Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
26 November 1812
Description
Siegel - INDIA, Benares, 1812, "BENARES POSTAGE PAID" Handstamp (Giles 1). Clear and complete strike of oval handstamp with manuscript "26th Nov 1812, 8 as" date and rate on back of folded letter, addressed to Calcutta, forwarded to London, England, red Calcutta Dec. 2 arrival datestamp (Giles G2), Very Fine and choice strike of this marking noted as rare by Giles, unlikely many examples exist despite being recorded for use between 1810-20, undoubtedly carried privately from Calcutta with the absence of any London postal markings or due rates Cavendish - BENARES - “RARE” 1st-TYPE OVAL NAMESTAMP ON COVER TO CALCUTTA REDIRECTED TO G.B.; Fine 26 Nov. 1812 EL from “Benares” to Calcutta with a very fine large oval “BENARES/POSTAGE PAID” (HG1; “Rare”; with manuscript date & “8as” in centre - light fold) nicely placed on top flap; redirected to “London” endorsed “P [ship] London” with red 21 Dec. Calcutta “G.P.O” transit c.d.s but no other postal marks, so perhaps delivered by the ship’s Captain. PHOTO - see page 31.
Auction
Provenance
"Magnolia" Michael Manning
Same office
Other recorded marks at Benares
18 marks18 other pre-1854 postal markings of Benares are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
- Benares HG 2handstampBlack1811
- Benares HG 3handstampBlack1824–1836
- Benares HG 4handstampBlack1827-35
- Benares HG 5handstampBlack1829
- Benares HG 6handstampBlack1832–1835
- Benares HG 7handstampRed1838–1853
+12 more at this office.View all Benares marks and postal history →
About this Benares pre stamp cover
COV-74 is a Benares pre stamp cover of 26 November 1812 bearing the Benares HG 1 handstamp, struck in black, recorded in the census of Benares postal history — the office known today as Varanasi, North Western Provinces. What is a pre stamp cover?
Siegel - INDIA, Benares, 1812, "BENARES POSTAGE PAID" Handstamp (Giles 1). Clear and complete strike of oval handstamp with manuscript "26th Nov 1812, 8 as" date and rate on back of folded letter, addressed to Calcutta, forwarded to London, England, red Calcutta Dec. 2 arrival datestamp (Giles G2), Very Fine and choice strike of this marking noted as rare by Giles, unlikely many examples exist despite being recorded for use between 1810-20, undoubtedly carried privately from Calcutta with the absence of any London postal markings or due rates Cavendish - BENARES - “RARE” 1st-TYPE OVAL NAMESTAMP ON COVER TO CALCUTTA REDIRECTED TO G.B.; Fine 26 Nov. 1812 EL from “Benares” to Calcutta with a very fine large oval “BENARES/POSTAGE PAID” (HG1; “Rare”; with manuscript date & “8as” in centre - light fold) nicely placed on top flap; redirected to “London” endorsed “P [ship] London” with red 21 Dec. Calcutta “G.P.O” transit c.d.s but no other postal marks, so perhaps delivered by the ship’s Captain. PHOTO - see page 31.
Its recorded auction history runs through Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd Manning lot 91 (Sept. 2015); and Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Sale 1301 lot 6003 (Nov. 2023).
2 images of COV-74 are recorded (front, back); the Benares HG 1 mark itself is recorded in use 1810–1820.
Questions about COV-74
- What is COV-74?
- COV-74 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Benares, North Western Provinces of 26 November 1812, bearing the Benares HG 1 handstamp in black. Siegel - INDIA, Benares, 1812, "BENARES POSTAGE PAID" Handstamp (Giles 1). Clear and complete strike of oval handstamp with manuscript "26th Nov 1812, 8 as" date and rate on back of folded letter, addressed to Calcutta, forwarded to London, England, red Calcutta Dec. 2 arrival datestamp (Giles G2), Very Fine and choice strike of this marking noted as rare by Giles, unlikely many examples exist despite being recorded for use between 1810-20, undoubtedly carried privately from Calcutta with the absence of any London postal markings or due rates Cavendish - BENARES - “RARE” 1st-TYPE OVAL NAMESTAMP ON COVER TO CALCUTTA REDIRECTED TO G.B.; Fine 26 Nov. 1812 EL from “Benares” to Calcutta with a very fine large oval “BENARES/POSTAGE PAID” (HG1; “Rare”; with manuscript date & “8as” in centre - light fold) nicely placed on top flap; redirected to “London” endorsed “P [ship] London” with red 21 Dec. Calcutta “G.P.O” transit c.d.s but no other postal marks, so perhaps delivered by the ship’s Captain. PHOTO - see page 31.
- How scarce is the Benares HG 1 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Benares HG 1 as rare, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1810–1820.
- What is the provenance of COV-74?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd Manning lot 91 (Sept. 2015); and Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Sale 1301 lot 6003 (Nov. 2023).
- When was COV-74 posted?
- COV-74 is dated 26 November 1812, within the recorded period of use of Benares HG 1 (1810–1820).
About this record
This 26 November 1812 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Benares HG 1 handstamp of the North Western Provinces, a mark graded “Rare” in this census — one of 4 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd, Manning, lot 91, (Sept. 2015); Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Sale 1301, lot 6003, (Nov. 2023).