Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
1848
Description
India, Tranquebar, 1848, "TRANQUEBAR PAID" Red Boxed Datestamp (Giles 4). Clear strike in red with manuscript "8 August 48" date and "1as" rate added on back of folded cover to "Collector of Tanjore" in Negapatam, cover has been completely silked to prevent further damage from insect holes, a few which just affect postal marking, still Very Fine appearance, a scarce strike of the ex-Danish territorial cancel, Tranquebar was predominately a Danish territory from 1620 (British from 1801-04) but was sold to the British in 1845
Auction
Worldwide Stamps and Postal History (Sale 1392, 10 November 2026), Lot 368, (2026)
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 2Ahandstamp1811
- Tranquebar HG 3handstampRed1831–1837
- 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-5656 is a Tranquebar pre stamp cover of 1848 bearing the Tranquebar HG 4 handstamp, struck in red, recorded in the census of Tranquebar postal history — the office known today as Tharangambadi, Madras Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?
India, Tranquebar, 1848, "TRANQUEBAR PAID" Red Boxed Datestamp (Giles 4). Clear strike in red with manuscript "8 August 48" date and "1as" rate added on back of folded cover to "Collector of Tanjore" in Negapatam, cover has been completely silked to prevent further damage from insect holes, a few which just affect postal marking, still Very Fine appearance, a scarce strike of the ex-Danish territorial cancel, Tranquebar was predominately a Danish territory from 1620 (British from 1801-04) but was sold to the British in 1845
Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Worldwide Stamps and Postal History (Sale 1392, 10 November 2026) lot 368 (2026).
2 images of COV-5656 are recorded; the Tranquebar HG 4 mark itself is recorded in use 1838–1849.
Questions about COV-5656
- What is COV-5656?
- COV-5656 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Tranquebar, Madras Presidency of 1848, bearing the Tranquebar HG 4 handstamp in red. India, Tranquebar, 1848, "TRANQUEBAR PAID" Red Boxed Datestamp (Giles 4). Clear strike in red with manuscript "8 August 48" date and "1as" rate added on back of folded cover to "Collector of Tanjore" in Negapatam, cover has been completely silked to prevent further damage from insect holes, a few which just affect postal marking, still Very Fine appearance, a scarce strike of the ex-Danish territorial cancel, Tranquebar was predominately a Danish territory from 1620 (British from 1801-04) but was sold to the British in 1845
- How scarce is the Tranquebar HG 4 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Tranquebar HG 4 as common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1838–1849.
- What is the provenance of COV-5656?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Worldwide Stamps and Postal History (Sale 1392, 10 November 2026) lot 368 (2026).
- When was COV-5656 posted?
- COV-5656 is dated 1848, within the recorded period of use of Tranquebar HG 4 (1838–1849).
About this record
This 1848 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Tranquebar HG 4 handstamp of the Madras Presidency, a mark graded “Common” in this census — one of 9 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 368, (2026).