Scan or Photo Courtesy of Gowtham BJ
Date
January 1844
Description
1844 (Jan.): Entire letter written to "H. Clark Esq., Surgeon ... Artillery, Agra" showing on reverse framed "AGRA / date / Bearing" (Giles 5) and the very rare negative rectangular "bearing" handstamp associated with this campaign. An exceptional letter from the 1843-44 war in Gwalior.rnNote: The letter was written shortly after the battle of Paniat and describes the action of General Grey and the deployment of the army in the field. Reference is also made to casualities "All the Returns of Killed have not been sent in, those that had been received ... showed a total of 750 when all is known the number will I fancy exceed 800, a great number of the wounded have died ...".
Auction
Auction 309-320, Lot 1141
Same office
Other recorded marks at Agra
22 marks22 other pre-1854 postal markings of Agra are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
- Agra HG 1handstampBlack1823–1837
- Agra HG 2handstampRed1828
- Agra HG 3handstampBlack1835
- Agra HG 4handstampBlack1833–1837
- Agra HG 4AhandstampRed1837
- Agra HG 6handstampRed1838–1849
+16 more at this office.View all Agra marks and postal history →
About this Agra pre stamp cover
COV-593 is an Agra pre stamp cover of January 1844 bearing the Agra HG 5 handstamp, struck in black, recorded in the census of Agra postal history, North Western Provinces. What is a pre stamp cover?
1844 (Jan.): Entire letter written to "H. Clark Esq., Surgeon ... Artillery, Agra" showing on reverse framed "AGRA / date / Bearing" (Giles 5) and the very rare negative rectangular "bearing" handstamp associated with this campaign. An exceptional letter from the 1843-44 war in Gwalior.rnNote: The letter was written shortly after the battle of Paniat and describes the action of General Grey and the deployment of the army in the field. Reference is also made to casualities "All the Returns of Killed have not been sent in, those that had been received ... showed a total of 750 when all is known the number will I fancy exceed 800, a great number of the wounded have died ...".
Its recorded auction history runs through Corinphila Auctions Auction 309-320 lot 1141.
2 images of COV-593 are recorded (front, back); the Agra HG 5 mark itself is recorded in use 1837–1850.
Questions about COV-593
- What is COV-593?
- COV-593 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Agra, North Western Provinces of January 1844, bearing the Agra HG 5 handstamp in black. 1844 (Jan.): Entire letter written to "H. Clark Esq., Surgeon ... Artillery, Agra" showing on reverse framed "AGRA / date / Bearing" (Giles 5) and the very rare negative rectangular "bearing" handstamp associated with this campaign. An exceptional letter from the 1843-44 war in Gwalior.rnNote: The letter was written shortly after the battle of Paniat and describes the action of General Grey and the deployment of the army in the field. Reference is also made to casualities "All the Returns of Killed have not been sent in, those that had been received ... showed a total of 750 when all is known the number will I fancy exceed 800, a great number of the wounded have died ...".
- How scarce is the Agra HG 5 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Agra HG 5 as common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1837–1850.
- What is the provenance of COV-593?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Corinphila Auctions Auction 309-320 lot 1141.
- When was COV-593 posted?
- COV-593 is dated January 1844, within the recorded period of use of Agra HG 5 (1837–1850).
About this record
This January 1844 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Agra HG 5 handstamp of the North Western Provinces, a mark graded “Common” in this census — one of 5 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Corinphila Auctions, Auction 309-320, lot 1141.