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 Simla
9 marks9 other pre-1854 postal markings of Simla are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
- Simla HG 1handstampBlack1832
- Simla HG 2handstampBlack1835-36
- Simla HG 3handstampRed1838-45
- Simla HG 4handstampBlack1849–1852
- Simla HG 5handstampRed1845–1850
- Simla HG 6handstampRed1845–1852
+3 more at this office.View all Simla marks and postal history →
About this Simla pre stamp cover
COV-572 is a Simla pre stamp cover of 1848 bearing the Simla HG 10 handstamp, struck in black, recorded in the census of Simla postal history — the office known today as Shimla, 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-572 is recorded (front); the Simla HG 10 mark itself is recorded in use 1848–1850.
Questions about COV-572
- What is COV-572?
- COV-572 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Simla, Punjab of 1848, bearing the Simla HG 10 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 Simla HG 10 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Simla HG 10 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-572?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Auktionen Gaertner lot Lot 734.
- When was COV-572 posted?
- COV-572 is dated 1848, within the recorded period of use of Simla HG 10 (1848–1850).
About this record
This 1848 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Simla HG 10 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.