COV-4301
10 February 1843 Penang Cover
Scan or Photo Courtesy of Spink
Date
10 February 1843
Description
Penang 1843 (10 Feb.) entire letter to Yorkshire, marked "By the overland mail via Falmouth", rated "1/-", showing oval-framed "india" in red with, on reverse, very faint "penang/Paid", London and arrival datestamps, all in red. The contents of the letter, written on board H.M.S. "Dido", give details of a visit to the Nicobar Islands, piracy, Penang being a favourable place, the inhabitants, and a visit up the hill with Captain Keppel. A fine and interesting cover
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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 4handstampRed1836–1846
- 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-4301 is a Penang pre stamp cover of 10 February 1843 bearing the Penang FP 5 handstamp, struck in black, recorded in the census of Penang postal history, Straits Settlements. What is a pre stamp cover?
Penang 1843 (10 Feb.) entire letter to Yorkshire, marked "By the overland mail via Falmouth", rated "1/-", showing oval-framed "india" in red with, on reverse, very faint "penang/Paid", London and arrival datestamps, all in red. The contents of the letter, written on board H.M.S. "Dido", give details of a visit to the Nicobar Islands, piracy, Penang being a favourable place, the inhabitants, and a visit up the hill with Captain Keppel. A fine and interesting cover
Its recorded auction history runs through Spink 8013 lot 1029 (2008); and Spink 23028 lot 216 (2023).
1 image of COV-4301 is recorded; the Penang FP 5 mark itself is recorded in use 1840–1850.
Questions about COV-4301
- What is COV-4301?
- COV-4301 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Penang, Straits Settlements of 10 February 1843, bearing the Penang FP 5 handstamp in black. Penang 1843 (10 Feb.) entire letter to Yorkshire, marked "By the overland mail via Falmouth", rated "1/-", showing oval-framed "india" in red with, on reverse, very faint "penang/Paid", London and arrival datestamps, all in red. The contents of the letter, written on board H.M.S. "Dido", give details of a visit to the Nicobar Islands, piracy, Penang being a favourable place, the inhabitants, and a visit up the hill with Captain Keppel. A fine and interesting cover
- How scarce is the Penang FP 5 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Penang FP 5 as very scarce, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1840–1850.
- What is the provenance of COV-4301?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Spink 8013 lot 1029 (2008); and Spink 23028 lot 216 (2023).
- When was COV-4301 posted?
- COV-4301 is dated 10 February 1843, within the recorded period of use of Penang FP 5 (1840–1850).
About this record
This 10 February 1843 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Penang FP 5 handstamp of the Straits Settlements, a mark graded “Very scarce” in this census — one of 14 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Spink, 8013, lot 1029, (2008); Spink, 23028, lot 216, (2023).