Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
7 February 1852
Description
India, Bangalore, 1852, "BANGALORE/1852 March ?/Bearing" Framed Datestamp (Giles 10). Clear strike in blue on back applied on arrival of cover to Madras, forwarded to French Rocks and Bangalore, sender's directive "overland via Marseilles", cover originating in Scotland, two strikes of "Canonrie FEB 7 1852" framed despatch datestamp and red manuscript "Paid 1/10" , Carlisle (Feb. 7), London (Feb. 8), Bombay, Madras (Mar. 25), and blue French Rocks (Mar. 20, Giles 1) transit and arrival backstamps, cover with understandable edgewear and minor wrinkling, Very Fine, the Bangalore marking in blue is very scarce
Auction
The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History, Part 8 (Sale 9061, 21 October 2026), Lot 10015, (2026)
Same office
Other recorded marks at French Rocks
2 marks2 other pre-1854 postal markings of French Rocks are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
About this French Rocks pre stamp cover
COV-5340 is a French Rocks pre stamp cover of 7 February 1852 bearing the French Rocks HG 2 handstamp, struck in blue, recorded in the census of French Rocks postal history — the office known today as Pandavapura, Madras Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?
India, Bangalore, 1852, "BANGALORE/1852 March ?/Bearing" Framed Datestamp (Giles 10). Clear strike in blue on back applied on arrival of cover to Madras, forwarded to French Rocks and Bangalore, sender's directive "overland via Marseilles", cover originating in Scotland, two strikes of "Canonrie FEB 7 1852" framed despatch datestamp and red manuscript "Paid 1/10" , Carlisle (Feb. 7), London (Feb. 8), Bombay, Madras (Mar. 25), and blue French Rocks (Mar. 20, Giles 1) transit and arrival backstamps, cover with understandable edgewear and minor wrinkling, Very Fine, the Bangalore marking in blue is very scarce
Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History, Part 8 (Sale 9061, 21 October 2026) lot 10015 (2026).
2 images of COV-5340 are recorded; the French Rocks HG 2 mark itself is recorded in use 1852.
Questions about COV-5340
- What is COV-5340?
- COV-5340 is a recorded pre stamp cover of French Rocks, Madras Presidency of 7 February 1852, bearing the French Rocks HG 2 handstamp in blue. India, Bangalore, 1852, "BANGALORE/1852 March ?/Bearing" Framed Datestamp (Giles 10). Clear strike in blue on back applied on arrival of cover to Madras, forwarded to French Rocks and Bangalore, sender's directive "overland via Marseilles", cover originating in Scotland, two strikes of "Canonrie FEB 7 1852" framed despatch datestamp and red manuscript "Paid 1/10" , Carlisle (Feb. 7), London (Feb. 8), Bombay, Madras (Mar. 25), and blue French Rocks (Mar. 20, Giles 1) transit and arrival backstamps, cover with understandable edgewear and minor wrinkling, Very Fine, the Bangalore marking in blue is very scarce
- How scarce is the French Rocks HG 2 mark on this cover?
- The census grades French Rocks HG 2 as 1 example recorded, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1852.
- What is the provenance of COV-5340?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History, Part 8 (Sale 9061, 21 October 2026) lot 10015 (2026).
- When was COV-5340 posted?
- COV-5340 is dated 7 February 1852, within the recorded period of use of French Rocks HG 2 (1852).
About this record
This 7 February 1852 pre stamp cover of British India bears the French Rocks HG 2 handstamp of the Madras Presidency, a mark with 1 example recorded in this census — the only surviving cover with this mark recorded so far. It has appeared at auction with Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History, Part 8 (Sale 9061, 21 October 2026), lot 10015, (2026).