COV-4355
22 August 1829 Penang Cover
Scan or Photo Courtesy of Spink
Date
22 August 1829
Description
Penang 1829 (22 Aug.) soldier's entire letter headed "From Sergt. A Buchanen Local Establ. Prince of Wales Island" to his brother in Edinburgh, countersigned by the Commanding Officer and showing "prince of wales island/post office" double-ring intaglio handstamp in red with date completed in manuscript and circular-framed "india soldier &c/3/london" handstamp; interesting contents including "I hear that several murders have been committed in my Native City, I hear also of the unsettled state ...... Ireland, and War being expected between England ..... Persia"; the letter face panel toned, parts of the top and bottom flaps missing and the folds crudely repaired with adhesive tape which has turned brown, nevertheless a remarkable and almost certainly unique survivor with both these handstamps. Also 19th Century map (285x190mm.) of the "East Indies from the Best Authorities". 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-4355 is a Penang pre stamp cover of 22 August 1829 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 1829 (22 Aug.) soldier's entire letter headed "From Sergt. A Buchanen Local Establ. Prince of Wales Island" to his brother in Edinburgh, countersigned by the Commanding Officer and showing "prince of wales island/post office" double-ring intaglio handstamp in red with date completed in manuscript and circular-framed "india soldier &c/3/london" handstamp; interesting contents including "I hear that several murders have been committed in my Native City, I hear also of the unsettled state ...... Ireland, and War being expected between England ..... Persia"; the letter face panel toned, parts of the top and bottom flaps missing and the folds crudely repaired with adhesive tape which has turned brown, nevertheless a remarkable and almost certainly unique survivor with both these handstamps. Also 19th Century map (285x190mm.) of the "East Indies from the Best Authorities". Photo
Its recorded auction history runs through Spink 21014 lot 98 (2021).
2 images of COV-4355 are recorded; the Penang FP 3 mark itself is recorded in use 1826–1836.
Questions about COV-4355
- What is COV-4355?
- COV-4355 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Penang, Straits Settlements of 22 August 1829, bearing the Penang FP 3 handstamp in black. Penang 1829 (22 Aug.) soldier's entire letter headed "From Sergt. A Buchanen Local Establ. Prince of Wales Island" to his brother in Edinburgh, countersigned by the Commanding Officer and showing "prince of wales island/post office" double-ring intaglio handstamp in red with date completed in manuscript and circular-framed "india soldier &c/3/london" handstamp; interesting contents including "I hear that several murders have been committed in my Native City, I hear also of the unsettled state ...... Ireland, and War being expected between England ..... Persia"; the letter face panel toned, parts of the top and bottom flaps missing and the folds crudely repaired with adhesive tape which has turned brown, nevertheless a remarkable and almost certainly unique survivor with both these handstamps. Also 19th Century map (285x190mm.) of the "East Indies from the Best Authorities". 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-4355?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Spink 21014 lot 98 (2021).
- When was COV-4355 posted?
- COV-4355 is dated 22 August 1829, within the recorded period of use of Penang FP 3 (1826–1836).
About this record
This 22 August 1829 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, 21014, lot 98, (2021).