Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
31 January 1811
Description
INDIA, Tranquebar, 1811, "POST PAID/Tranquebar" Handstamp (Unrecorded in Giles). Faint but clear strike in blue with "POST FREE" in oval beside (unrecorded by Giles) upon arrival on large part of official folded letter dated Jan. 31, 1811, originating in Negapatam with indistinct "?/POST FREE" oval handstamp (unrecorded by Giles) on back, manuscript "On the Service", cover with insect holes and toning, still Fine, an exceptional trio of postal markings—none are recorded by Giles—we presume the Tranquebar handstamps are ex-Danish territorial markings, as it was a Danish territory from 1620 until the British captured it during the Napoleonic Wars in 1808 and held it until 1814 (before being sold back to the British in 1845)
Auction
Sale 1301, Lot 6052
Same office
Other recorded marks at Tranquebar
8 marks8 other pre-1854 postal markings of Tranquebar are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
- Tranquebar HG 1handstampBlack1800–1829
- Tranquebar HG 2handstampRed1822–1823
- Tranquebar HG 3handstampRed1831–1837
- Tranquebar HG 4handstampRed1838–1849
- Tranquebar HG 5handstampBlack1843
- Tranquebar HG 6handstampRed1850–1858
+2 more at this office.View all Tranquebar marks and postal history →
About this Tranquebar pre stamp cover
COV-121 is a Tranquebar pre stamp cover of 31 January 1811 bearing the Tranquebar HG 2A handstamp, recorded in the census of Tranquebar postal history — the office known today as Tharangambadi, Madras Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?
INDIA, Tranquebar, 1811, "POST PAID/Tranquebar" Handstamp (Unrecorded in Giles). Faint but clear strike in blue with "POST FREE" in oval beside (unrecorded by Giles) upon arrival on large part of official folded letter dated Jan. 31, 1811, originating in Negapatam with indistinct "?/POST FREE" oval handstamp (unrecorded by Giles) on back, manuscript "On the Service", cover with insect holes and toning, still Fine, an exceptional trio of postal markings—none are recorded by Giles—we presume the Tranquebar handstamps are ex-Danish territorial markings, as it was a Danish territory from 1620 until the British captured it during the Napoleonic Wars in 1808 and held it until 1814 (before being sold back to the British in 1845)
Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Sale 1301 lot 6052.
2 images of COV-121 are recorded (front, back); the Tranquebar HG 2A mark itself is recorded in use 1811.
Questions about COV-121
- What is COV-121?
- COV-121 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Tranquebar, Madras Presidency of 31 January 1811, bearing the Tranquebar HG 2A handstamp. INDIA, Tranquebar, 1811, "POST PAID/Tranquebar" Handstamp (Unrecorded in Giles). Faint but clear strike in blue with "POST FREE" in oval beside (unrecorded by Giles) upon arrival on large part of official folded letter dated Jan. 31, 1811, originating in Negapatam with indistinct "?/POST FREE" oval handstamp (unrecorded by Giles) on back, manuscript "On the Service", cover with insect holes and toning, still Fine, an exceptional trio of postal markings—none are recorded by Giles—we presume the Tranquebar handstamps are ex-Danish territorial markings, as it was a Danish territory from 1620 until the British captured it during the Napoleonic Wars in 1808 and held it until 1814 (before being sold back to the British in 1845)
- How scarce is the Tranquebar HG 2A mark on this cover?
- The census grades Tranquebar HG 2A as 1 example recorded, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1811.
- What is the provenance of COV-121?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Sale 1301 lot 6052.
- When was COV-121 posted?
- COV-121 is dated 31 January 1811, within the recorded period of use of Tranquebar HG 2A (1811).
About this record
This 31 January 1811 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Tranquebar HG 2A handstamp of the Madras Presidency, a mark with 1 example recorded in this census — the only surviving cover with this mark recorded so far. It has appeared at auction with Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Sale 1301, lot 6052.