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
About this Mussouri pre stamp cover
COV-59 is a Mussouri pre stamp cover of 21 June 1854 bearing the Mussouri HG 1 handstamp, struck in red, recorded in the census of Mussouri postal history — the office known today as Mussoorie, 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 Mussouri HG 1 mark itself is recorded in use 1854.
Questions about COV-59
- What is COV-59?
- COV-59 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Mussouri, North Western Provinces of 21 June 1854, bearing the Mussouri HG 1 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 Mussouri HG 1 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Mussouri HG 1 as 1 example recorded, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 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 Mussouri HG 1 (1854).
About this record
This 21 June 1854 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Mussouri HG 1 handstamp of the North Western Provinces, a mark with 1 example recorded in this census — the only surviving cover with this mark recorded so far. 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.