COV-4103
19 December 1854 Penang Cover
Scan or Photo Courtesy of Spink
Date
19 December 1854
Description
Penang India used in Penang 1854 Issue 1854 (19 Dec.) entire ex the "Heard" correspondence to Canton via forwarding agent, S.M. Lord, in Hong Kong, bearing a magnificent 4a. 2nd. printing pair with part rosettes at foot and wavy lines, or part thereof on three sides, both centrally cancelled by diamond of dots, rated "1/-" and showing, on reverse across join, framed "penang/Paid" d.s. and Hong Kong arrival c.d.s. (1.1). A magnificent cover and a major exhibition item. Photo Estimate S$ 120,000-150,000 Note: This cover is the earliest recorded use of the India 1854 4a. in the Straits Settlements.
Auction
Provenance
"Stolz"
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-4103 is a Penang pre stamp cover of 19 December 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?
Penang India used in Penang 1854 Issue 1854 (19 Dec.) entire ex the "Heard" correspondence to Canton via forwarding agent, S.M. Lord, in Hong Kong, bearing a magnificent 4a. 2nd. printing pair with part rosettes at foot and wavy lines, or part thereof on three sides, both centrally cancelled by diamond of dots, rated "1/-" and showing, on reverse across join, framed "penang/Paid" d.s. and Hong Kong arrival c.d.s. (1.1). A magnificent cover and a major exhibition item. Photo Estimate S$ 120,000-150,000 Note: This cover is the earliest recorded use of the India 1854 4a. in the Straits Settlements.
Its recorded auction history runs through Spink 1015 lot 1033 (2001); and Spink 25032 lot 3531 (2025).
1 image of COV-4103 is recorded; the Penang FP 6 mark itself is recorded in use 1849–1855.
Questions about COV-4103
- What is COV-4103?
- COV-4103 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Penang, Straits Settlements of 19 December 1854, bearing the Penang FP 6 handstamp in black. Penang India used in Penang 1854 Issue 1854 (19 Dec.) entire ex the "Heard" correspondence to Canton via forwarding agent, S.M. Lord, in Hong Kong, bearing a magnificent 4a. 2nd. printing pair with part rosettes at foot and wavy lines, or part thereof on three sides, both centrally cancelled by diamond of dots, rated "1/-" and showing, on reverse across join, framed "penang/Paid" d.s. and Hong Kong arrival c.d.s. (1.1). A magnificent cover and a major exhibition item. Photo Estimate S$ 120,000-150,000 Note: This cover is the earliest recorded use of the India 1854 4a. in the Straits Settlements.
- 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-4103?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Spink 1015 lot 1033 (2001); and Spink 25032 lot 3531 (2025).
- When was COV-4103 posted?
- COV-4103 is dated 19 December 1854, within the recorded period of use of Penang FP 6 (1849–1855).
About this record
This 19 December 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 Spink, 1015, lot 1033, (2001); Spink, 25032, lot 3531, (2025).