COV-3288
13 September 1851 Benares Cover
Scan or Photo Courtesy of Corinphila Auctions
Date
13 September 1851
Description
1851 (Sept 13): Cover from Benares (Varanasi) to Kathmandu, addressed to the Maharaja of Nepal, Jang Bahadur, with faint framed 'Benares / Paid' handstamp in red and rated prepaid at 3 annas (for ¼ tola = approx. 2½ grams); splendidly decorated for his highness with gold leaf patches on front and on the reverse. Rare and most unusual. Provenance: Collection Jochen Heddergott, London & Brighton Auctions (March 20, 1980)
Auction
206, Lot 3014A, (Jun. 2016)
Provenance
Heddergott Dr. Wolfgang C. Hellrigl
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-3288 is a Benares pre stamp cover of 13 September 1851 bearing the Benares HG 7 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?
1851 (Sept 13): Cover from Benares (Varanasi) to Kathmandu, addressed to the Maharaja of Nepal, Jang Bahadur, with faint framed 'Benares / Paid' handstamp in red and rated prepaid at 3 annas (for ¼ tola = approx. 2½ grams); splendidly decorated for his highness with gold leaf patches on front and on the reverse. Rare and most unusual. Provenance: Collection Jochen Heddergott, London & Brighton Auctions (March 20, 1980)
Its recorded auction history runs through Corinphila Auctions 206 lot 3014A (Jun. 2016).
1 image of COV-3288 is recorded (front); the Benares HG 7 mark itself is recorded in use 1838–1853.
Questions about COV-3288
- What is COV-3288?
- COV-3288 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Benares, North Western Provinces of 13 September 1851, bearing the Benares HG 7 handstamp in red. 1851 (Sept 13): Cover from Benares (Varanasi) to Kathmandu, addressed to the Maharaja of Nepal, Jang Bahadur, with faint framed 'Benares / Paid' handstamp in red and rated prepaid at 3 annas (for ¼ tola = approx. 2½ grams); splendidly decorated for his highness with gold leaf patches on front and on the reverse. Rare and most unusual. Provenance: Collection Jochen Heddergott, London & Brighton Auctions (March 20, 1980)
- How scarce is the Benares HG 7 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Benares HG 7 as common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1838–1853.
- What is the provenance of COV-3288?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Corinphila Auctions 206 lot 3014A (Jun. 2016).
- When was COV-3288 posted?
- COV-3288 is dated 13 September 1851, within the recorded period of use of Benares HG 7 (1838–1853).
About this record
This 13 September 1851 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Benares HG 7 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 Corinphila Auctions, 206, lot 3014A, (Jun. 2016).