COV-4351
23 August 1837 Penang Cover
Scan or Photo Courtesy of Spink
Date
23 August 1837
Description
Penang 1837 (23 Aug.) entire letter to Madras, marked "Ship Letter Post paid 4ans", showing two fine strikes (one on reverse) of framed "pinang/post office" d.s. in black (earliest recorded date) and, on reverse, Madras Ship Letter arrival d.s. (24.10); a little worn at edges. A very fine example of this short-lived marking, used from August 1837 to July 1839, with nine examples recorded. (ID). Photo
Auction
Provenance
"Stolz"
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 3handstampBlack1826–1836
- 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-4351 is a Penang pre stamp cover of 23 August 1837 bearing the Penang FP 4 handstamp, struck in red, recorded in the census of Penang postal history, Straits Settlements. What is a pre stamp cover?
Penang 1837 (23 Aug.) entire letter to Madras, marked "Ship Letter Post paid 4ans", showing two fine strikes (one on reverse) of framed "pinang/post office" d.s. in black (earliest recorded date) and, on reverse, Madras Ship Letter arrival d.s. (24.10); a little worn at edges. A very fine example of this short-lived marking, used from August 1837 to July 1839, with nine examples recorded. (ID). Photo
Its recorded auction history runs through Spink 1015 lot 1024 (2001); Spink 18039 lot 17 (2018); and Spink 21014 lot 103 (2021).
1 image of COV-4351 is recorded; the Penang FP 4 mark itself is recorded in use 1836–1846.
Questions about COV-4351
- What is COV-4351?
- COV-4351 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Penang, Straits Settlements of 23 August 1837, bearing the Penang FP 4 handstamp in red. Penang 1837 (23 Aug.) entire letter to Madras, marked "Ship Letter Post paid 4ans", showing two fine strikes (one on reverse) of framed "pinang/post office" d.s. in black (earliest recorded date) and, on reverse, Madras Ship Letter arrival d.s. (24.10); a little worn at edges. A very fine example of this short-lived marking, used from August 1837 to July 1839, with nine examples recorded. (ID). Photo
- How scarce is the Penang FP 4 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Penang FP 4 as scarce, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1836–1846.
- What is the provenance of COV-4351?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Spink 1015 lot 1024 (2001); Spink 18039 lot 17 (2018); and Spink 21014 lot 103 (2021).
- When was COV-4351 posted?
- COV-4351 is dated 23 August 1837, within the recorded period of use of Penang FP 4 (1836–1846).
About this record
This 23 August 1837 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Penang FP 4 handstamp of the Straits Settlements, a mark graded “Scarce” in this census — one of 16 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Spink, 1015, lot 1024, (2001); Spink, 18039, lot 17, (2018); Spink, 21014, lot 103, (2021).