COV-3032
6 February 1857 French Rocks Cover
Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
6 February 1857
Description
India, 1854, 4a Red & Blue, 2nd Printing, Head Die II, Frame Die I (6D; SG 19). Cut to shape, tight to ample margins all around, tied by blue "C/13" cancel on cover to Dublin, Ireland, sender's directive "Per Steamer from Madras via Southampton", clear strike of red "FRENCH ROCKS, Paid" despatch handstamp (Giles 1) with manuscript "6-2-57" date added, red crescent "INDIA PAID" handstamp, red Madras (Feb. 9) and London (Mar. 20) transit and Dublin (Mar. 21) arrival datestamps, minor hinge reinforced tears on flap VERY FINE. A RARE USE OF THE 4-ANNAS LITHOGRAPH SECOND PRINTING ON COVER WITH THE BLUE "C/13" CANCEL OF FRENCH ROCKS TO IRELAND. Colored cancels of the Madras Circle "C" cancels (Cooper Ty. 6) are quite rare, particularly so on cover.
Auction
The Magnolia Collection: India Stamps and Postal History, Part 5, Lot 145, (09/30/2025)
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-3032 is a French Rocks pre stamp cover of 6 February 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, 2nd Printing, Head Die II, Frame Die I (6D; SG 19). Cut to shape, tight to ample margins all around, tied by blue "C/13" cancel on cover to Dublin, Ireland, sender's directive "Per Steamer from Madras via Southampton", clear strike of red "FRENCH ROCKS, Paid" despatch handstamp (Giles 1) with manuscript "6-2-57" date added, red crescent "INDIA PAID" handstamp, red Madras (Feb. 9) and London (Mar. 20) transit and Dublin (Mar. 21) arrival datestamps, minor hinge reinforced tears on flap VERY FINE. A RARE USE OF THE 4-ANNAS LITHOGRAPH SECOND PRINTING ON COVER WITH THE BLUE "C/13" CANCEL OF FRENCH ROCKS TO IRELAND. Colored cancels of the Madras Circle "C" cancels (Cooper Ty. 6) are quite rare, particularly so on cover.
Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries The Magnolia Collection: India Stamps and Postal History, Part 5 lot 145 (09/30/2025).
2 images of COV-3032 are recorded (front, back); the French Rocks HG 1 mark itself is recorded in use 1841–1858.
Questions about COV-3032
- What is COV-3032?
- COV-3032 is a recorded pre stamp cover of French Rocks, Madras Presidency of 6 February 1857, bearing the French Rocks HG 1 handstamp in red. India, 1854, 4a Red & Blue, 2nd Printing, Head Die II, Frame Die I (6D; SG 19). Cut to shape, tight to ample margins all around, tied by blue "C/13" cancel on cover to Dublin, Ireland, sender's directive "Per Steamer from Madras via Southampton", clear strike of red "FRENCH ROCKS, Paid" despatch handstamp (Giles 1) with manuscript "6-2-57" date added, red crescent "INDIA PAID" handstamp, red Madras (Feb. 9) and London (Mar. 20) transit and Dublin (Mar. 21) arrival datestamps, minor hinge reinforced tears on flap VERY FINE. A RARE USE OF THE 4-ANNAS LITHOGRAPH SECOND PRINTING ON COVER WITH THE BLUE "C/13" CANCEL OF FRENCH ROCKS TO IRELAND. Colored cancels of the Madras Circle "C" cancels (Cooper Ty. 6) are quite rare, particularly so on cover.
- 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-3032?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries The Magnolia Collection: India Stamps and Postal History, Part 5 lot 145 (09/30/2025).
- When was COV-3032 posted?
- COV-3032 is dated 6 February 1857, within the recorded period of use of French Rocks HG 1 (1841–1858).
About this record
This 6 February 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 145, (09/30/2025).