Scan or Photo Courtesy of Spink
Date
1852
Description
Straits Settlements Early Letters and Handstamps Singapore 1852 envelope of unknown origin to Allahabad, India, marked "Via Singapore" and showing, on reverse, mainly fine "singapore/ship letter / Bearing" d.s., Calcutta Ship Letter and Benares datestamps; the envelope with piece missing from top left corner. (CJS). Photo
Auction
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-5521 is a Benares pre stamp cover of 1852 bearing the Benares HG 17 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?
Straits Settlements Early Letters and Handstamps Singapore 1852 envelope of unknown origin to Allahabad, India, marked "Via Singapore" and showing, on reverse, mainly fine "singapore/ship letter / Bearing" d.s., Calcutta Ship Letter and Benares datestamps; the envelope with piece missing from top left corner. (CJS). Photo
Its recorded auction history runs through Spink Spink lot 55.
1 image of COV-5521 is recorded; the Benares HG 17 mark itself is recorded in use 1849–1854.
Questions about COV-5521
- What is COV-5521?
- COV-5521 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Benares, North Western Provinces of 1852, bearing the Benares HG 17 handstamp in red. Straits Settlements Early Letters and Handstamps Singapore 1852 envelope of unknown origin to Allahabad, India, marked "Via Singapore" and showing, on reverse, mainly fine "singapore/ship letter / Bearing" d.s., Calcutta Ship Letter and Benares datestamps; the envelope with piece missing from top left corner. (CJS). Photo
- How scarce is the Benares HG 17 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Benares HG 17 as common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1849–1854.
- What is the provenance of COV-5521?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Spink Spink lot 55.
- When was COV-5521 posted?
- COV-5521 is dated 1852, within the recorded period of use of Benares HG 17 (1849–1854).
About this record
This 1852 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Benares HG 17 handstamp of the North Western Provinces, a mark graded “Common” in this census — one of 5 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Spink, Spink, lot 55.