Scan or Photo Courtesy of Argyll Etkin Auctions
Date
1850
Description
1850 (Nov 13) Entire letter from R.J.H Birch, Secretary to the Governor-General, at Simla, addressed to "Capt. Keith Young, Kurrachee", the reverse with manuscript "Headquarters" and a black "KURRACHEE BEARING" datestamp with 6a charge, crossed out and replaced by red "KURRACHEE / PAID" datestamp. Birch informs Young that the Governor-General is not contemplating making Scinde a part of the Punjab, and gives news of the Commander-in-Chief. A scarce and unusual use of both Bearing and Paid datestamps of Kurrachee, posted at the Head Quarters Camp. Photo on Page 172.
Auction
Lot 1373, (2026)
Same office
Other recorded marks at Karatchee
10 marks10 other pre-1854 postal markings of Karatchee are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
- Karatchee HG 1handstampRed1841–1846
- Karatchee HG 2handstampRed1843–1845
- Karatchee HG 3handstampRed1846-48
- Karatchee HG 4handstampRed1846–1848
- Karatchee HG 5handstampBlack1850-56
- Karatchee HG 7handstampRed1851–1856
+4 more at this office.View all Karatchee marks and postal history →
About this Karatchee pre stamp cover
COV-5754 is a Karatchee pre stamp cover of 1850 bearing the Karatchee HG 6 handstamp, struck in black, recorded in the census of Karatchee postal history — the office known today as Karachi, Sindh. What is a pre stamp cover?
1850 (Nov 13) Entire letter from R.J.H Birch, Secretary to the Governor-General, at Simla, addressed to "Capt. Keith Young, Kurrachee", the reverse with manuscript "Headquarters" and a black "KURRACHEE BEARING" datestamp with 6a charge, crossed out and replaced by red "KURRACHEE / PAID" datestamp. Birch informs Young that the Governor-General is not contemplating making Scinde a part of the Punjab, and gives news of the Commander-in-Chief. A scarce and unusual use of both Bearing and Paid datestamps of Kurrachee, posted at the Head Quarters Camp. Photo on Page 172.
Its recorded auction history runs through Argyll Etkin Limited lot 1373 (2026).
1 image of COV-5754 is recorded; the Karatchee HG 6 mark itself is recorded in use 1850–1856.
Questions about COV-5754
- What is COV-5754?
- COV-5754 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Karatchee, Sindh of 1850, bearing the Karatchee HG 6 handstamp in black. 1850 (Nov 13) Entire letter from R.J.H Birch, Secretary to the Governor-General, at Simla, addressed to "Capt. Keith Young, Kurrachee", the reverse with manuscript "Headquarters" and a black "KURRACHEE BEARING" datestamp with 6a charge, crossed out and replaced by red "KURRACHEE / PAID" datestamp. Birch informs Young that the Governor-General is not contemplating making Scinde a part of the Punjab, and gives news of the Commander-in-Chief. A scarce and unusual use of both Bearing and Paid datestamps of Kurrachee, posted at the Head Quarters Camp. Photo on Page 172.
- How scarce is the Karatchee HG 6 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Karatchee HG 6 as scarce, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1850–1856.
- What is the provenance of COV-5754?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Argyll Etkin Limited lot 1373 (2026).
- When was COV-5754 posted?
- COV-5754 is dated 1850, within the recorded period of use of Karatchee HG 6 (1850–1856).
About this record
This 1850 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Karatchee HG 6 handstamp of the Sindh, a mark graded “Scarce” in this census — one of 7 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Argyll Etkin, lot 1373, (2026).