Scan or Photo Courtesy of Spink
Date
12 March 1844
Description
Spink - x Early Letters and Handstamps Malacca 1844 (12 Mar.) entire letter from Bangalore to "Captain Rochfort, 27th Regt, Malacca" showing, on reverse, framed "bangalore/Paid" d.s. in red, double-lined oval "out station/madras/ship letter" d.s. (14.3), framed "malacca/ship letter/April/Bearing" d.s. in red and "penang/ship letter/May 4/Bearing" d.s. in black. Very rare, one of four recorded examples, all struck in 1844. Photo Estimate £ 3,500-4,500 provenance: Comdt. Smith Charles S. Taylor, May 1981 Tay Peng Hian, November 1986 Christie´´s Singapore, March 1994 Siegel - Straits Settlements--Malacca, 1844 "Malacca Ship Letter, (?) April, Bearing" Handstamp on Incoming Letter. Folded letter datelined Banglaore Mar. 12, 1844 with red "Bangalore, 1844 March 12, Paid" boxed despatch datestamp on back, addressed to "Captain Rochfort, 27th Regt, Malacca", Madras "Out Station Ship Letter" (Giles SD11) and "Penang Ship Letter" datestamps applied in transit, Malacca Ship Letter handstamp applied on arrival, minor edgewear including small tear into Penang handstamp FINE STRIKE OF THE INCREDIBLY RARE MALACCA SHIP LETTER MARKING. ONLY FOUR EXAMPLES ARE RECORDED, ALL USED DURING 1844--THIS QUITE POSSIBLY THE EARLIEST. The Proud book mentions this marking is known used from Apr. 30 to Aug. 1, 1844. Ex Comdt. Smith, Taylor, Tay Peng Hian, and Nathan.
Auction
1286, Lot 238, (May 2023)
Provenance
"Magnolia" Comdt. Smith Taylor Tay Peng Hian Nathan
Same office
Other recorded marks at Malacca
1 markOne other pre-1854 postal marking of Malacca is recorded in the census. Compare it against this mark to place your cover.
About this record
This 12 March 1844 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Malacca FP 2 handstamp of the Straits Settlements, a mark graded “Rare” in this census — one of 2 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Spink, Auction: 9023 - The V T Nathan Collection of Straits Settlements, lot 9023, (2009); Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, 1286, lot 238, (May 2023).