COV-4469
21 November 1833 Cawnpore Cover
Scan or Photo Courtesy of Corinphila Auctions
Date
21 November 1833
Description
1833 (Nov 21): Entire letter from India to the Secretary of the War Office, London endorsed "From Gilbert Reeves, L Corp. No. 6 Compy. H.M.'s 44th Regt." and countersigned by his Commanding Officer at lower left, struck on despatch with unclear CALCUTTA / FREE marking and framed "CALCUTTA / GPO / SHIP LETTER" in black (June 28). Landed with "LIVERPOOL / INDIA SHIP LR." framed handstamp in black (Robertson In. 1), struck with circular "INDIA SOLDIERS / 3 / LONDON" handstamp in black (Robertson In. Sol. 4) and "♚ / FREE" datestamp (Nov 18) in red. Small tear to face panel at top but scarce. Note: Reeves addresses the Secretary of War asking for details of his family: Peter Flynn of the 34th Regt. who was a pensioner of the Chelsea Hospital since 1815 and his brother-in-law Private James Gatefield, last heard of in 1822 serving in the 72nd Regiment at the Cape of Good Hope.
Auction
357th-366th Corinphila Auction, Lot 5441, (2025)
Same office
Other recorded marks at Cawnpore
19 marks19 other pre-1854 postal markings of Cawnpore are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
- Cawnpore HG 1handstampBlack1802–1803
- Cawnpore HG 2handstampBlack1810–1818
- Cawnpore HG 3handstampBlack1818
- Cawnpore HG 4handstampBlack1820–1833
- Cawnpore HG 4ahandstampBlack1825–1833
- Cawnpore HG 5handstampBlack1826
+13 more at this office.View all Cawnpore marks and postal history →
About this Cawnpore pre stamp cover
COV-4469 is a Cawnpore pre stamp cover of 21 November 1833 bearing the Cawnpore HG 8 handstamp, struck in black, recorded in the census of Cawnpore postal history — the office known today as Kanpur, North Western Provinces. What is a pre stamp cover?
1833 (Nov 21): Entire letter from India to the Secretary of the War Office, London endorsed "From Gilbert Reeves, L Corp. No. 6 Compy. H.M.'s 44th Regt." and countersigned by his Commanding Officer at lower left, struck on despatch with unclear CALCUTTA / FREE marking and framed "CALCUTTA / GPO / SHIP LETTER" in black (June 28). Landed with "LIVERPOOL / INDIA SHIP LR." framed handstamp in black (Robertson In. 1), struck with circular "INDIA SOLDIERS / 3 / LONDON" handstamp in black (Robertson In. Sol. 4) and "♚ / FREE" datestamp (Nov 18) in red. Small tear to face panel at top but scarce. Note: Reeves addresses the Secretary of War asking for details of his family: Peter Flynn of the 34th Regt. who was a pensioner of the Chelsea Hospital since 1815 and his brother-in-law Private James Gatefield, last heard of in 1822 serving in the 72nd Regiment at the Cape of Good Hope.
Its recorded auction history runs through Corinphila Auctions 357th-366th Corinphila Auction lot 5441 (2025).
1 image of COV-4469 is recorded (front); the Cawnpore HG 8 mark itself is recorded in use 1828–1836.
Questions about COV-4469
- What is COV-4469?
- COV-4469 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Cawnpore, North Western Provinces of 21 November 1833, bearing the Cawnpore HG 8 handstamp in black. 1833 (Nov 21): Entire letter from India to the Secretary of the War Office, London endorsed "From Gilbert Reeves, L Corp. No. 6 Compy. H.M.'s 44th Regt." and countersigned by his Commanding Officer at lower left, struck on despatch with unclear CALCUTTA / FREE marking and framed "CALCUTTA / GPO / SHIP LETTER" in black (June 28). Landed with "LIVERPOOL / INDIA SHIP LR." framed handstamp in black (Robertson In. 1), struck with circular "INDIA SOLDIERS / 3 / LONDON" handstamp in black (Robertson In. Sol. 4) and "♚ / FREE" datestamp (Nov 18) in red. Small tear to face panel at top but scarce. Note: Reeves addresses the Secretary of War asking for details of his family: Peter Flynn of the 34th Regt. who was a pensioner of the Chelsea Hospital since 1815 and his brother-in-law Private James Gatefield, last heard of in 1822 serving in the 72nd Regiment at the Cape of Good Hope.
- How scarce is the Cawnpore HG 8 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Cawnpore HG 8 as scarce, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1828–1836.
- What is the provenance of COV-4469?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Corinphila Auctions 357th-366th Corinphila Auction lot 5441 (2025).
- When was COV-4469 posted?
- COV-4469 is dated 21 November 1833, within the recorded period of use of Cawnpore HG 8 (1828–1836).
About this record
This 21 November 1833 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Cawnpore HG 8 handstamp of the North Western Provinces, a mark graded “Scarce” in this census — one of 7 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Corinphila Auctions, 357th-366th Corinphila Auction, lot 5441, (2025).