COV-3690
1 January 1845 Benares Cover
Scan or Photo Courtesy of marudhararts
Date
1 January 1845
Description
Pre-Stamp Cover, 1845, Banaras to Calcutta, dispatched from Benares having a Red ink postmark seal of 3 compartments “BENARES STA TN | 1845 JAN 1 | PAID 3”, addressed to the “Secretary of the Bank of Bengal”, Calcutta with the endorsement “PAID” with another Red ink seal from Calcutta G.P.O., reading as “G.P.O. | 1845 JAN 1” and square marking “A.M.” in Black ink denoting that the letter was delivered in the first half, superb quality exhibit cover, intact condition, Extremely Rare.
Auction
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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-3690 is a Benares pre stamp cover of 1 January 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?
Pre-Stamp Cover, 1845, Banaras to Calcutta, dispatched from Benares having a Red ink postmark seal of 3 compartments “BENARES STA TN | 1845 JAN 1 | PAID 3”, addressed to the “Secretary of the Bank of Bengal”, Calcutta with the endorsement “PAID” with another Red ink seal from Calcutta G.P.O., reading as “G.P.O. | 1845 JAN 1” and square marking “A.M.” in Black ink denoting that the letter was delivered in the first half, superb quality exhibit cover, intact condition, Extremely Rare.
Its recorded auction history runs through marudhararts 39 lot 5.
2 images of COV-3690 are recorded (front, back); the Benares HG 12 mark itself is recorded in use 1845–1850.
Questions about COV-3690
- What is COV-3690?
- COV-3690 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Benares, North Western Provinces of 1 January 1845, bearing the Benares HG 12 handstamp in red. Pre-Stamp Cover, 1845, Banaras to Calcutta, dispatched from Benares having a Red ink postmark seal of 3 compartments “BENARES STA TN | 1845 JAN 1 | PAID 3”, addressed to the “Secretary of the Bank of Bengal”, Calcutta with the endorsement “PAID” with another Red ink seal from Calcutta G.P.O., reading as “G.P.O. | 1845 JAN 1” and square marking “A.M.” in Black ink denoting that the letter was delivered in the first half, superb quality exhibit cover, intact condition, Extremely Rare.
- 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-3690?
- Its recorded auction history runs through marudhararts 39 lot 5.
- When was COV-3690 posted?
- COV-3690 is dated 1 January 1845, within the recorded period of use of Benares HG 12 (1845–1850).
About this record
This 1 January 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 marudhararts, 39, lot 5.