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Handstruck stamp of India — Penang FP 1 pre-1854 handstamp, 1806–1817, Black

Straits Settlements · Pre-1854 Handstamp

Penang FP 1

Handstamp
Colour & date
Black1806–1817
Rarity
Rare
Figure
FP1
Submitted by
Andrew Titley
All PenangFP 2 →

Census

Census records

4 covers recorded

4 pre-1854 covers bearing the Penang FP 1 handstamp are recorded below — each entry links to images, provenance and auction details.

Pre-stamp cover of India — Penang FP 1, COV-4109, 4 February 1806
COV-4109

4 February 1806

STRAITS SETTLEMENTS Early Letters and Handstamps Penang 1806 (4 Feb.) entire letter from Canton to Penang showing, on reverse, a good strike of the very rare oval "p.o./p.w.i." h.s. in black (Type P2; earliest recorded date); the cover with some minor re-inforcement along folds. One of five recorded examples and the only one known struck in black. Photo Estimate S$ 12,000-15,000provenance: Lt. Col. L.T. Rose-Hutchinson, 1949 Dr. F.E. Wood, 1964 Sidney Harris, 1968 Charles Taylor, 1981 Spink Singapore, 2000

Pre-stamp cover of India — Penang FP 1, COV-4343, 10 November 1812
COV-4343

10 November 1812

Penang 1812 (10 Nov.) entire letter headed "On Board H.M.S. Wilhelmina, Port Cornwallis-Prince Edward Island" addressed to Scotland, rated "4" (deleted) and "1/6", showing very fine oval "p.o./p.w.i." in red with "ship letter/london" c.d.s. (14.5.13) alongside; the entire letter with some wear along folds. Very rare, one of five recorded examples of which four are struck in red, this being the finest. With transcript. (ID). Photo

Pre-stamp cover of India — Penang FP 1, COV-4339, 8 August 1817
COV-4339

8 August 1817

x Early Letters and Handstamps Penang 1817 (8 Aug.) entire letter from Malacca to London, rated "8", showing light but legible strike of the oval "p.o./p.w.i." handstamp in red partly overstruck by "india ship letter/g.p.o./london" double-ring d.s. (8.5.18), both crossed by light horizontal filing crease. Very rare, one of five recorded examples of which four are struck in red. Photo Estimate £ 4,500-5,500

Pre-stamp cover of India — Penang FP 1, COV-4372, 20 November 1817
COV-4372

20 November 1817

Postal cover from penang (straits-settlements), bearing FP 1 handstamp in Black. Dated 20 November 1817. Scarce example of postal history from this office.

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About this mark

The Penang FP 1 handstamp

Penang FP 1 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of the post office at Penang in the Straits Settlements, British India, in recorded use from 1806 to 1817. Known strikes are in black. Its "FP 1" designation is the figure number assigned in the Hammond Giles catalogue of the handstruck postage stamps of India.

4 surviving covers bearing this mark are recorded in the census, each with images and provenance. On the strength of that count the mark is graded "Rare" — the grade moves automatically as new covers are recorded. Collectors searching for penang pre stamp covers, penang postal history or "Penang FP1" material can compare FP 1 across every office or browse the rest of the Penang marks.

Frequently asked

What is the Penang FP 1 handstamp?
Penang FP 1 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Penang in the Straits Settlements, British India, in recorded use from 1806 to 1817. The "FP 1" designation is its figure number in the Hammond Giles catalogue of the handstruck postage stamps of India. Known strikes are in black.
How rare is Penang FP 1?
Penang FP 1 is graded "Rare" in this census. Rarity here is evidence-based: it is derived from the number of surviving covers actually recorded, not estimated. 4 surviving covers bearing this mark are recorded in the census, each with images and provenance.
What does a Penang pre stamp cover with FP 1 look like?
A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Penang is a folded letter or envelope carried before India's first adhesive stamp of 1854, with postage shown entirely by hand-struck marks like FP 1. 4 surviving covers bearing this mark are recorded in the census, each with images and provenance. Each census record on this page links to full cover images, dates and auction provenance.
How do I identify or submit a Penang FP 1 cover?
Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1806–1817). If your cover is not already recorded, you can submit front and back photographs through the census form on this page; every submission is editor-reviewed before publication.

Same office

Other recorded marks at Penang

11 marks

11 other pre-1854 postal markings of Penang are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.

View all Penang marks and postal history →

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Also searched as: Penang FP 1, Penang FP1, Penang Giles FP 1, Penang handstamp, Penang pre stamp cover.

How to cite

“Penang FP 1 — handstamp,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/straits-settlements/penang/fp-1 (accessed 12 September 2026).

Updated: 12 Sept 2026