Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
1855
Description
India, Used in Straits Settlements, 1854, 4a Pale Red & Blue, 1st Printing, Head Die I, Frame Die I (6; SG 18). Cut square, tight margins to touching, just tied by dotted diamond cancel, second example (which does not originate) added for aesthetic purposes as one example was removed, on 1855 folded cover originating in Batavia, Dutch East Indies and addressed to San Francisco, California, United States, via Singapore and Hong Kong, Batavia Jul. 6 origin docketing, faint red boxed Singapore Paid (only "16" date legible) applied in transit (stamps cancelled in Singapore), Hong Kong (only "29" date legible) transit, red manuscript "1/-" rate marking, docketing indicating Apr. 16 arrival, addressee's name excised affecting rate marking FINE AND RARE USE OF THE 1854 4-ANNAS LITHOGRAPH FROM THE FIRST PRINTING ON COVER ORIGINATING IN BATAVIA, DUTCH EAST INDIES WITH STAMPS APPLIED IN SINGAPORE AND ADDRESSED TO SAN FRANCISCO -- A PARTICULARLY RARE DESTINATION. WE ARE AWARE OF ONLY ONE OTHER LITHOGRAPH COVER FROM BATAVIA. This cover was likely carried privately twice -- once from Batavia to Singapore, then again from Hong Kong to San Francisco due to the lack of any arrival markings. Very few India 1854 Lithograph Issue covers originated in the Far East - either from Batavia or Manila. We are only aware of one other cover which originates in Batavia (that addressee's name was also excised). Also, the United States is a particularly rare destination for Lithograph covers, particularly the 4a.
Auction
1360, Lot 211, (Sept. 2025)
Provenance
"Magnolia"
Same office
Other recorded marks at Singapore
7 marks7 other pre-1854 postal markings of Singapore are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
- Singapore FP 1handstampBlack1829–1831
- Singapore FP 3handstampBlack1855
- Singapore FP 4handstampBlack1845–1854
- Singapore FP 5handstampBlack—
- Singapore FP 6handstampBlack1840–1844
- Singapore FP 7handstampBlack1839–1854
+1 more at this office.View all Singapore marks and postal history →
About this Singapore pre stamp cover
COV-4087 is a Singapore pre stamp cover of 1855 bearing the Singapore FP 2 handstamp, struck in black, recorded in the census of Singapore postal history, Straits Settlements. What is a pre stamp cover?
India, Used in Straits Settlements, 1854, 4a Pale Red & Blue, 1st Printing, Head Die I, Frame Die I (6; SG 18). Cut square, tight margins to touching, just tied by dotted diamond cancel, second example (which does not originate) added for aesthetic purposes as one example was removed, on 1855 folded cover originating in Batavia, Dutch East Indies and addressed to San Francisco, California, United States, via Singapore and Hong Kong, Batavia Jul. 6 origin docketing, faint red boxed Singapore Paid (only "16" date legible) applied in transit (stamps cancelled in Singapore), Hong Kong (only "29" date legible) transit, red manuscript "1/-" rate marking, docketing indicating Apr. 16 arrival, addressee's name excised affecting rate marking FINE AND RARE USE OF THE 1854 4-ANNAS LITHOGRAPH FROM THE FIRST PRINTING ON COVER ORIGINATING IN BATAVIA, DUTCH EAST INDIES WITH STAMPS APPLIED IN SINGAPORE AND ADDRESSED TO SAN FRANCISCO -- A PARTICULARLY RARE DESTINATION. WE ARE AWARE OF ONLY ONE OTHER LITHOGRAPH COVER FROM BATAVIA. This cover was likely carried privately twice -- once from Batavia to Singapore, then again from Hong Kong to San Francisco due to the lack of any arrival markings. Very few India 1854 Lithograph Issue covers originated in the Far East - either from Batavia or Manila. We are only aware of one other cover which originates in Batavia (that addressee's name was also excised). Also, the United States is a particularly rare destination for Lithograph covers, particularly the 4a.
Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries 1360 lot 211 (Sept. 2025).
2 images of COV-4087 are recorded; the Singapore FP 2 mark itself is recorded in use 1840–1855.
Questions about COV-4087
- What is COV-4087?
- COV-4087 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Singapore, Straits Settlements of 1855, bearing the Singapore FP 2 handstamp in black. India, Used in Straits Settlements, 1854, 4a Pale Red & Blue, 1st Printing, Head Die I, Frame Die I (6; SG 18). Cut square, tight margins to touching, just tied by dotted diamond cancel, second example (which does not originate) added for aesthetic purposes as one example was removed, on 1855 folded cover originating in Batavia, Dutch East Indies and addressed to San Francisco, California, United States, via Singapore and Hong Kong, Batavia Jul. 6 origin docketing, faint red boxed Singapore Paid (only "16" date legible) applied in transit (stamps cancelled in Singapore), Hong Kong (only "29" date legible) transit, red manuscript "1/-" rate marking, docketing indicating Apr. 16 arrival, addressee's name excised affecting rate marking FINE AND RARE USE OF THE 1854 4-ANNAS LITHOGRAPH FROM THE FIRST PRINTING ON COVER ORIGINATING IN BATAVIA, DUTCH EAST INDIES WITH STAMPS APPLIED IN SINGAPORE AND ADDRESSED TO SAN FRANCISCO -- A PARTICULARLY RARE DESTINATION. WE ARE AWARE OF ONLY ONE OTHER LITHOGRAPH COVER FROM BATAVIA. This cover was likely carried privately twice -- once from Batavia to Singapore, then again from Hong Kong to San Francisco due to the lack of any arrival markings. Very few India 1854 Lithograph Issue covers originated in the Far East - either from Batavia or Manila. We are only aware of one other cover which originates in Batavia (that addressee's name was also excised). Also, the United States is a particularly rare destination for Lithograph covers, particularly the 4a.
- How scarce is the Singapore FP 2 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Singapore FP 2 as rare, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1840–1855.
- What is the provenance of COV-4087?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries 1360 lot 211 (Sept. 2025).
- When was COV-4087 posted?
- COV-4087 is dated 1855, within the recorded period of use of Singapore FP 2 (1840–1855).
About this record
This 1855 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Singapore FP 2 handstamp of the Straits Settlements, a mark graded “Rare” in this census — one of 2 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, 1360, lot 211, (Sept. 2025).