Scan or Photo Courtesy of Gowtham BJ
Date
1848
Description
Here is a cleaned and corrected version: 1848 entire letter from Agra, dated July 8th, addressed to Simla, received July 11th, and redirected to Mussoorie via Meerut. The cover bears redirected “Bearing” datestamps filled in with manuscript charge marks, with further markings on the reverse. A fine and important pre-stamp letter, showing the uncommon boxed Meerut “Bearing” handstamp and the unusual U.P.O. / “Bearing” marking dated July 12th.** **Famously known as the “Quadruple Bearing Cover,” this is one of the most important pre-stamp covers of India. Both the U.P.O. and Kussowlie/Kussowlee Bearing handstamps are unrecorded. This is believed to be the only known cover bearing both the U.P.O. and Kussowlie/Kussowlee Bearing handstamps.
Auction
Same office
Other recorded marks at Kussowlee
6 marks6 other pre-1854 postal markings of Kussowlee are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
About this Kussowlee pre stamp cover
COV-571 is a Kussowlee pre stamp cover of 1848 bearing the Kussowlee HG 6 handstamp, struck in black, recorded in the census of Kussowlee postal history — the office known today as Kasauli, Punjab. What is a pre stamp cover?
Here is a cleaned and corrected version: 1848 entire letter from Agra, dated July 8th, addressed to Simla, received July 11th, and redirected to Mussoorie via Meerut. The cover bears redirected “Bearing” datestamps filled in with manuscript charge marks, with further markings on the reverse. A fine and important pre-stamp letter, showing the uncommon boxed Meerut “Bearing” handstamp and the unusual U.P.O. / “Bearing” marking dated July 12th.** **Famously known as the “Quadruple Bearing Cover,” this is one of the most important pre-stamp covers of India. Both the U.P.O. and Kussowlie/Kussowlee Bearing handstamps are unrecorded. This is believed to be the only known cover bearing both the U.P.O. and Kussowlie/Kussowlee Bearing handstamps.
Its recorded auction history runs through Auktionen Gaertner lot Lot 734.
1 image of COV-571 is recorded (front); the Kussowlee HG 6 mark itself is recorded in use 1848–1850.
Questions about COV-571
- What is COV-571?
- COV-571 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Kussowlee, Punjab of 1848, bearing the Kussowlee HG 6 handstamp in black. Here is a cleaned and corrected version: 1848 entire letter from Agra, dated July 8th, addressed to Simla, received July 11th, and redirected to Mussoorie via Meerut. The cover bears redirected “Bearing” datestamps filled in with manuscript charge marks, with further markings on the reverse. A fine and important pre-stamp letter, showing the uncommon boxed Meerut “Bearing” handstamp and the unusual U.P.O. / “Bearing” marking dated July 12th.** **Famously known as the “Quadruple Bearing Cover,” this is one of the most important pre-stamp covers of India. Both the U.P.O. and Kussowlie/Kussowlee Bearing handstamps are unrecorded. This is believed to be the only known cover bearing both the U.P.O. and Kussowlie/Kussowlee Bearing handstamps.
- How scarce is the Kussowlee HG 6 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Kussowlee HG 6 as 2 examples recorded, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1848–1850.
- What is the provenance of COV-571?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Auktionen Gaertner lot Lot 734.
- When was COV-571 posted?
- COV-571 is dated 1848, within the recorded period of use of Kussowlee HG 6 (1848–1850).
About this record
This 1848 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Kussowlee HG 6 handstamp of the Punjab, a mark with 2 examples recorded in this census — one of 2 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Auktionen Gaertner, lot Lot 734.