Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
18 November 1854
Description
Used in Straits Settlements--Penang, 1854, 1a Red, Die I (4; SG 12). Block of eight (4 x 2), Stone A, Positions 17-20/25-28, mostly large margins all around, ample at bottom right, tied by eight clear strikes of diamond of dots cancel, affixed partly over clearly struck red "Penang, 18 November, Post Paid" boxed datestamp on back of 1854 folded cover (missing interior page, but completely intact outer sheet), addressed to Marseilles, France, sender's directive "Overland via Suez", light strike of blue Alexandria 1854 double-circle datestamp over fold, Marseilles Dec. 26 arrival datestamp EXTREMELY FINE. WIDELY REGARDED AS ONE OF THE FINEST QUALITY EXAMPLES OF THE INDIA 1854 LITHOGRAPH ISSUE USED IN PENANG. THIS SPECTACULAR COVER IS ALSO ONE OF THE EARLIEST USES OF THE LITHOGRAPH ISSUE IN PENANG. A KEY COMPONENT TO ANY INTERNATIONAL GRAND PRIX LEVEL EXHIBIT OF INDIA OR STRAITS SETTLEMENTS. While the blue Alexandria transit datestamp is lightly struck, the 1854 year date is clear. The year is further confirmed by the use of the Proud Type P.S. 7 Penang handstamp--the latest recorded use of this marking is July 1, 1855. The India 1854 Lithograph stamps were officially issued on October 1, 1854 (and probably not sold until the next day)--any use in the first month is very scarce and highly sought after, but this use in November 1854 from Penang is very early and extremely rare. The earliest recorded use from Penang is the October 24, 1854, cover offered in lot 240. Ex Dr. Chan Chin Cheung, Gray, Taylor, Selzer and Gross.
Auction
Provenance
"Magnolia" Dr. Chan Chin Cheung Gray Charles S. Taylor Selzer Gross
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 5handstampBlack1840–1850
- Penang FP 7handstampBlack1854–1858
+5 more at this office.View all Penang marks and postal history →
About this Penang pre stamp cover
COV-4085 is a Penang pre stamp cover of 18 November 1854 bearing the Penang FP 6 handstamp, struck in black, recorded in the census of Penang postal history, Straits Settlements. What is a pre stamp cover?
Used in Straits Settlements--Penang, 1854, 1a Red, Die I (4; SG 12). Block of eight (4 x 2), Stone A, Positions 17-20/25-28, mostly large margins all around, ample at bottom right, tied by eight clear strikes of diamond of dots cancel, affixed partly over clearly struck red "Penang, 18 November, Post Paid" boxed datestamp on back of 1854 folded cover (missing interior page, but completely intact outer sheet), addressed to Marseilles, France, sender's directive "Overland via Suez", light strike of blue Alexandria 1854 double-circle datestamp over fold, Marseilles Dec. 26 arrival datestamp EXTREMELY FINE. WIDELY REGARDED AS ONE OF THE FINEST QUALITY EXAMPLES OF THE INDIA 1854 LITHOGRAPH ISSUE USED IN PENANG. THIS SPECTACULAR COVER IS ALSO ONE OF THE EARLIEST USES OF THE LITHOGRAPH ISSUE IN PENANG. A KEY COMPONENT TO ANY INTERNATIONAL GRAND PRIX LEVEL EXHIBIT OF INDIA OR STRAITS SETTLEMENTS. While the blue Alexandria transit datestamp is lightly struck, the 1854 year date is clear. The year is further confirmed by the use of the Proud Type P.S. 7 Penang handstamp--the latest recorded use of this marking is July 1, 1855. The India 1854 Lithograph stamps were officially issued on October 1, 1854 (and probably not sold until the next day)--any use in the first month is very scarce and highly sought after, but this use in November 1854 from Penang is very early and extremely rare. The earliest recorded use from Penang is the October 24, 1854, cover offered in lot 240. Ex Dr. Chan Chin Cheung, Gray, Taylor, Selzer and Gross.
Its recorded auction history runs through London and Brighton Stamp Auctions lot 108 (May 1981); and Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries 1286 lot 241 (May 2023).
2 images of COV-4085 are recorded; the Penang FP 6 mark itself is recorded in use 1849–1855.
Questions about COV-4085
- What is COV-4085?
- COV-4085 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Penang, Straits Settlements of 18 November 1854, bearing the Penang FP 6 handstamp in black. Used in Straits Settlements--Penang, 1854, 1a Red, Die I (4; SG 12). Block of eight (4 x 2), Stone A, Positions 17-20/25-28, mostly large margins all around, ample at bottom right, tied by eight clear strikes of diamond of dots cancel, affixed partly over clearly struck red "Penang, 18 November, Post Paid" boxed datestamp on back of 1854 folded cover (missing interior page, but completely intact outer sheet), addressed to Marseilles, France, sender's directive "Overland via Suez", light strike of blue Alexandria 1854 double-circle datestamp over fold, Marseilles Dec. 26 arrival datestamp EXTREMELY FINE. WIDELY REGARDED AS ONE OF THE FINEST QUALITY EXAMPLES OF THE INDIA 1854 LITHOGRAPH ISSUE USED IN PENANG. THIS SPECTACULAR COVER IS ALSO ONE OF THE EARLIEST USES OF THE LITHOGRAPH ISSUE IN PENANG. A KEY COMPONENT TO ANY INTERNATIONAL GRAND PRIX LEVEL EXHIBIT OF INDIA OR STRAITS SETTLEMENTS. While the blue Alexandria transit datestamp is lightly struck, the 1854 year date is clear. The year is further confirmed by the use of the Proud Type P.S. 7 Penang handstamp--the latest recorded use of this marking is July 1, 1855. The India 1854 Lithograph stamps were officially issued on October 1, 1854 (and probably not sold until the next day)--any use in the first month is very scarce and highly sought after, but this use in November 1854 from Penang is very early and extremely rare. The earliest recorded use from Penang is the October 24, 1854, cover offered in lot 240. Ex Dr. Chan Chin Cheung, Gray, Taylor, Selzer and Gross.
- How scarce is the Penang FP 6 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Penang FP 6 as very scarce, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1849–1855.
- What is the provenance of COV-4085?
- Its recorded auction history runs through London and Brighton Stamp Auctions lot 108 (May 1981); and Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries 1286 lot 241 (May 2023).
- When was COV-4085 posted?
- COV-4085 is dated 18 November 1854, within the recorded period of use of Penang FP 6 (1849–1855).
About this record
This 18 November 1854 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Penang FP 6 handstamp of the Straits Settlements, a mark graded “Very scarce” in this census — one of 11 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with London and Brighton Stamp Auctions, lot 108, (May 1981); Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, 1286, lot 241, (May 2023).