Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
3 August 1853
Description
India, Murree, 1853, "MURREE/AUG 3 1852/Service" Oval Datestamp (Giles 1). Faint but mostly complete strike in red (year date in error and should read 1853) on back of folded military letter datelined "Kohat, 3rd August 1853", addressed to Marfield, England, endorsed "From Quart. Mastr. Serg. R. Allen, 4th Regt" at top and properly countersigned by commanding officer, red framed "INDIA" handstamp, Calcutta and London (Oct. 4) transit and Darlington (Oct. 5) arrival datestamp, "2" rate handstamp, Very Fine and quite rare, based on the date of the example provided by Giles, we presume he used this cover as a reference for his book
Auction
The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History, Part 8 (Sale 9061, 21 October 2026), Lot 10108, (2026)
Same office
Other recorded marks at Murree
1 markOne other pre-1854 postal marking of Murree is recorded in the census. Compare it against this mark to place your cover.
About this Murree pre stamp cover
COV-5303 is a Murree pre stamp cover of 3 August 1853 bearing the Murree HG 1 handstamp, struck in red, recorded in the census of Murree postal history, Punjab. What is a pre stamp cover?
India, Murree, 1853, "MURREE/AUG 3 1852/Service" Oval Datestamp (Giles 1). Faint but mostly complete strike in red (year date in error and should read 1853) on back of folded military letter datelined "Kohat, 3rd August 1853", addressed to Marfield, England, endorsed "From Quart. Mastr. Serg. R. Allen, 4th Regt" at top and properly countersigned by commanding officer, red framed "INDIA" handstamp, Calcutta and London (Oct. 4) transit and Darlington (Oct. 5) arrival datestamp, "2" rate handstamp, Very Fine and quite rare, based on the date of the example provided by Giles, we presume he used this cover as a reference for his book
Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History, Part 8 (Sale 9061, 21 October 2026) lot 10108 (2026).
2 images of COV-5303 are recorded; the Murree HG 1 mark itself is recorded in use 1853.
Questions about COV-5303
- What is COV-5303?
- COV-5303 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Murree, Punjab of 3 August 1853, bearing the Murree HG 1 handstamp in red. India, Murree, 1853, "MURREE/AUG 3 1852/Service" Oval Datestamp (Giles 1). Faint but mostly complete strike in red (year date in error and should read 1853) on back of folded military letter datelined "Kohat, 3rd August 1853", addressed to Marfield, England, endorsed "From Quart. Mastr. Serg. R. Allen, 4th Regt" at top and properly countersigned by commanding officer, red framed "INDIA" handstamp, Calcutta and London (Oct. 4) transit and Darlington (Oct. 5) arrival datestamp, "2" rate handstamp, Very Fine and quite rare, based on the date of the example provided by Giles, we presume he used this cover as a reference for his book
- How scarce is the Murree HG 1 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Murree HG 1 as common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1853.
- What is the provenance of COV-5303?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History, Part 8 (Sale 9061, 21 October 2026) lot 10108 (2026).
- When was COV-5303 posted?
- COV-5303 is dated 3 August 1853, within the recorded period of use of Murree HG 1 (1853).
About this record
This 3 August 1853 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Murree HG 1 handstamp of the Punjab, a mark graded “Common” 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 Postal History, Part 8 (Sale 9061, 21 October 2026), lot 10108, (2026).