COV-4308
2 February 1841 Penang Cover
Scan or Photo Courtesy of Spink
Date
2 February 1841
Description
STRAITS SETTLEMENTS Early Letters and Handstamps Singapore 1841 (2 Feb.) entire letter from Penang to London, rated "1/4" and showing, on reverse, framed "penang/Paid" d.s. in red with manuscript "2 Anna" inserted and rare framed "singapore/ship letter/Bearing" d.s. in black, both partly crossed by straight-line "ship letter" h.s., and with red arrival c.d.s. (23.8). Photo Estimate S$ 1,500-1,800
Auction
Provenance
Joseph Wong Choon Wing
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 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-4308 is a Penang pre stamp cover of 2 February 1841 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?
STRAITS SETTLEMENTS Early Letters and Handstamps Singapore 1841 (2 Feb.) entire letter from Penang to London, rated "1/4" and showing, on reverse, framed "penang/Paid" d.s. in red with manuscript "2 Anna" inserted and rare framed "singapore/ship letter/Bearing" d.s. in black, both partly crossed by straight-line "ship letter" h.s., and with red arrival c.d.s. (23.8). Photo Estimate S$ 1,500-1,800
Its recorded auction history runs through Spink 7019 lot 15 (2007); and Spink 26014 lot 5262 (2026).
1 image of COV-4308 is recorded; the Penang FP 5 mark itself is recorded in use 1840–1850.
Questions about COV-4308
- What is COV-4308?
- COV-4308 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Penang, Straits Settlements of 2 February 1841, bearing the Penang FP 5 handstamp in black. STRAITS SETTLEMENTS Early Letters and Handstamps Singapore 1841 (2 Feb.) entire letter from Penang to London, rated "1/4" and showing, on reverse, framed "penang/Paid" d.s. in red with manuscript "2 Anna" inserted and rare framed "singapore/ship letter/Bearing" d.s. in black, both partly crossed by straight-line "ship letter" h.s., and with red arrival c.d.s. (23.8). Photo Estimate S$ 1,500-1,800
- 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-4308?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Spink 7019 lot 15 (2007); and Spink 26014 lot 5262 (2026).
- When was COV-4308 posted?
- COV-4308 is dated 2 February 1841, within the recorded period of use of Penang FP 5 (1840–1850).
About this record
This 2 February 1841 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, 7019, lot 15, (2007); Spink, 26014, lot 5262, (2026).