Scan or Photo Courtesy of Spink
Date
25 March 1842
Description
Malacca 1842 (25 Mar.) lengthy five page missionary entire letter from James Legge to Rev. Arthur Tidman in London, rated "7/-" and showing oval-framed "india" in red (crossed by horizontal filing crease) and, on reverse, a legible large part strike of the rare "malacca/Paid" d.s. partly overstruck by arrival datestamp (4.8) and recipient's manuscript notations. Very rare, only six examples recorded. Photo
Auction
Provenance
V.T. 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 Malacca pre stamp cover
COV-4093 is a Malacca pre stamp cover of 25 March 1842 bearing the Malacca FP 1 handstamp, struck in black, recorded in the census of Malacca postal history, Straits Settlements. What is a pre stamp cover?
Malacca 1842 (25 Mar.) lengthy five page missionary entire letter from James Legge to Rev. Arthur Tidman in London, rated "7/-" and showing oval-framed "india" in red (crossed by horizontal filing crease) and, on reverse, a legible large part strike of the rare "malacca/Paid" d.s. partly overstruck by arrival datestamp (4.8) and recipient's manuscript notations. Very rare, only six examples recorded. Photo
Its recorded auction history runs through Spink 26014 lot 5248 (2026).
1 image of COV-4093 is recorded; the Malacca FP 1 mark itself is recorded in use 1841–1852.
Questions about COV-4093
- What is COV-4093?
- COV-4093 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Malacca, Straits Settlements of 25 March 1842, bearing the Malacca FP 1 handstamp in black. Malacca 1842 (25 Mar.) lengthy five page missionary entire letter from James Legge to Rev. Arthur Tidman in London, rated "7/-" and showing oval-framed "india" in red (crossed by horizontal filing crease) and, on reverse, a legible large part strike of the rare "malacca/Paid" d.s. partly overstruck by arrival datestamp (4.8) and recipient's manuscript notations. Very rare, only six examples recorded. Photo
- How scarce is the Malacca FP 1 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Malacca FP 1 as rare, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1841–1852.
- What is the provenance of COV-4093?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Spink 26014 lot 5248 (2026).
- When was COV-4093 posted?
- COV-4093 is dated 25 March 1842, within the recorded period of use of Malacca FP 1 (1841–1852).
About this record
This 25 March 1842 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Malacca FP 1 handstamp of the Straits Settlements, a mark graded “Rare” in this census — one of 5 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Spink, 26014, lot 5248, (2026).