COV-3031
8 September 1857 French Rocks HG 1 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 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 “Common” in this census — one of 6 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).