Scan or Photo Courtesy of Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd
Date
8 August 1855
Description
TO. G.B. VIA FRANCE - COVER WITH 1a RED & DISTINCTIVE OVAL "TANJORE/MANARCOODY/TALOOK TAPAL"; 8 Aug. 1855 env. from Manarcoody with very fine large and spectacular red oval-framed "TANJORE/MANARCOODY/TALOOK TAPAL" ms-dated mark on the back (flap can fold up for display) to Kent "Via Marseilles, Inland Postage Paid" franked for the internal Indian 1a rate (up to ½ tola) with close-cut 1a Red tied by a fine dotted diamond, also having a fine red boxed "TANJORE/Paid" ds (12? Aug.) on the back. With faint red "MADRAS/G.P.O." and "1/10" delivery charge on the front. Attractive and a very rare backstamp for an imperf. issues cover. Cross Reference: FRANCE
Auction
The Michael Caswell Collection of 19th Century India Postal History & Stamps Auction, Lot 1035, (13 May 2025)
Same office
Other recorded marks at Tanjore
8 marks8 other pre-1854 postal markings of Tanjore are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
- Tanjore HG 1handstampBlack1796–1819
- Tanjore HG 2handstampBlack1821
- Tanjore HG 3handstampRed1830–1834
- Tanjore HG 3AhandstampBlack1831
- Tanjore HG 4handstampBlack1837
- Tanjore HG 5handstampRed1847
+2 more at this office.View all Tanjore marks and postal history →
About this Tanjore pre stamp cover
COV-4797 is a Tanjore pre stamp cover of 8 August 1855 bearing the Tanjore HG 7 handstamp, struck in red, recorded in the census of Tanjore postal history — the office known today as Thanjavur, Madras Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?
TO. G.B. VIA FRANCE - COVER WITH 1a RED & DISTINCTIVE OVAL "TANJORE/MANARCOODY/TALOOK TAPAL"; 8 Aug. 1855 env. from Manarcoody with very fine large and spectacular red oval-framed "TANJORE/MANARCOODY/TALOOK TAPAL" ms-dated mark on the back (flap can fold up for display) to Kent "Via Marseilles, Inland Postage Paid" franked for the internal Indian 1a rate (up to ½ tola) with close-cut 1a Red tied by a fine dotted diamond, also having a fine red boxed "TANJORE/Paid" ds (12? Aug.) on the back. With faint red "MADRAS/G.P.O." and "1/10" delivery charge on the front. Attractive and a very rare backstamp for an imperf. issues cover. Cross Reference: FRANCE
Its recorded auction history runs through Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd The Michael Caswell Collection of 19th Century India Postal History & Stamps Auction lot 1035 (13 May 2025).
2 images of COV-4797 are recorded (front, back); the Tanjore HG 7 mark itself is recorded in use 1853–1860.
Questions about COV-4797
- What is COV-4797?
- COV-4797 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Tanjore, Madras Presidency of 8 August 1855, bearing the Tanjore HG 7 handstamp in red. TO. G.B. VIA FRANCE - COVER WITH 1a RED & DISTINCTIVE OVAL "TANJORE/MANARCOODY/TALOOK TAPAL"; 8 Aug. 1855 env. from Manarcoody with very fine large and spectacular red oval-framed "TANJORE/MANARCOODY/TALOOK TAPAL" ms-dated mark on the back (flap can fold up for display) to Kent "Via Marseilles, Inland Postage Paid" franked for the internal Indian 1a rate (up to ½ tola) with close-cut 1a Red tied by a fine dotted diamond, also having a fine red boxed "TANJORE/Paid" ds (12? Aug.) on the back. With faint red "MADRAS/G.P.O." and "1/10" delivery charge on the front. Attractive and a very rare backstamp for an imperf. issues cover. Cross Reference: FRANCE
- How scarce is the Tanjore HG 7 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Tanjore HG 7 as common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1853–1860.
- What is the provenance of COV-4797?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd The Michael Caswell Collection of 19th Century India Postal History & Stamps Auction lot 1035 (13 May 2025).
- When was COV-4797 posted?
- COV-4797 is dated 8 August 1855, within the recorded period of use of Tanjore HG 7 (1853–1860).
About this record
This 8 August 1855 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Tanjore HG 7 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 Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd, The Michael Caswell Collection of 19th Century India Postal History & Stamps Auction, lot 1035, (13 May 2025).