Straits Settlements · Pre-1854 Handstamp
Penang FP 12
- Colour & date
- Black1838–1847
- Rarity
- Very scarce
- Figure
- FP12
- Submitted by
- Gowtham BJ
Census
Census records
13 covers recorded13 pre-1854 covers bearing the Penang FP 12 handstamp are recorded below — each entry links to images, provenance and auction details.
About this mark
The Penang FP 12 handstamp
Penang FP 12 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of the post office at Penang in the Straits Settlements, British India, in recorded use from 1838 to 1847. Known strikes are in black. Its "FP 12" designation is the figure number assigned in the Hammond Giles catalogue of the handstruck postage stamps of India.
13 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 "Very scarce" — the grade moves automatically as new covers are recorded. Collectors searching for penang pre stamp covers, penang postal history or "Penang FP12" material can compare FP 12 across every office or browse the rest of the Penang marks.
Frequently asked
- What is the Penang FP 12 handstamp?
- Penang FP 12 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Penang in the Straits Settlements, British India, in recorded use from 1838 to 1847. The "FP 12" 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 12?
- Penang FP 12 is graded "Very scarce" in this census. Rarity here is evidence-based: it is derived from the number of surviving covers actually recorded, not estimated. 13 surviving covers bearing this mark are recorded in the census, each with images and provenance.
- What does a Penang pre stamp cover with FP 12 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 12. 13 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 12 cover?
- Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1838–1847). 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 marks11 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.
- Penang FP 1handstampBlack1806–1817
- Penang FP 2handstampBlack1820–1821
- Penang FP 3handstampBlack1826–1836
- Penang FP 4handstampRed1836–1846
- Penang FP 5handstampBlack1840–1846
- Penang FP 6handstampBlack1849–1855
- Penang FP 7handstampBlack1854
- Penang FP 8handstampBlack1844–1847
- Penang FP 9handstampBlack1847–1854
- Penang FP 10handstampBlack1844
- Penang FP 11handstampBlack1851
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 12, Penang FP12, Penang Giles FP 12, Penang handstamp, Penang pre stamp cover.
How to cite
“Penang FP 12 — handstamp,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/straits-settlements/penang/fp-12 (accessed 13 August 2026).
Updated: 13 Aug 2026