Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Description
India, Muttra, 1832, "MUTRA/FREE" Framed Handstamp (Giles 4). Clear and mostly complete strike with manuscript "April 20th" date marking on back of 1832 folded soldier's concessionary rate cover to Newcastle, England, endorsed "From Wm. Surtees, 1st D. 1st Bat Arty" and properly countersigned by commanding officer, partial strike of large "INDIA SOLDIERS LONDON/3" handstamp (Robertson In. Sol. 4), Calcutta G.P.O. and London transit datestamps, transcription of letter accompanies, cover with minor edgewear and slight soiling, still Fine and rare combination of markings, particularly one a soldier's concessionary rate cover
Auction
The Magnolia Collection: India Stampless Postal History, Part 4, Lot 20 April 1832, (03/13/2025)
Provenance
Magnolia
Same office
Other recorded marks at Muttra
10 marks10 other pre-1854 postal markings of Muttra are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
- Muttra HG AddhandstampBlack1805–1813
- Muttra HG Add.2handstampBlack1823
- Muttra HG 1handstampBlack1823–1836
- Muttra HG 2handstampBlack1832–1836
- Muttra HG 3handstampBlack1832
- Muttra HG 5handstampBlack1842
+4 more at this office.View all Muttra marks and postal history →
About this Muttra pre stamp cover
COV-2378 is a Muttra pre stamp cover bearing the Muttra HG 4 handstamp, struck in black, recorded in the census of Muttra postal history — the office known today as Mathura, North Western Provinces. What is a pre stamp cover?
India, Muttra, 1832, "MUTRA/FREE" Framed Handstamp (Giles 4). Clear and mostly complete strike with manuscript "April 20th" date marking on back of 1832 folded soldier's concessionary rate cover to Newcastle, England, endorsed "From Wm. Surtees, 1st D. 1st Bat Arty" and properly countersigned by commanding officer, partial strike of large "INDIA SOLDIERS LONDON/3" handstamp (Robertson In. Sol. 4), Calcutta G.P.O. and London transit datestamps, transcription of letter accompanies, cover with minor edgewear and slight soiling, still Fine and rare combination of markings, particularly one a soldier's concessionary rate cover
Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries The Magnolia Collection: India Stampless Postal History, Part 4 lot 20 April 1832 (03/13/2025).
2 images of COV-2378 are recorded (front, back); the Muttra HG 4 mark itself is recorded in use 1832.
Questions about COV-2378
- What is COV-2378?
- COV-2378 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Muttra, North Western Provinces, bearing the Muttra HG 4 handstamp in black. India, Muttra, 1832, "MUTRA/FREE" Framed Handstamp (Giles 4). Clear and mostly complete strike with manuscript "April 20th" date marking on back of 1832 folded soldier's concessionary rate cover to Newcastle, England, endorsed "From Wm. Surtees, 1st D. 1st Bat Arty" and properly countersigned by commanding officer, partial strike of large "INDIA SOLDIERS LONDON/3" handstamp (Robertson In. Sol. 4), Calcutta G.P.O. and London transit datestamps, transcription of letter accompanies, cover with minor edgewear and slight soiling, still Fine and rare combination of markings, particularly one a soldier's concessionary rate cover
- How scarce is the Muttra HG 4 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Muttra HG 4 as scarce, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1832.
- What is the provenance of COV-2378?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries The Magnolia Collection: India Stampless Postal History, Part 4 lot 20 April 1832 (03/13/2025).
About this record
This pre-1854 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Muttra HG 4 handstamp of the North Western Provinces, a mark graded “Scarce” in this census — the only surviving cover with this mark recorded so far. It has appeared at auction with Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, The Magnolia Collection: India Stampless Postal History, Part 4, lot 20 April 1832, (03/13/2025).