD PRINTING KNOWN ON OR OFF COVER. The Third Printing of the 4a Lithograph has long vexed students of Indian philately. Even the most experienced specialists have trouble identifying the key characteristics of this printing. Multiples, such as the pair on cover offered here, are easier to identify. The Third Printing was by far the smallest print run. As multiples were used less frequently and singles were generally cut to shape, most Third Printing stamps cannot be positively identified and, therefore, must be assigned to the 4th Printing. Reflecting its rarity, the Stanley Gibbons Catalogue prices a pair at £20,000 off cover. Applying the SG 5x multiplier for covers, the catalogue value is £100,000. Of interest is the 10a franking on this cover. We presume the sender and possibly the Secunderabad post office were unaware of the change in rates beginning two weeks prior to the Feb. 1, 1856, mailing date. As franked, it overpaid a double rate by 2a. Per the earlier postal rates, it would have paid the 2a inland rate and up to ½ oz. rate via Southampton. Ex Gray, Piccus, Heddergott, Dr. Kornan, and "Magnolia".
- How scarce is the Secunderabad HG 6 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Secunderabad HG 6 as common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1841–1855.
- What is the provenance of COV-5661?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Worldwide Stamps and Postal History (Sale 1392, 10 November 2026) lot 396 (2026).
- When was COV-5661 posted?
- COV-5661 is dated 1854, within the recorded period of use of Secunderabad HG 6 (1841–1855).
About this record
This 1854 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Secunderabad HG 6 handstamp of the Madras Presidency, a mark graded “Common” in this census — one of 12 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Worldwide Stamps and Postal History (Sale 1392, 10 November 2026), lot 396, (2026).