Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
1845
Description
India, Benares, 1845, "BENARES STAn/1845 OCT __/PAID" Framed Datestamp (Giles 12). Clear strike in red with "18" date and "6" (annas) rate added on back of petite blue folded cover to London, England, sender's directive "Via Bombay & Egypt, Via Southampton" , red "INDIA" in oval handstamp, London (Dec. 10) arrival backstamp, manuscript "1/-" rate marking, Very Fine
Auction
Sale 9042, Lot 10019, — The Magnolia Collection Part 6
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 1handstampBlack1810–1820
- Benares HG 2handstampBlack1811
- Benares HG 3handstampBlack1824–1836
- Benares HG 4handstampBlack1827-35
- Benares HG 5handstampBlack1829
- Benares HG 6handstampBlack1832–1835
+12 more at this office.View all Benares marks and postal history →
About this Benares pre stamp cover
COV-359 is a Benares pre stamp cover of 1845 bearing the Benares HG 12 handstamp, struck in red, recorded in the census of Benares postal history — the office known today as Varanasi, North Western Provinces. What is a pre stamp cover?
India, Benares, 1845, "BENARES STAn/1845 OCT __/PAID" Framed Datestamp (Giles 12). Clear strike in red with "18" date and "6" (annas) rate added on back of petite blue folded cover to London, England, sender's directive "Via Bombay & Egypt, Via Southampton" , red "INDIA" in oval handstamp, London (Dec. 10) arrival backstamp, manuscript "1/-" rate marking, Very Fine
Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Sale 9042 lot 10019.
2 images of COV-359 are recorded (front, back); the Benares HG 12 mark itself is recorded in use 1845–1850.
Questions about COV-359
- What is COV-359?
- COV-359 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Benares, North Western Provinces of 1845, bearing the Benares HG 12 handstamp in red. India, Benares, 1845, "BENARES STAn/1845 OCT __/PAID" Framed Datestamp (Giles 12). Clear strike in red with "18" date and "6" (annas) rate added on back of petite blue folded cover to London, England, sender's directive "Via Bombay & Egypt, Via Southampton" , red "INDIA" in oval handstamp, London (Dec. 10) arrival backstamp, manuscript "1/-" rate marking, Very Fine
- How scarce is the Benares HG 12 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Benares HG 12 as common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1845–1850.
- What is the provenance of COV-359?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Sale 9042 lot 10019.
- When was COV-359 posted?
- COV-359 is dated 1845, within the recorded period of use of Benares HG 12 (1845–1850).
About this record
This 1845 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Benares HG 12 handstamp of the North Western Provinces, a mark graded “Common” in this census — one of 7 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Sale 9042, lot 10019.