Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
26 July 1823
Description
India, Almora, 1823, "ALMORA P.O./Pt Pd" Framed Handstamp (Giles 1). Bold and complete strike on back of folded letter datelined "Almora 26th of July 1823" , addressed to London, England, sender's directive "p Jupiter" , red framed "INDIA LETTER/PORTSMOUTH" handstamp (Robertson In. 3), red "am" handstamp, Calcutta (Aug. 15) transit and London (Dec. 22) arrival datestamps, manuscript "1/" rate marking, Very Fine strike of this scarce marking, ex Dr. Contractor Spink Almora: 1823 (26 July) entire letter to London showing a good strike of the very scarce boxed "ALMORA p o/p' p"" (HG1) with various route and rate markings. Full of character
Auction
The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History, Part 8 (Sale 9061, 21 October 2026), Lot 10011, (2026)
Provenance
Dr. Soli Contractor Magnolia
Same office
Other recorded marks at Almora
4 marks4 other pre-1854 postal markings of Almora are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
About this Almora pre stamp cover
COV-5238 is an Almora pre stamp cover of 26 July 1823 bearing the Almora HG 1 handstamp, struck in black, recorded in the census of Almora postal history, North Western Provinces. What is a pre stamp cover?
India, Almora, 1823, "ALMORA P.O./Pt Pd" Framed Handstamp (Giles 1). Bold and complete strike on back of folded letter datelined "Almora 26th of July 1823" , addressed to London, England, sender's directive "p Jupiter" , red framed "INDIA LETTER/PORTSMOUTH" handstamp (Robertson In. 3), red "am" handstamp, Calcutta (Aug. 15) transit and London (Dec. 22) arrival datestamps, manuscript "1/" rate marking, Very Fine strike of this scarce marking, ex Dr. Contractor Spink Almora: 1823 (26 July) entire letter to London showing a good strike of the very scarce boxed "ALMORA p o/p' p"" (HG1) with various route and rate markings. Full of character
Its recorded auction history runs through Spink lot 5 (1999); and Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History, Part 8 (Sale 9061, 21 October 2026) lot 10011 (2026).
3 images of COV-5238 are recorded (front); the Almora HG 1 mark itself is recorded in use 1823–1834.
Questions about COV-5238
- What is COV-5238?
- COV-5238 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Almora, North Western Provinces of 26 July 1823, bearing the Almora HG 1 handstamp in black. India, Almora, 1823, "ALMORA P.O./Pt Pd" Framed Handstamp (Giles 1). Bold and complete strike on back of folded letter datelined "Almora 26th of July 1823" , addressed to London, England, sender's directive "p Jupiter" , red framed "INDIA LETTER/PORTSMOUTH" handstamp (Robertson In. 3), red "am" handstamp, Calcutta (Aug. 15) transit and London (Dec. 22) arrival datestamps, manuscript "1/" rate marking, Very Fine strike of this scarce marking, ex Dr. Contractor Spink Almora: 1823 (26 July) entire letter to London showing a good strike of the very scarce boxed "ALMORA p o/p' p"" (HG1) with various route and rate markings. Full of character
- How scarce is the Almora HG 1 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Almora HG 1 as very scarce, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1823–1834.
- What is the provenance of COV-5238?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Spink lot 5 (1999); and Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History, Part 8 (Sale 9061, 21 October 2026) lot 10011 (2026).
- When was COV-5238 posted?
- COV-5238 is dated 26 July 1823, within the recorded period of use of Almora HG 1 (1823–1834).
About this record
This 26 July 1823 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Almora HG 1 handstamp of the North Western Provinces, a mark graded “Very scarce” in this census — one of 3 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Spink, lot 5, (1999); Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History, Part 8 (Sale 9061, 21 October 2026), lot 10011, (2026).