Scan or Photo Courtesy of David Feldman Auctions
Date
17 September 1853
Description
The second letter dated 17th September 1853 on the front “Via Bombay & Marsailles” passed through “LAHORE - 18 SEP 1853 - Paid” not shown by Hammond Giles, and was received in “BOMBAY - G.P.O. - 23sep” in a circle, HG G4 in use from 1850-55. On the front the usual “INDIA”. Received in the U.K. 29th October 1853. It is interesting to note that the sender could dictate which route in India the letter should be sent. The transit time for the first letter was nearly 9 weeks whereas the second letter was nearly six weeks!!!!
Auction
Autumn 2025 Auction Series - British Empire, Lot 50707, (2025)
Same office
Other recorded marks at Lahore
10 marks10 other pre-1854 postal markings of Lahore are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
- Lahore HG 1handstampRed1845–1853
- Lahore HG 1ahandstampRed1854
- Lahore HG 2handstampBlack1843–1849
- Lahore HG 3handstampRed1847–1850
- Lahore HG 4handstampRed1851
- Lahore HG 5handstampRed1851
+4 more at this office.View all Lahore marks and postal history →
About this Lahore pre stamp cover
COV-5025 is a Lahore pre stamp cover of 17 September 1853 bearing the Lahore HG 6B handstamp, struck in red, recorded in the census of Lahore postal history, Punjab. What is a pre stamp cover?
The second letter dated 17th September 1853 on the front “Via Bombay & Marsailles” passed through “LAHORE - 18 SEP 1853 - Paid” not shown by Hammond Giles, and was received in “BOMBAY - G.P.O. - 23sep” in a circle, HG G4 in use from 1850-55. On the front the usual “INDIA”. Received in the U.K. 29th October 1853. It is interesting to note that the sender could dictate which route in India the letter should be sent. The transit time for the first letter was nearly 9 weeks whereas the second letter was nearly six weeks!!!!
Its recorded auction history runs through David Feldman Autumn 2025 Auction Series - British Empire lot 50707 (2025).
1 image of COV-5025 is recorded (front); the Lahore HG 6B mark itself is recorded in use 1853.
Questions about COV-5025
- What is COV-5025?
- COV-5025 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Lahore, Punjab of 17 September 1853, bearing the Lahore HG 6B handstamp in red. The second letter dated 17th September 1853 on the front “Via Bombay & Marsailles” passed through “LAHORE - 18 SEP 1853 - Paid” not shown by Hammond Giles, and was received in “BOMBAY - G.P.O. - 23sep” in a circle, HG G4 in use from 1850-55. On the front the usual “INDIA”. Received in the U.K. 29th October 1853. It is interesting to note that the sender could dictate which route in India the letter should be sent. The transit time for the first letter was nearly 9 weeks whereas the second letter was nearly six weeks!!!!
- How scarce is the Lahore HG 6B mark on this cover?
- The census grades Lahore HG 6B as scarce, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1853.
- What is the provenance of COV-5025?
- Its recorded auction history runs through David Feldman Autumn 2025 Auction Series - British Empire lot 50707 (2025).
- When was COV-5025 posted?
- COV-5025 is dated 17 September 1853, within the recorded period of use of Lahore HG 6B (1853).
About this record
This 17 September 1853 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Lahore HG 6B handstamp of the Punjab, a mark graded “Scarce” in this census — one of 2 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with David Feldman, Autumn 2025 Auction Series - British Empire, lot 50707, (2025).