COV-3052
10 November 1857 French Rocks Cover
Scan or Photo Courtesy of Markand Dave FRPSL
Date
10 November 1857
Description
1857 (9 Oct.) and (3 Dec.) envelopes from French Rocks and 1858 (3 Aug.) envelope (with letter) from Ootacamund, all from the same correspondence to Dublin, each marked "Per Steamer from Madras" and "Via Southampton", and bearing cut to shape 4a. 5th printing, all clearly cancelled and showing crescent-shaped "india paid" with, on reverse, despatch and Madras datestamps; the last a little soiled
Auction
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-3052 is a French Rocks pre stamp cover of 10 November 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?
1857 (9 Oct.) and (3 Dec.) envelopes from French Rocks and 1858 (3 Aug.) envelope (with letter) from Ootacamund, all from the same correspondence to Dublin, each marked "Per Steamer from Madras" and "Via Southampton", and bearing cut to shape 4a. 5th printing, all clearly cancelled and showing crescent-shaped "india paid" with, on reverse, despatch and Madras datestamps; the last a little soiled
Its recorded auction history runs through Spink Auction: 23028 - Stamps and Covers of India and South East Asia lot 27 (2024).
4 images of COV-3052 are recorded (front, back); the French Rocks HG 1 mark itself is recorded in use 1841–1858.
Questions about COV-3052
- What is COV-3052?
- COV-3052 is a recorded pre stamp cover of French Rocks, Madras Presidency of 10 November 1857, bearing the French Rocks HG 1 handstamp in red. 1857 (9 Oct.) and (3 Dec.) envelopes from French Rocks and 1858 (3 Aug.) envelope (with letter) from Ootacamund, all from the same correspondence to Dublin, each marked "Per Steamer from Madras" and "Via Southampton", and bearing cut to shape 4a. 5th printing, all clearly cancelled and showing crescent-shaped "india paid" with, on reverse, despatch and Madras datestamps; the last a little soiled
- 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-3052?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Spink Auction: 23028 - Stamps and Covers of India and South East Asia lot 27 (2024).
- When was COV-3052 posted?
- COV-3052 is dated 10 November 1857, within the recorded period of use of French Rocks HG 1 (1841–1858).
About this record
This 10 November 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 Spink, Auction: 23028 - Stamps and Covers of India and South East Asia, lot 27, (2024).