Scan or Photo Courtesy of Gowtham BJ
Date
1837
Description
1837-38 Military Postmaster's postal record of letters posted with postmarks impressed within the notebook reflecting addressee, place of posting and cost of postage; the postmarks comprise unframed "chicacole/post paid" in red (unlisted by Hammond Giles), unframed "chicacole/post not paid" in black (unlisted), "chicacole/Bearing" (unlisted), "chicacole/Paid" in red, "vizianagram/Paid" in red (unlisted), "payakerowpet/Paid" in red-black (unlisted), "rajamundry/Paid", oval-framed "rajamundry/free" in red, "ellore/Paid", "comercolly/Paid", "monigalah/Paid" (unlisted), "secunderabad/Paid" d.s. in red, "secunderabad/Bearing" d.s. and "jaulnah/Paid" d.s. in red, most with multiple strikes ranging from poor to fine. A most remarkable record.
Auction
Same office
Other recorded marks at Vizianagarum
5 marks5 other pre-1854 postal markings of Vizianagarum are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
About this Vizianagarum pre stamp cover
COV-542 is a Vizianagarum pre stamp cover of 1837 bearing the Vizianagarum HG 6 handstamp, struck in red, recorded in the census of Vizianagarum postal history — the office known today as Vizianagaram, Madras Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?
1837-38 Military Postmaster's postal record of letters posted with postmarks impressed within the notebook reflecting addressee, place of posting and cost of postage; the postmarks comprise unframed "chicacole/post paid" in red (unlisted by Hammond Giles), unframed "chicacole/post not paid" in black (unlisted), "chicacole/Bearing" (unlisted), "chicacole/Paid" in red, "vizianagram/Paid" in red (unlisted), "payakerowpet/Paid" in red-black (unlisted), "rajamundry/Paid", oval-framed "rajamundry/free" in red, "ellore/Paid", "comercolly/Paid", "monigalah/Paid" (unlisted), "secunderabad/Paid" d.s. in red, "secunderabad/Bearing" d.s. and "jaulnah/Paid" d.s. in red, most with multiple strikes ranging from poor to fine. A most remarkable record.
Its recorded auction history runs through Spink lot Lot 5120.
1 image of COV-542 is recorded (front); the Vizianagarum HG 6 mark itself is recorded in use 1837–1842.
Questions about COV-542
- What is COV-542?
- COV-542 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Vizianagarum, Madras Presidency of 1837, bearing the Vizianagarum HG 6 handstamp in red. 1837-38 Military Postmaster's postal record of letters posted with postmarks impressed within the notebook reflecting addressee, place of posting and cost of postage; the postmarks comprise unframed "chicacole/post paid" in red (unlisted by Hammond Giles), unframed "chicacole/post not paid" in black (unlisted), "chicacole/Bearing" (unlisted), "chicacole/Paid" in red, "vizianagram/Paid" in red (unlisted), "payakerowpet/Paid" in red-black (unlisted), "rajamundry/Paid", oval-framed "rajamundry/free" in red, "ellore/Paid", "comercolly/Paid", "monigalah/Paid" (unlisted), "secunderabad/Paid" d.s. in red, "secunderabad/Bearing" d.s. and "jaulnah/Paid" d.s. in red, most with multiple strikes ranging from poor to fine. A most remarkable record.
- How scarce is the Vizianagarum HG 6 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Vizianagarum HG 6 as rare, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1837–1842.
- What is the provenance of COV-542?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Spink lot Lot 5120.
- When was COV-542 posted?
- COV-542 is dated 1837, within the recorded period of use of Vizianagarum HG 6 (1837–1842).
About this record
This 1837 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Vizianagarum HG 6 handstamp of the Madras Presidency, a mark graded “Rare” in this census — one of 3 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Spink, lot Lot 5120.