COV-3031
8 September 1857 French Rocks Cover
Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
8 September 1857
Description
India, 1854, 4a Red & Blue, 4th Printing, Head Die III, Frame Die II (6F; SG 23). Cut to shape, tight but clear margins all around, tied by blue dotted "C/13" cancel on cover to Dublin, Ireland, sender's directive "via Southampton", red framed French Rocks Paid despatch handstamp (Giles 1) with manuscript "8 Sept 1857" date added on back, red "INDIA PAID" crescent handstamp, Madras and London (Oct. 22) transit and Dublin (Oct. 23) arrival datestamps, cover and stamp significantly soiled, despatch datestamp affected by opening flap tears, Fine, the French Rocks marking is noted as scarce by Giles, with 2024 B.P.A. certificate
Auction
The Magnolia Collection: India Stamps and Postal History, Part 5, Lot 160, (09/30/2025)
Certificates
Same office
Other recorded marks at French Rocks
1 markOne other pre-1854 postal marking of French Rocks is recorded in the census. Compare it against this mark to place your cover.
About this French Rocks pre stamp cover
COV-3031 is a French Rocks pre stamp cover of 8 September 1857 bearing the French Rocks HG 1 handstamp, struck in red, recorded in the census of French Rocks postal history — the office known today as Pandavapura, Madras Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?
India, 1854, 4a Red & Blue, 4th Printing, Head Die III, Frame Die II (6F; SG 23). Cut to shape, tight but clear margins all around, tied by blue dotted "C/13" cancel on cover to Dublin, Ireland, sender's directive "via Southampton", red framed French Rocks Paid despatch handstamp (Giles 1) with manuscript "8 Sept 1857" date added on back, red "INDIA PAID" crescent handstamp, Madras and London (Oct. 22) transit and Dublin (Oct. 23) arrival datestamps, cover and stamp significantly soiled, despatch datestamp affected by opening flap tears, Fine, the French Rocks marking is noted as scarce by Giles, with 2024 B.P.A. certificate
Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries The Magnolia Collection: India Stamps and Postal History, Part 5 lot 160 (09/30/2025).
2 images of COV-3031 are recorded (front, back); the French Rocks HG 1 mark itself is recorded in use 1841–1858.
Questions about COV-3031
- What is COV-3031?
- COV-3031 is a recorded pre stamp cover of French Rocks, Madras Presidency of 8 September 1857, bearing the French Rocks HG 1 handstamp in red. India, 1854, 4a Red & Blue, 4th Printing, Head Die III, Frame Die II (6F; SG 23). Cut to shape, tight but clear margins all around, tied by blue dotted "C/13" cancel on cover to Dublin, Ireland, sender's directive "via Southampton", red framed French Rocks Paid despatch handstamp (Giles 1) with manuscript "8 Sept 1857" date added on back, red "INDIA PAID" crescent handstamp, Madras and London (Oct. 22) transit and Dublin (Oct. 23) arrival datestamps, cover and stamp significantly soiled, despatch datestamp affected by opening flap tears, Fine, the French Rocks marking is noted as scarce by Giles, with 2024 B.P.A. certificate
- How scarce is the French Rocks HG 1 mark on this cover?
- The census grades French Rocks HG 1 as very scarce, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1841–1858.
- What is the provenance of COV-3031?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries The Magnolia Collection: India Stamps and Postal History, Part 5 lot 160 (09/30/2025).
- When was COV-3031 posted?
- COV-3031 is dated 8 September 1857, within the recorded period of use of French Rocks HG 1 (1841–1858).
About this record
This 8 September 1857 pre stamp cover of British India bears the French Rocks HG 1 handstamp of the Madras Presidency, a mark graded “Very scarce” in this census — one of 7 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, The Magnolia Collection: India Stamps and Postal History, Part 5, lot 160, (09/30/2025).