Scan or Photo Courtesy of Kishore Chandak
Date
27 July 1808
Description
1808 : No handstruck stamps were in use in BENARES Post Office until 1810, although a Post Office was set up there in January, 1774. In lieu of a handstruck stamp, the clerk at the Post Office wrote the despatch details as shown on this cover of 1808, namely "BENARES PT.PAID 8AS / 27 JULY1808". BENARES is situated on the left bank of Ganges. It was ruled by the Nawab of Oudh until 1776, when he ceded it to the British. Lot of serious disorders have been witnessed in the uprising in 1857.On arrival in the CALCUTTA G.P.O., the orange "G.P.O. / AUG 8 / 1808" receipt mark was stamped on the letter, this being the earliest recorded example of this mark, used during 1808.
Auction
Provenance
Derek Hammond Giles
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-775 is a Benares pre stamp cover of 27 July 1808 bearing the Benares MN 1 manuscript marking, recorded in the census of Benares postal history — the office known today as Varanasi, North Western Provinces. What is a pre stamp cover?
1808 : No handstruck stamps were in use in BENARES Post Office until 1810, although a Post Office was set up there in January, 1774. In lieu of a handstruck stamp, the clerk at the Post Office wrote the despatch details as shown on this cover of 1808, namely "BENARES PT.PAID 8AS / 27 JULY1808". BENARES is situated on the left bank of Ganges. It was ruled by the Nawab of Oudh until 1776, when he ceded it to the British. Lot of serious disorders have been witnessed in the uprising in 1857.On arrival in the CALCUTTA G.P.O., the orange "G.P.O. / AUG 8 / 1808" receipt mark was stamped on the letter, this being the earliest recorded example of this mark, used during 1808.
Its recorded auction history runs through Spink lot 158 (Oct. 2000); and Spink lot 180 (Oct. 2001).
1 image of COV-775 is recorded; the Benares MN 1 mark itself is recorded in use 1808.
Questions about COV-775
- What is COV-775?
- COV-775 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Benares, North Western Provinces of 27 July 1808, bearing the Benares MN 1 manuscript marking. 1808 : No handstruck stamps were in use in BENARES Post Office until 1810, although a Post Office was set up there in January, 1774. In lieu of a handstruck stamp, the clerk at the Post Office wrote the despatch details as shown on this cover of 1808, namely "BENARES PT.PAID 8AS / 27 JULY1808". BENARES is situated on the left bank of Ganges. It was ruled by the Nawab of Oudh until 1776, when he ceded it to the British. Lot of serious disorders have been witnessed in the uprising in 1857.On arrival in the CALCUTTA G.P.O., the orange "G.P.O. / AUG 8 / 1808" receipt mark was stamped on the letter, this being the earliest recorded example of this mark, used during 1808.
- How scarce is the Benares MN 1 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Benares MN 1 as 1 example recorded, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1808.
- What is the provenance of COV-775?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Spink lot 158 (Oct. 2000); and Spink lot 180 (Oct. 2001).
- When was COV-775 posted?
- COV-775 is dated 27 July 1808, within the recorded period of use of Benares MN 1 (1808).
About this record
This 27 July 1808 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Benares MN 1 handstamp of the North Western Provinces, a mark with 1 example recorded in this census — the only surviving cover with this mark recorded so far. It has appeared at auction with Spink, lot 158, (Oct. 2000); Spink, lot 180, (Oct. 2001).