Pre Stamps Covers of East India Company & Victoria Period

Pre-Stamp Cover, 1841, Banaras to Calcutta, Letter posted on the 4th October 1841, endorsed &ldquo;Full Post-Paid&rdquo; (handwritten), addressed to the famous Thomas Bracken Esquire, Secretary to the Bank of Bengal, Calcutta, very good condition, Very Rare. 

The content of the letter is mentioned below:

To 

Thomas Bracken Esquire

Secretary to the Bank of Bengal

Calcutta

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Sir, 

Understanding the time of advertisement respecting the loss of first or left-hand halves of 3 Bank of Bengal notes of Cos. Rs. 40, Number and dates thereof mentioned in the margin being over, and the 2nd or right-hand halves of the same Notes with the customary application have been delivered into the Bank, and as the notes are my property. I am therefore induced to hope that you will be so kind as to order the payment of the notes to be made to Ramrutten Banorjia my cousin or me whom I have empowered by a letter of this day to furnish you with an Indemnity (indemnitor) on my behalf required on this occasion.

I am for,

Your most obedient servant

Romanath Banojia

Banares 

the 4 October 1841

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The text in the margin of this letter reads as below:

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1 Note No. 1596, dated 13 June 1837 for 20

1 Do-Do 23 11 DO 28 Aug 1839 for 10

1 Do-Do 6727 DO12 Aug 1839 for 10

___ 
3- Cost Rs. 40 
 
Note: It is a fascinating letter of high importance in banking history. It establishes the testimony of the banking process of obtaining the payment, where the full banknote was scissor cut in two halves during their transit or transportation in any mode like carrying it personally or sending it by post from one place to another. During those days this was practiced to avoid burglary or theft of currency notes. In this case, it was the currency note of the Bank of Bengal which was cut in two halves, one portion was sent by Post or Dak and another portion was produced personally. Generally, when both portions were available, payment was released immediately but if one of the portions was not available then the owner had to make an application along with the available half-note and had to advertise in two newspapers and submit receipts of the same to the bank. Thereafter the bank obtained an indemnity bond and then allowed the payment to be made. 

An interesting item that is recommended for both philately and banknote collectors. 

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