Scan or Photo Courtesy of Spink
Date
1849
Description
(x) Philippines 1849 two covers to Huth in London with (29 June) entire from Jenny & Co. " p Overland Mail via Ceylon" and rated " 2/3" , the reverse with Benn Meyer & Co Singapore oval, Singapore Bearing square datestamp and London arrival (20.8); (16 Oct.) Russell & Sturgis wrapper sent " via Southampton" with " 1/1" rate mark and, on the reverse, double-oval " forwarded by/a.l. johnston & co/singapore" in black, square Singapore Bearing datestamp and London arrival (26.12); usual filing folds. (2 covers) Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.
Auction
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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-5531 is a Singapore pre stamp cover of 1849 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?
(x) Philippines 1849 two covers to Huth in London with (29 June) entire from Jenny & Co. " p Overland Mail via Ceylon" and rated " 2/3" , the reverse with Benn Meyer & Co Singapore oval, Singapore Bearing square datestamp and London arrival (20.8); (16 Oct.) Russell & Sturgis wrapper sent " via Southampton" with " 1/1" rate mark and, on the reverse, double-oval " forwarded by/a.l. johnston & co/singapore" in black, square Singapore Bearing datestamp and London arrival (26.12); usual filing folds. (2 covers) Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.
Its recorded auction history runs through Spink Stamps and Covers of Asia (Sale 26014) lot 5582 (17 June 2026).
1 image of COV-5531 is recorded; the Singapore FP 4 mark itself is recorded in use 1845–1854.
Questions about COV-5531
- What is COV-5531?
- COV-5531 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Singapore, Straits Settlements of 1849, bearing the Singapore FP 4 handstamp in black. (x) Philippines 1849 two covers to Huth in London with (29 June) entire from Jenny & Co. " p Overland Mail via Ceylon" and rated " 2/3" , the reverse with Benn Meyer & Co Singapore oval, Singapore Bearing square datestamp and London arrival (20.8); (16 Oct.) Russell & Sturgis wrapper sent " via Southampton" with " 1/1" rate mark and, on the reverse, double-oval " forwarded by/a.l. johnston & co/singapore" in black, square Singapore Bearing datestamp and London arrival (26.12); usual filing folds. (2 covers) Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.
- 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-5531?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Spink Stamps and Covers of Asia (Sale 26014) lot 5582 (17 June 2026).
- When was COV-5531 posted?
- COV-5531 is dated 1849, within the recorded period of use of Singapore FP 4 (1845–1854).
About this record
This 1849 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 Spink, Stamps and Covers of Asia (Sale 26014), lot 5582, (17 June 2026).