Scan or Photo Courtesy of Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd
Date
1852
Description
AKYAB - RARE EARLY COVER TO HOLLAND - VIA CALCUTTA & MARSEILLES; 16 Apr. 1852 E (part addressee's name erased) from "Akyab" to Amsterdam "Per P&O Co Steamer via Marseilles" with a mainly fine red boxed "AKYAB/Paid" d.s. (20 April; 8as rate) on the flap and with red boxed "INDIA PAID" on the front (matching the "AKYAB/Paid" backstamp - and so struck in Akyab?), also charged "55" on front (and reverse on delivery) with red "S/1/-" (credit to GB PO) and fine red 2-ring "INDES OR./2 MARSEILLES 2" transit cds (13 June) on the front. Remarkable destination from Burma at this early date. [The similar but later 1852 cover in Cavendish's 13 Dec. 2017 'Filby' auction, lot 15, realised £496.]Cross Reference: NETHERLANDS, INDIA, FRANCE
Auction
Worldwide & Great Britain Stamps & Postal History, Lot 435, (2019)
Same office
Other recorded marks at Akyab
6 marks6 other pre-1854 postal markings of Akyab are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
About this Akyab pre stamp cover
COV-4879 is an Akyab pre stamp cover of 1852 bearing the Akyab FP 4 handstamp, struck in red, recorded in the census of Akyab postal history, Burma. What is a pre stamp cover?
AKYAB - RARE EARLY COVER TO HOLLAND - VIA CALCUTTA & MARSEILLES; 16 Apr. 1852 E (part addressee's name erased) from "Akyab" to Amsterdam "Per P&O Co Steamer via Marseilles" with a mainly fine red boxed "AKYAB/Paid" d.s. (20 April; 8as rate) on the flap and with red boxed "INDIA PAID" on the front (matching the "AKYAB/Paid" backstamp - and so struck in Akyab?), also charged "55" on front (and reverse on delivery) with red "S/1/-" (credit to GB PO) and fine red 2-ring "INDES OR./2 MARSEILLES 2" transit cds (13 June) on the front. Remarkable destination from Burma at this early date. [The similar but later 1852 cover in Cavendish's 13 Dec. 2017 'Filby' auction, lot 15, realised £496.]Cross Reference: NETHERLANDS, INDIA, FRANCE
Its recorded auction history runs through Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd Worldwide & Great Britain Stamps & Postal History lot 435 (2019).
1 image of COV-4879 is recorded; the Akyab FP 4 mark itself is recorded in use —.
Questions about COV-4879
- What is COV-4879?
- COV-4879 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Akyab, Burma of 1852, bearing the Akyab FP 4 handstamp in red. AKYAB - RARE EARLY COVER TO HOLLAND - VIA CALCUTTA & MARSEILLES; 16 Apr. 1852 E (part addressee's name erased) from "Akyab" to Amsterdam "Per P&O Co Steamer via Marseilles" with a mainly fine red boxed "AKYAB/Paid" d.s. (20 April; 8as rate) on the flap and with red boxed "INDIA PAID" on the front (matching the "AKYAB/Paid" backstamp - and so struck in Akyab?), also charged "55" on front (and reverse on delivery) with red "S/1/-" (credit to GB PO) and fine red 2-ring "INDES OR./2 MARSEILLES 2" transit cds (13 June) on the front. Remarkable destination from Burma at this early date. [The similar but later 1852 cover in Cavendish's 13 Dec. 2017 'Filby' auction, lot 15, realised £496.]Cross Reference: NETHERLANDS, INDIA, FRANCE
- How scarce is the Akyab FP 4 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Akyab FP 4 as rare, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use —.
- What is the provenance of COV-4879?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd Worldwide & Great Britain Stamps & Postal History lot 435 (2019).
- When was COV-4879 posted?
- COV-4879 is dated 1852, within the recorded period of use of Akyab FP 4 (—).
About this record
This 1852 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Akyab FP 4 handstamp of the Burma, a mark graded “Rare” in this census — one of 5 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd, Worldwide & Great Britain Stamps & Postal History, lot 435, (2019).