Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
31 Jan 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
7 marks7 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.
About this record
This 31 Jan 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.