How scarce is the Bhopal HG A mark on this cover?

The census grades Bhopal HG A as common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1831.

When was COV-5251 posted?

COV-5251 is dated 2 March 1831, within the recorded period of use of Bhopal HG A (1831).

COV-5251

2 March 1831 Bhopal Cover

Back to census|Bhopal HG A

Pre-stamp cover of India — 2 March 1831, Bhopal HG A handstruck folded letter (COV-5251)

Pre-stamp cover of India — Bhopal HG A, scan 2 (COV-5251)

Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries

Date

2 March 1831

Description

India, Bhopal, 1831, "BHOPAUL/PtPd/18__" Circular Handstamp (Giles A). Clear and mostly complete strike with manuscript "2 March (18)31" date added on back of folded native letter to Indore , Very Fine and exceptionally rare, quite possibly the only recorded example of this strike, this is the strike used by Giles in his 1993 Supplement (p. 8) to create his sketch

Auction

Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries

The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History, Part 8 (Sale 9061, 21 October 2026), Lot 10029, (2026)

Same office

Other recorded marks at Bhopal

4 marks

4 other pre-1854 postal markings of Bhopal are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.

View all Bhopal marks and postal history →

About this Bhopal pre stamp cover

COV-5251 is a Bhopal pre stamp cover of 2 March 1831 bearing the Bhopal HG A handstamp, struck in black, recorded in the census of Bhopal postal history, North Western Provinces. What is a pre stamp cover?

Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History, Part 8 (Sale 9061, 21 October 2026) lot 10029 (2026).

2 images of COV-5251 are recorded; the Bhopal HG A mark itself is recorded in use 1831.

Questions about COV-5251

What is COV-5251?: COV-5251 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Bhopal, North Western Provinces of 2 March 1831, bearing the Bhopal HG A handstamp in black. India, Bhopal, 1831, "BHOPAUL/PtPd/18__" Circular Handstamp (Giles A). Clear and mostly complete strike with manuscript "2 March (18)31" date added on back of folded native letter to Indore , Very Fine and exceptionally rare, quite possibly the only recorded example of this strike, this is the strike used by Giles in his 1993 Supplement (p. 8) to create his sketch
How scarce is the Bhopal HG A mark on this cover?: The census grades Bhopal HG A as common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1831.
What is the provenance of COV-5251?: Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History, Part 8 (Sale 9061, 21 October 2026) lot 10029 (2026).
When was COV-5251 posted?: COV-5251 is dated 2 March 1831, within the recorded period of use of Bhopal HG A (1831).

About this record

This 2 March 1831 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Bhopal HG A handstamp of the North Western Provinces, a mark graded “Common” in this census — the only surviving cover with this mark recorded so far. It has appeared at auction with Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History, Part 8 (Sale 9061, 21 October 2026), lot 10029, (2026).