COV-4383
22 October 1854 Singapore Cover
Scan or Photo Courtesy of London and Brighton
Date
22 October 1854
Description
Postal cover from singapore (straits-settlements), bearing FP 4 handstamp in Black. Dated 22 October 1854. Scarce example of postal history from this office. 1854 Lithograph Issue Singapore Covers 1854 (Oct.) entire letter to Calcutta date-lined "22 October" and marked "p. Formosa" , bearing ½a. blue Die I, Stone "A" strip of three, [53-55], with large margins all round and showing tiny portions of the stamps above. The letter was posted before Singapore had received either stamps or canceller, hence the necessity for the pen cancellation. The stamps had been carried privately from Calcutta by the author of the letter, but they only prepaid 1½ annas of the three annas required. The remaining 1½ annas were marked in manuscript on the framed "singapore / Bearing" which is dated 18 October. The letter arrived in Calcutta on 31 October; a little soiled and a few minor faults. A very rare and highly important cover, this being the earliest recorded use of Indian stamps in the Straits Settlements. Association of Singapore Philatelists Certificate (2013). Photo provenance : Charles Taylor, May 1981
Auction
Lot 139, (May 1981)
Provenance
Charles S. Taylor
Same office
Other recorded marks at Singapore
9 marks9 other pre-1854 postal markings of Singapore are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
- Singapore FP 1handstampBlack1829–1831
- Singapore FP 2handstampBlack1834
- Singapore FP 3handstampBlack1855
- Singapore FP 5handstampBlack1840–1855
- Singapore FP 6handstampBlack1854
- Singapore FP 7handstampBlack1840–1844
+3 more at this office.View all Singapore marks and postal history →
About this Singapore pre stamp cover
COV-4383 is a Singapore pre stamp cover of 22 October 1854 bearing the Singapore FP 4 handstamp, struck in black, recorded in the census of Singapore postal history, Straits Settlements. What is a pre stamp cover?
Postal cover from singapore (straits-settlements), bearing FP 4 handstamp in Black. Dated 22 October 1854. Scarce example of postal history from this office. 1854 Lithograph Issue Singapore Covers 1854 (Oct.) entire letter to Calcutta date-lined "22 October" and marked "p. Formosa" , bearing ½a. blue Die I, Stone "A" strip of three, [53-55], with large margins all round and showing tiny portions of the stamps above. The letter was posted before Singapore had received either stamps or canceller, hence the necessity for the pen cancellation. The stamps had been carried privately from Calcutta by the author of the letter, but they only prepaid 1½ annas of the three annas required. The remaining 1½ annas were marked in manuscript on the framed "singapore / Bearing" which is dated 18 October. The letter arrived in Calcutta on 31 October; a little soiled and a few minor faults. A very rare and highly important cover, this being the earliest recorded use of Indian stamps in the Straits Settlements. Association of Singapore Philatelists Certificate (2013). Photo provenance : Charles Taylor, May 1981
Its recorded auction history runs through London and Brighton Stamp Auctions lot 139 (May 1981); and Spink India used in the Straits Settlements, The Tan Ah Ee Collection - Part 1 (Sale 19032) lot 17 (2 August 2019).
2 images of COV-4383 are recorded (front); the Singapore FP 4 mark itself is recorded in use 1845–1854.
Questions about COV-4383
- What is COV-4383?
- COV-4383 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Singapore, Straits Settlements of 22 October 1854, bearing the Singapore FP 4 handstamp in black. Postal cover from singapore (straits-settlements), bearing FP 4 handstamp in Black. Dated 22 October 1854. Scarce example of postal history from this office. 1854 Lithograph Issue Singapore Covers 1854 (Oct.) entire letter to Calcutta date-lined "22 October" and marked "p. Formosa" , bearing ½a. blue Die I, Stone "A" strip of three, [53-55], with large margins all round and showing tiny portions of the stamps above. The letter was posted before Singapore had received either stamps or canceller, hence the necessity for the pen cancellation. The stamps had been carried privately from Calcutta by the author of the letter, but they only prepaid 1½ annas of the three annas required. The remaining 1½ annas were marked in manuscript on the framed "singapore / Bearing" which is dated 18 October. The letter arrived in Calcutta on 31 October; a little soiled and a few minor faults. A very rare and highly important cover, this being the earliest recorded use of Indian stamps in the Straits Settlements. Association of Singapore Philatelists Certificate (2013). Photo provenance : Charles Taylor, May 1981
- How scarce is the Singapore FP 4 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Singapore FP 4 as common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1845–1854.
- What is the provenance of COV-4383?
- Its recorded auction history runs through London and Brighton Stamp Auctions lot 139 (May 1981); and Spink India used in the Straits Settlements, The Tan Ah Ee Collection - Part 1 (Sale 19032) lot 17 (2 August 2019).
- When was COV-4383 posted?
- COV-4383 is dated 22 October 1854, within the recorded period of use of Singapore FP 4 (1845–1854).
About this record
This 22 October 1854 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Singapore FP 4 handstamp of the Straits Settlements, a mark graded “Common” in this census — one of 36 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with London and Brighton Stamp Auctions, lot 139, (May 1981); Spink, India used in the Straits Settlements, The Tan Ah Ee Collection - Part 1 (Sale 19032), lot 17, (2 August 2019).