COV-2318
4 January 1855 Mirzapore Cover
Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
4 January 1855
Description
1854, 1a Red, Die II (4B; SG 14). Margins to touching, tied by diamond of dots cancel on Ocean Penny Postage illustrated propaganda cover to London, England, Bradshaw & Blacklock imprint at left, sender's directive "Via Bombay & Southampton", light strike of red Mirzapore despatch (Giles 2) with manuscript "4/1/55" date (Jan. 4), red "INDIA" oval handstamp and rated "1/-" due, Bombay transit and London arrival datestamps, top right corner originally torn off (for stamp) but replaced and repaired VERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE USE OF THE ONE-ANNA LITHOGRAPH ON AN OCEAN PENNY POSTAGE COVER. ONLY TWO ARE THOUGHT TO EXIST. The other Ocean Penny Postage cover known to us bears a vertical strip of three 1a and is from the same correspondence (ex Gross and currently in the Heddergott collection). With 1993 Heddergott certificate (where he stated "wahrscheinlich Unikat," probably unique, as he was then unaware of the ex-Gross cover). Stamp has been removed and placed in its original location. Subject to extension.
Auction
Magnolia, Lot 105, (May 2023)
Provenance
"Magnolia"
Same office
Other recorded marks at Mirzapore
12 marks12 other pre-1854 postal markings of Mirzapore are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
- Mirzapore HG 1handstampBlack1817–1827
- Mirzapore HG 2handstampBlack1823–1837
- Mirzapore HG 3handstampBlack1826
- Mirzapore HG 4handstampBlack1833-37
- Mirzapore HG 5handstampRed1838-50
- Mirzapore HG 6handstampBlack1838–1839
+6 more at this office.View all Mirzapore marks and postal history →
About this Mirzapore pre stamp cover
COV-2318 is a Mirzapore pre stamp cover of 4 January 1855 bearing the Mirzapore HG 8 handstamp, struck in red, recorded in the census of Mirzapore postal history — the office known today as Mirzapur, North Western Provinces. What is a pre stamp cover?
1854, 1a Red, Die II (4B; SG 14). Margins to touching, tied by diamond of dots cancel on Ocean Penny Postage illustrated propaganda cover to London, England, Bradshaw & Blacklock imprint at left, sender's directive "Via Bombay & Southampton", light strike of red Mirzapore despatch (Giles 2) with manuscript "4/1/55" date (Jan. 4), red "INDIA" oval handstamp and rated "1/-" due, Bombay transit and London arrival datestamps, top right corner originally torn off (for stamp) but replaced and repaired VERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE USE OF THE ONE-ANNA LITHOGRAPH ON AN OCEAN PENNY POSTAGE COVER. ONLY TWO ARE THOUGHT TO EXIST. The other Ocean Penny Postage cover known to us bears a vertical strip of three 1a and is from the same correspondence (ex Gross and currently in the Heddergott collection). With 1993 Heddergott certificate (where he stated "wahrscheinlich Unikat," probably unique, as he was then unaware of the ex-Gross cover). Stamp has been removed and placed in its original location. Subject to extension.
Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Magnolia lot 105 (May 2023).
1 image of COV-2318 is recorded (front); the Mirzapore HG 8 mark itself is recorded in use 1847–1855.
Questions about COV-2318
- What is COV-2318?
- COV-2318 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Mirzapore, North Western Provinces of 4 January 1855, bearing the Mirzapore HG 8 handstamp in red. 1854, 1a Red, Die II (4B; SG 14). Margins to touching, tied by diamond of dots cancel on Ocean Penny Postage illustrated propaganda cover to London, England, Bradshaw & Blacklock imprint at left, sender's directive "Via Bombay & Southampton", light strike of red Mirzapore despatch (Giles 2) with manuscript "4/1/55" date (Jan. 4), red "INDIA" oval handstamp and rated "1/-" due, Bombay transit and London arrival datestamps, top right corner originally torn off (for stamp) but replaced and repaired VERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE USE OF THE ONE-ANNA LITHOGRAPH ON AN OCEAN PENNY POSTAGE COVER. ONLY TWO ARE THOUGHT TO EXIST. The other Ocean Penny Postage cover known to us bears a vertical strip of three 1a and is from the same correspondence (ex Gross and currently in the Heddergott collection). With 1993 Heddergott certificate (where he stated "wahrscheinlich Unikat," probably unique, as he was then unaware of the ex-Gross cover). Stamp has been removed and placed in its original location. Subject to extension.
- How scarce is the Mirzapore HG 8 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Mirzapore HG 8 as common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1847–1855.
- What is the provenance of COV-2318?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Magnolia lot 105 (May 2023).
- When was COV-2318 posted?
- COV-2318 is dated 4 January 1855, within the recorded period of use of Mirzapore HG 8 (1847–1855).
About this record
This 4 January 1855 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Mirzapore HG 8 handstamp of the North Western Provinces, a mark graded “Common” in this census — one of 5 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Magnolia, lot 105, (May 2023).