Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
1866
Description
PORTUGUESE INDIA, "Mapuca Livre" Handstamp. Clearly struck red handstamp on back of 1866 folded official cover to Goa, properly marked "S.N.R." on front, dated Mar. 19, 1866 and signed by sender, red "GOA" boxed handstamp on arrival, minor ink erosion VERY FINE. ONLY A FEW EXAMPLES OF THE "MAPUCA LIBRE" OFFICIAL HANDSTAMP ARE RECORDED. 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
Nov. 2023, Lot 6241, (Nov. 2023)
Provenance
"Magnolia"
About this record
This 1866 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Mapuca FP 4 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, Nov. 2023, lot 6241, (Nov. 2023).