Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
2 April 1815
Description
INDIA, Moradabad, 1819, "MORADABAD/POST FREE" Handstamp (Giles 1). Faint but clear oval strike with manuscript "4 Apr. 1815" despatch date on top flap of folded letter from Lt. H. Dwyer datelined "Deoklie 2nd April 1815" , addressed to Major C. S. Doyle in Futtegur, with manuscript "Service" along top, accompanying military letter regarding the Anglo-Nepalese War mentions Col. Nicholls, arrival of Col. Gardner (at "critical point") and Lord Moria, continues with need of "heavy guns", "lack of medical aid", and "I shall endeavor to confine the enemy to their blocks and cut-off their supplies unless a favourable opportunity should present itself of getting possession of any of their posts...," small piece of letter missing due to opening FINE AND RARE STRIKE OF THE MORADABAD POST FREE HANDSTAMP—ONLY FOUR ARE RECORDED BY GILES. A REMARKABLE MILITARY LETTER TO MAJOR DOYLE ABOUT THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND. Ex Giles.
Auction
Provenance
"Magnolia" Medina Dr. Soli Contractor
Same office
Other recorded marks at Moradabad
4 marks4 other pre-1854 postal markings of Moradabad are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
About this record
This 2 April 1815 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Moradabad HG 1 handstamp of the North Western Provinces, a mark with 5 examples recorded in this census — one of 5 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Spink, lot 303, (Dec. 1999); Spink, Auction: 13021 - The award winning "Medina" collection of India Part I., lot 18, (2012); Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, 1301 11/14/2023 The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History and Stamps Used Abroad, Part 2, lot 6030, (2023).