Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
21 June 1854
Description
Mussouri, 1854, "M.P.O" Negative Oval Handstamp (Giles 1). Clear strike of red handstamp on flap of folded letter datelined Mussouri Jun. 21, 1854, to Ayrshire, Scotland, sender's directive "via Bombay & Marseilles, Paid to Bombay" , Landour Jun. 21 (Giles 7, Supplement) and Bombay transit and Irvine arrival datestamps, Very Fine, the only example of this marking recorded in Giles, who incorrectly notes this is dated 1851, ex Dr. Contractor.
Auction
Provenance
"Magnolia" Ex Dr. Robert Manley Dr. Soli Contractor
Same office
Other recorded marks at Landour
8 marks8 other pre-1854 postal markings of Landour are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
- Landour HG 1handstampBlack1830-31
- Landour HG 2handstampBlack1833–1835
- Landour HG 3handstampRed1838–1852
- Landour HG 4handstampRed1845–1854
- Landour HG 4AhandstampRed1844
- Landour HG 5handstampRed1852-54
+2 more at this office.View all Landour marks and postal history →
About this Landour pre stamp cover
COV-59 is a Landour pre stamp cover of 21 June 1854 bearing the Landour HG 7 handstamp, struck in red, recorded in the census of Landour postal history, North Western Provinces. What is a pre stamp cover?
Mussouri, 1854, "M.P.O" Negative Oval Handstamp (Giles 1). Clear strike of red handstamp on flap of folded letter datelined Mussouri Jun. 21, 1854, to Ayrshire, Scotland, sender's directive "via Bombay & Marseilles, Paid to Bombay" , Landour Jun. 21 (Giles 7, Supplement) and Bombay transit and Irvine arrival datestamps, Very Fine, the only example of this marking recorded in Giles, who incorrectly notes this is dated 1851, ex Dr. Contractor.
Its recorded auction history runs through Spink lot 161 (Dec. 1999); David Feldman (2016); Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries 04-05/29-01/2026 Worldwide Stamps and Postal History lot 4198 (2026); and Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Sale 1286 lot 32.
2 images of COV-59 are recorded (front, back); the Landour HG 7 mark itself is recorded in use 1853–1854.
Questions about COV-59
- What is COV-59?
- COV-59 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Landour, North Western Provinces of 21 June 1854, bearing the Landour HG 7 handstamp in red. Mussouri, 1854, "M.P.O" Negative Oval Handstamp (Giles 1). Clear strike of red handstamp on flap of folded letter datelined Mussouri Jun. 21, 1854, to Ayrshire, Scotland, sender's directive "via Bombay & Marseilles, Paid to Bombay" , Landour Jun. 21 (Giles 7, Supplement) and Bombay transit and Irvine arrival datestamps, Very Fine, the only example of this marking recorded in Giles, who incorrectly notes this is dated 1851, ex Dr. Contractor.
- How scarce is the Landour HG 7 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Landour HG 7 as common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1853–1854.
- What is the provenance of COV-59?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Spink lot 161 (Dec. 1999); David Feldman (2016); Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries 04-05/29-01/2026 Worldwide Stamps and Postal History lot 4198 (2026); and Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Sale 1286 lot 32.
- When was COV-59 posted?
- COV-59 is dated 21 June 1854, within the recorded period of use of Landour HG 7 (1853–1854).
About this record
This 21 June 1854 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Landour HG 7 handstamp of the North Western Provinces, a mark graded “Common” in this census — one of 3 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Spink, lot 161, (Dec. 1999); David Feldman, (2016); Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, 04-05/29-01/2026 Worldwide Stamps and Postal History, lot 4198, (2026); Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Sale 1286, lot 32.