Straits Settlements · Pre-1854 Handstamp
Penang FP 1
- Colour & date
- Black1844
- Rarity
- Scarce
- Figure
- FP1
- Submitted by
- Gowtham BJ
Census
Census records
0 covers recordedNo pre stamp cover bearing the Penang FP 1 handstamp has been recorded yet. If you hold one, submit it below.
No covers bearing this mark have been recorded yet. If you hold one, your submission — once reviewed — will appear here.
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, recorded in use around 1844. 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.
No surviving cover bearing this mark has been recorded in the census yet — if you hold one, it may be the first recorded example. On the strength of that count the mark is graded "Scarce" — 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, recorded in use around 1844. 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 "Scarce" in this census. Rarity here is evidence-based: it is derived from the number of surviving covers actually recorded, not estimated. No surviving cover bearing this mark has been recorded in the census yet — if you hold one, it may be the first recorded example.
- 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. No surviving cover bearing this mark has been recorded in the census yet — if you hold one, it may be the first recorded example. 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 (1844). 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.
Suggest a correction
Spotted a wrong date, colour or rarity? Propose a change — every suggestion is reviewed before it is applied.
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 29 July 2026).
Updated: 29 Jul 2026