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 Bicholim pre stamp cover
COV-3172 is a Bicholim pre stamp cover of 18 January 1858 bearing the Bicholim FP 1 handstamp, struck in red, recorded in the census of Bicholim postal history, Goa (Portuguese India). What is a pre stamp cover?
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.
Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries 1286 lot 287 (May 2023).
1 image of COV-3172 is recorded; the Bicholim FP 1 mark itself is recorded in use 1857–1858.
Questions about COV-3172
- What is COV-3172?
- COV-3172 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Bicholim, Goa (Portuguese India) of 18 January 1858, bearing the Bicholim FP 1 handstamp in red. 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.
- How scarce is the Bicholim FP 1 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Bicholim FP 1 as rare, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1857–1858.
- What is the provenance of COV-3172?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries 1286 lot 287 (May 2023).
- When was COV-3172 posted?
- COV-3172 is dated 18 January 1858, within the recorded period of use of Bicholim FP 1 (1857–1858).
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).