Scan or Photo Courtesy of Santosh MS
Census record COV-2434 is a 23 June 1819 pre-stamp cover of British India bearing the Barelly HG 1 handstamp of the North Western Provinces, a mark graded “Scarce” in this census — one of 3 surviving covers with this mark recorded.
Date
23 June 1819
Description
1819 Bareily – London entire via Calcutta & Cape route, with Bareily Giles 1 "BAREILY/Pt Pd" despatch handstamp, date "23rd June" (on front side) & rate "1Rs 2as" (paid 1R2A or 18A, comprising 15A single-letter inland postage to Calcutta + 3A outward sea postage) applied in manuscript. At Calcutta, Giles G4 "CALCUTTA/JLY 10/GENERAL POST OFFICE" receipt & Giles SD6 "CALCUTTA/10 July 1819/POST NOT PAID" (as British packet postage was not paid, sent bearing from India) applied. Sent to the UK through the Cape route via sailing ship TRIUMPH; in the UK, transited through Falmouth & sent to London after applying "INDIA LETTER/FALMOUTH" transit handstamp. At London, "A/31 DE 31/1819" receipt mark applied. "1/4" (1s 4d, comprising 4d India–UK reduced ship postage + 1s Falmouth–London single-letter inland postage) bearing postage applied, which was collected from the recipient.