Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
20 March 1831
Description
Siegel - India, Merut, 1831, "MERUT./Pt Pd" Oval Handstamp (Giles 2). Clearly struck with manuscript "20 March 31" date and rate markings on back of folded letter to London, England, well struck large "INDIA SHIP LETTER, LONDON/4" double-circle handstamp (Robertson In. 3), blurry Calcutta transit and red London (Dec. 10) arrival backstamps, cover with very mild file fold thru Ship Letter marking of no consequence, Very Fine, despite this "4" Ship Letter marking being recorded used between 1827-40 and concurrently with other Ship Letter markings, only a handful of examples are known, it is not a concessionary rate marking but was a special sea post rate from India indicating only a charge of 4p was necessary to port of entry (London), ex Manning, with 2015 B.P.A. certificate Certificate 2015 B.P.A. No. 87018 Cavendish - LONDON/MERUT - RARE LARGE 2-RING “INDIA.SHIP.LETTER/4/LONDON” COVER WITH OVAL “MERUT./Pt. Pd.”; Very fine 18 Mar. 1831 EL (part letter) from Merut (v. fine oval-framed “MERUT/Pt. Pd.” on the top flap) to London (10 Dec. backstamp) via Calcutta (poor boxed d.s. matching the slightly unsightly offset ink marks on the front) having a mainly very fine rare large 2-ring “INDIA.SHIP.LETTER/4/LONDON” (Rob. In.3; few known - one edge just crossed by file fold) nicely placed on the front and a very fine oval-framed “MERUT./Pt. Pd.” (HG2; “Scarce”) nicely placed on the top flap. This “4” mark is not a Concession Rate marking but intended for use on the few letters (of 1827-40) that were addressed to the port of entry and so had no inland rate to pay. Exhibition Item. PHOTO - see page 43.
Auction
Provenance
"Magnolia" Michael Manning
Certificates
BPA #87018 (2015)
Same office
Other recorded marks at Merut
17 marks17 other pre-1854 postal markings of Merut are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
- Merut HG 1handstampBlack1809–1827
- Merut HG 1AhandstampRed1827
- Merut HG 2handstampRed1814–1827
- Merut HG 3handstampBlack1831–1837
- Merut HG 4handstampBlack1835–1837
- Merut HG 5handstampRed1837–1845
+11 more at this office.View all Merut marks and postal history →
About this Merut pre stamp cover
COV-278 is a Merut pre stamp cover of 20 March 1831 bearing the Merut HG 3A handstamp, struck in black, recorded in the census of Merut postal history — the office known today as Meerut, North Western Provinces. What is a pre stamp cover?
Siegel - India, Merut, 1831, "MERUT./Pt Pd" Oval Handstamp (Giles 2). Clearly struck with manuscript "20 March 31" date and rate markings on back of folded letter to London, England, well struck large "INDIA SHIP LETTER, LONDON/4" double-circle handstamp (Robertson In. 3), blurry Calcutta transit and red London (Dec. 10) arrival backstamps, cover with very mild file fold thru Ship Letter marking of no consequence, Very Fine, despite this "4" Ship Letter marking being recorded used between 1827-40 and concurrently with other Ship Letter markings, only a handful of examples are known, it is not a concessionary rate marking but was a special sea post rate from India indicating only a charge of 4p was necessary to port of entry (London), ex Manning, with 2015 B.P.A. certificate Certificate 2015 B.P.A. No. 87018 Cavendish - LONDON/MERUT - RARE LARGE 2-RING “INDIA.SHIP.LETTER/4/LONDON” COVER WITH OVAL “MERUT./Pt. Pd.”; Very fine 18 Mar. 1831 EL (part letter) from Merut (v. fine oval-framed “MERUT/Pt. Pd.” on the top flap) to London (10 Dec. backstamp) via Calcutta (poor boxed d.s. matching the slightly unsightly offset ink marks on the front) having a mainly very fine rare large 2-ring “INDIA.SHIP.LETTER/4/LONDON” (Rob. In.3; few known - one edge just crossed by file fold) nicely placed on the front and a very fine oval-framed “MERUT./Pt. Pd.” (HG2; “Scarce”) nicely placed on the top flap. This “4” mark is not a Concession Rate marking but intended for use on the few letters (of 1827-40) that were addressed to the port of entry and so had no inland rate to pay. Exhibition Item. PHOTO - see page 43.
Its recorded auction history runs through Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd Manning lot 136 (Sept. 2015); and Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Sale 9020 lot 10087 (Mar. 2025).
3 images of COV-278 are recorded (extra, front, back); the Merut HG 3A mark itself is recorded in use 1827–1832.
Questions about COV-278
- What is COV-278?
- COV-278 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Merut, North Western Provinces of 20 March 1831, bearing the Merut HG 3A handstamp in black. Siegel - India, Merut, 1831, "MERUT./Pt Pd" Oval Handstamp (Giles 2). Clearly struck with manuscript "20 March 31" date and rate markings on back of folded letter to London, England, well struck large "INDIA SHIP LETTER, LONDON/4" double-circle handstamp (Robertson In. 3), blurry Calcutta transit and red London (Dec. 10) arrival backstamps, cover with very mild file fold thru Ship Letter marking of no consequence, Very Fine, despite this "4" Ship Letter marking being recorded used between 1827-40 and concurrently with other Ship Letter markings, only a handful of examples are known, it is not a concessionary rate marking but was a special sea post rate from India indicating only a charge of 4p was necessary to port of entry (London), ex Manning, with 2015 B.P.A. certificate Certificate 2015 B.P.A. No. 87018 Cavendish - LONDON/MERUT - RARE LARGE 2-RING “INDIA.SHIP.LETTER/4/LONDON” COVER WITH OVAL “MERUT./Pt. Pd.”; Very fine 18 Mar. 1831 EL (part letter) from Merut (v. fine oval-framed “MERUT/Pt. Pd.” on the top flap) to London (10 Dec. backstamp) via Calcutta (poor boxed d.s. matching the slightly unsightly offset ink marks on the front) having a mainly very fine rare large 2-ring “INDIA.SHIP.LETTER/4/LONDON” (Rob. In.3; few known - one edge just crossed by file fold) nicely placed on the front and a very fine oval-framed “MERUT./Pt. Pd.” (HG2; “Scarce”) nicely placed on the top flap. This “4” mark is not a Concession Rate marking but intended for use on the few letters (of 1827-40) that were addressed to the port of entry and so had no inland rate to pay. Exhibition Item. PHOTO - see page 43.
- How scarce is the Merut HG 3A mark on this cover?
- The census grades Merut HG 3A as common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1827–1832.
- What is the provenance of COV-278?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd Manning lot 136 (Sept. 2015); and Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Sale 9020 lot 10087 (Mar. 2025). Certificate: BPA #87018 (2015).
- When was COV-278 posted?
- COV-278 is dated 20 March 1831, within the recorded period of use of Merut HG 3A (1827–1832).
About this record
This 20 March 1831 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Merut HG 3A handstamp of the North Western Provinces, a mark graded “Common” in this census — one of 16 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd, Manning, lot 136, (Sept. 2015); Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Sale 9020, lot 10087, (Mar. 2025). Certified: BPA #87018 (2015).