COV-4347
6 February 1834 Penang Cover

Scan or Photo Courtesy of Spink
Date
6 February 1834
Description
Penang 1834 (6 Feb.) entire letter to London, rated "1/4", showing good to fine circular intaglio "prince of wales island/post office" in red with manuscript date inserted and, on reverse, Madras Ship Letter and Out Station Madras Ship Letter (crossed by tear which also affects top right corner of face panel) datestamps, framed "india letter/falmouth" across join and overstruck by red arrival c.d.s. (21.6). Photo
Auction
Same office
Other recorded marks at Penang
11 marks11 other pre-1854 postal markings of Penang are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
- Penang FP 1handstampBlack1806–1817
- Penang FP 2handstampBlack1820–1821
- Penang FP 4handstampRed1836–1846
- Penang FP 5handstampBlack1840–1850
- Penang FP 6handstampBlack1849–1855
- Penang FP 7handstampBlack1854–1858
+5 more at this office.View all Penang marks and postal history →
About this Penang pre stamp cover
COV-4347 is a Penang pre stamp cover of 6 February 1834 bearing the Penang FP 3 handstamp, struck in black, recorded in the census of Penang postal history, Straits Settlements. What is a pre stamp cover?
Penang 1834 (6 Feb.) entire letter to London, rated "1/4", showing good to fine circular intaglio "prince of wales island/post office" in red with manuscript date inserted and, on reverse, Madras Ship Letter and Out Station Madras Ship Letter (crossed by tear which also affects top right corner of face panel) datestamps, framed "india letter/falmouth" across join and overstruck by red arrival c.d.s. (21.6). Photo
Its recorded auction history runs through Spink 18039 lot 13 (2018).
1 image of COV-4347 is recorded; the Penang FP 3 mark itself is recorded in use 1826–1836.
Questions about COV-4347
- What is COV-4347?
- COV-4347 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Penang, Straits Settlements of 6 February 1834, bearing the Penang FP 3 handstamp in black. Penang 1834 (6 Feb.) entire letter to London, rated "1/4", showing good to fine circular intaglio "prince of wales island/post office" in red with manuscript date inserted and, on reverse, Madras Ship Letter and Out Station Madras Ship Letter (crossed by tear which also affects top right corner of face panel) datestamps, framed "india letter/falmouth" across join and overstruck by red arrival c.d.s. (21.6). Photo
- How scarce is the Penang FP 3 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Penang FP 3 as common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1826–1836.
- What is the provenance of COV-4347?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Spink 18039 lot 13 (2018).
- When was COV-4347 posted?
- COV-4347 is dated 6 February 1834, within the recorded period of use of Penang FP 3 (1826–1836).
About this record
This 6 February 1834 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Penang FP 3 handstamp of the Straits Settlements, a mark graded “Common” in this census — one of 21 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Spink, 18039, lot 13, (2018).

