COV-2251
22 December 1845 Nuseerabad Cover

Scan or Photo Courtesy of Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd
Date
22 December 1845
Description
RARE "NUSSERABAD/FREE" DATESTAMPS ON SOLDIER's CONCESSION RATE COVERS TO G.B.; Jan/Dec. 1845 pair of EL's (minor dusting) to London both headed & countersigned for Artillery gunners and both endorsed "Soldier's Letter"; each has a mostly very fine red oval "NUSSERABAD/FREE" ds (unrecorded by Hammond Giles) on the flap, and both have been charged the Concession Rate of "2"(d) on arrival. Plus matching Dec. 1845 EL with v. fine boxed "NUSSERABAD/Paid" ds posted on almost the same day as the 2d-rate cover, but charged the full "1/10" rate via France! (3 covers). [Ex Cavendish June 2004; lot 830, realised £200+BP.] Cross Reference: MILITARY - PENNY CONCESSION RATES, LONDON POSTAL HISTORY, FREES
Auction
Worldwide & Great Britain Stamps & Postal History, Lot 478, (4th Sep 2024)
Same office
Other recorded marks at Nuseerabad
3 marks3 other pre-1854 postal markings of Nuseerabad are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
About this Nuseerabad pre stamp cover
COV-2251 is a Nuseerabad pre stamp cover of 22 December 1845 bearing the Nuseerabad HG 1 handstamp, struck in red, recorded in the census of Nuseerabad postal history, North Western Provinces. What is a pre stamp cover?
RARE "NUSSERABAD/FREE" DATESTAMPS ON SOLDIER's CONCESSION RATE COVERS TO G.B.; Jan/Dec. 1845 pair of EL's (minor dusting) to London both headed & countersigned for Artillery gunners and both endorsed "Soldier's Letter"; each has a mostly very fine red oval "NUSSERABAD/FREE" ds (unrecorded by Hammond Giles) on the flap, and both have been charged the Concession Rate of "2"(d) on arrival. Plus matching Dec. 1845 EL with v. fine boxed "NUSSERABAD/Paid" ds posted on almost the same day as the 2d-rate cover, but charged the full "1/10" rate via France! (3 covers). [Ex Cavendish June 2004; lot 830, realised £200+BP.] Cross Reference: MILITARY - PENNY CONCESSION RATES, LONDON POSTAL HISTORY, FREES
Its recorded auction history runs through Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd Worldwide & Great Britain Stamps & Postal History lot 478 (4th Sep 2024).
1 image of COV-2251 is recorded (front); the Nuseerabad HG 1 mark itself is recorded in use 1838–1851.
Questions about COV-2251
- What is COV-2251?
- COV-2251 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Nuseerabad, North Western Provinces of 22 December 1845, bearing the Nuseerabad HG 1 handstamp in red. RARE "NUSSERABAD/FREE" DATESTAMPS ON SOLDIER's CONCESSION RATE COVERS TO G.B.; Jan/Dec. 1845 pair of EL's (minor dusting) to London both headed & countersigned for Artillery gunners and both endorsed "Soldier's Letter"; each has a mostly very fine red oval "NUSSERABAD/FREE" ds (unrecorded by Hammond Giles) on the flap, and both have been charged the Concession Rate of "2"(d) on arrival. Plus matching Dec. 1845 EL with v. fine boxed "NUSSERABAD/Paid" ds posted on almost the same day as the 2d-rate cover, but charged the full "1/10" rate via France! (3 covers). [Ex Cavendish June 2004; lot 830, realised £200+BP.] Cross Reference: MILITARY - PENNY CONCESSION RATES, LONDON POSTAL HISTORY, FREES
- How scarce is the Nuseerabad HG 1 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Nuseerabad HG 1 as common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1838–1851.
- What is the provenance of COV-2251?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd Worldwide & Great Britain Stamps & Postal History lot 478 (4th Sep 2024).
- When was COV-2251 posted?
- COV-2251 is dated 22 December 1845, within the recorded period of use of Nuseerabad HG 1 (1838–1851).
About this record
This 22 December 1845 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Nuseerabad HG 1 handstamp of the North Western Provinces, a mark graded “Common” in this census — one of 14 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd, Worldwide & Great Britain Stamps & Postal History, lot 478, (4th Sep 2024).

