Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
19 July 1808
Description
India, Tranquebar, 1808 Folded Letter from Danish Judge to George Barlow in Madras. Large part folded letter (missing front panel) consisting of two sheets of paper addressed to "His Excellency the Most Honorable Governor in Council George Barlow" who was in Madras, letter datelined "Tranquebar the 19 of July 1808" and written by the Danish Majesty's Chief Judge of Tranquebar, fascinating historical contents stating "Several months already before Tranquebar was captured by His British Majesty's troops..." and his "...most humbly apply to your Excellency for permission of returning to Europe and my native country, as soon as an opportunity might offer and as my present circumstances, owing not only to real losses of the later time but also to the non-arrival of my allowance from Denmark..." , with faint strike of "POST FREE" handstamp of Madras (Giles 6) upon arrival, letter heavily toned and with some splitting along folds, still Fine and of exceptional historical importance, Tranquebar was under quite a bit of contention between the Danish and British, it was Danish until 1801 before the British briefly took over before handing it back in 1802, it was again surrendered in 1808 (shortly before this letter was written) before the British returned it in 1815, then in 1845 Denmark sold their Indian possessions to the British, this letter was sent to Sir George Barlow (1763-1846) during his time as the Governor of Madras (1807-1813), it is unknown whether the sender realized he was the Governor of Madras or thought he was still the Governor General of India (a position he held from 1805-1807)
Auction
Worldwide Stamps and Postal History (Sale 1392, 10 November 2026), Lot 367, (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 4handstampRed1838–1849
- Tranquebar HG 5handstampBlack1843
+2 more at this office.View all Tranquebar marks and postal history →
About this Tranquebar pre stamp cover
COV-5655 is a Tranquebar pre stamp cover of 19 July 1808 bearing the Tranquebar HG 6 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, 1808 Folded Letter from Danish Judge to George Barlow in Madras. Large part folded letter (missing front panel) consisting of two sheets of paper addressed to "His Excellency the Most Honorable Governor in Council George Barlow" who was in Madras, letter datelined "Tranquebar the 19 of July 1808" and written by the Danish Majesty's Chief Judge of Tranquebar, fascinating historical contents stating "Several months already before Tranquebar was captured by His British Majesty's troops..." and his "...most humbly apply to your Excellency for permission of returning to Europe and my native country, as soon as an opportunity might offer and as my present circumstances, owing not only to real losses of the later time but also to the non-arrival of my allowance from Denmark..." , with faint strike of "POST FREE" handstamp of Madras (Giles 6) upon arrival, letter heavily toned and with some splitting along folds, still Fine and of exceptional historical importance, Tranquebar was under quite a bit of contention between the Danish and British, it was Danish until 1801 before the British briefly took over before handing it back in 1802, it was again surrendered in 1808 (shortly before this letter was written) before the British returned it in 1815, then in 1845 Denmark sold their Indian possessions to the British, this letter was sent to Sir George Barlow (1763-1846) during his time as the Governor of Madras (1807-1813), it is unknown whether the sender realized he was the Governor of Madras or thought he was still the Governor General of India (a position he held from 1805-1807)
Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Worldwide Stamps and Postal History (Sale 1392, 10 November 2026) lot 367 (2026).
2 images of COV-5655 are recorded; the Tranquebar HG 6 mark itself is recorded in use 1850–1858.
Questions about COV-5655
- What is COV-5655?
- COV-5655 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Tranquebar, Madras Presidency of 19 July 1808, bearing the Tranquebar HG 6 handstamp in red. India, Tranquebar, 1808 Folded Letter from Danish Judge to George Barlow in Madras. Large part folded letter (missing front panel) consisting of two sheets of paper addressed to "His Excellency the Most Honorable Governor in Council George Barlow" who was in Madras, letter datelined "Tranquebar the 19 of July 1808" and written by the Danish Majesty's Chief Judge of Tranquebar, fascinating historical contents stating "Several months already before Tranquebar was captured by His British Majesty's troops..." and his "...most humbly apply to your Excellency for permission of returning to Europe and my native country, as soon as an opportunity might offer and as my present circumstances, owing not only to real losses of the later time but also to the non-arrival of my allowance from Denmark..." , with faint strike of "POST FREE" handstamp of Madras (Giles 6) upon arrival, letter heavily toned and with some splitting along folds, still Fine and of exceptional historical importance, Tranquebar was under quite a bit of contention between the Danish and British, it was Danish until 1801 before the British briefly took over before handing it back in 1802, it was again surrendered in 1808 (shortly before this letter was written) before the British returned it in 1815, then in 1845 Denmark sold their Indian possessions to the British, this letter was sent to Sir George Barlow (1763-1846) during his time as the Governor of Madras (1807-1813), it is unknown whether the sender realized he was the Governor of Madras or thought he was still the Governor General of India (a position he held from 1805-1807)
- How scarce is the Tranquebar HG 6 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Tranquebar HG 6 as common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1850–1858.
- What is the provenance of COV-5655?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Worldwide Stamps and Postal History (Sale 1392, 10 November 2026) lot 367 (2026).
- When was COV-5655 posted?
- COV-5655 is dated 19 July 1808, within the recorded period of use of Tranquebar HG 6 (1850–1858).
About this record
This 19 July 1808 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Tranquebar HG 6 handstamp of the Madras Presidency, a mark graded “Common” in this census — one of 14 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 367, (2026).