COV-3172
18 January 1858 Bicholim FP 1 Cover
Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
18 January 1858
Description
Siegel - "Bicholim Livre" Handstamp. Faint but clear strike of two-line handstamp over the fold of 1858 official folded cover to New Goa, properly labelled "S.N.R." on front, dated Jan. 18, 1858, and signed by sender, no other postal markings as usual for official mail, negative intaglio seal of sender FINE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE "BICHOLIM LIVRE" HANDSTAMP. The word "Livre" indicates that the letter was exempt from postal charges within Portuguese territories. Official letters were identified by writing "S.N.R." (stands for "Servico Nacional e Real"), the date and signature of the sender.
Auction
1286, Lot 287, (May 2023)
Provenance
"Magnolia"
Same office
Other recorded marks at Bicholim
2 marks2 other pre-1854 postal markings of Bicholim are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
About this record
This 18 January 1858 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Bicholim FP 1 handstamp of the Goa (Portuguese India), a mark graded “Rare” in this census — one of 2 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, 1286, lot 287, (May 2023).