Forwarding Agents

Click here for a background article.

These is a list of the Forwarding Agents mentioned below.
Note that a firm may have several types of marking used in several cities.

A. L. JOHNSTON & CO.
APCAR & STEPHENS
ASIATIC STAMP CO.
BEHN, MEYER & CO.
BRINKMANN KUMPERS & CO.
BROWN & CO.
BOUSTEAD & CO
BRENNAND OLDHAM & CO.
BOUSTEAD, SCHWABE & CO.
BUSING SCHRODER & CO.
RIBEIRO & CO.
CONSULATE OF U.S.
DOUGLAS MACKENZIE & CO.
DYCE. MARTIN & CO.
EASTERN EXTENSION AUSTRALIAN AND CHINA TELEGRAPH COMPANY
EE THYE
F. E. WALTE & CO.
FRASER & CO.
G. ARMSTRONG & CO.

GILFILLAN, WOOD & CO.
GUTHRIE & CO.
H. C. RAUTENBERG
HARRISON SMITH & CO.
HUTCHINSON & Co /
HUTTENBACH, LIEBERT & CO.
INTERNATIONAL FORWARDING
J. BALESTIER
JACOB RAHAMIN
JOHN PERVIS & SON
KATZ BROTHERS
KELLY & WALSH LD.
KER RAWSON & CO.
LORRAIN GILLESPIE & CO.
MACLAINE FRASER & CO.
MARTIN DYCE & CO.
MIDDLETON, HARRISON & CO.
NEDERLANDSCHE HANDEL-MAATSCHAPPY
OLIVEIRO & CO
PATERSON SIMONS

R. BRENNAND
RAUTENBERG SCHMIDT & CO.
SANDILANDS BUTTERY & CO.
SHAW, SCHOLFIELD
SHAW WHITEHEAD & CO.
SMITH, BELL& CO.
... ON SMITH & CO.
SPOTTISWOODE & CONNOLLY
SYME & CO.
THE BORNEO COMPANY LIMITED
THEAN CHEE & CO.
WILLIAMS ANTHON & CO.
WM. MADONALD & CO.
W. SPOTTISWOODE & CO.
WM HALL & CO.
WILLIAM HALL
WM MC KERROW & CO.

MYSTERY FORWARDING AGENT CHOPS - Can you help identify them?

Newest items are now placed at the top of the ltable.

#16 #1 & #16 might be the same chop. The name seems to be J.E. Crockett.	#17 BRINKMANN KUMPERS & CO. [Thanks Masya for Identfying the chop.]	#18 A.A. ANTHIONY & Co.? PENANG	#19 "BANENG..." PENANG
#1	#2	#3
#8 "BAN TA..." PENANG	#9 "CNO..."	#11	#12

#4	#5
#7	#10
Thanks to Martin Robinson for the 8c yellow image. The chop is very likely that of the "Eastern Extension Australian And China Telegraph Company." See also below. (February 2023) #14	#15

Catalogue of Chops

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

--- A ---

A010

A. L. JOHNSTON & Co.

Oval, blue

A010-ALJohnstonT2CVR.jp

From a 22 February 1865cover to France.

seen in blue on an 1872 ( 24 October ) cover from BANGKOK, SIAM to HONG KONG [AC0006, lot 941]

A020	Forwarded by Yr Ob Sts / A. L. Johnston & Co. / Singapore.
	Frameless ( ? mm x? mm, ? mm script letters ) red
"Your Obedient Servants" probably the earliest Forwarding Agent chop used in Singapore seen in red on an 1829 ( 1 January) stampless cover from CANTON to CALCUTTA [AC0003, lot 3321]

A030

A. L. JOHNSTON & Co. /SINGAPORE

Double oval ( ? mm x ? mm serif letters ) ?

A030-ALJohnstonT3CVR%20(1).JPG

seen on a stampless 1847 ( 4 September ) cover to LONDON [AC0003, lot 3318]
seen on a stampless 1849 cover to MANILA [AC0002, lot 48]
seen on a stampless 1857 ( June ) cover to LONDON [AC0003, lot 3319]

A040

A. L. JOHNSTON & Co.

Single oval ( Estimated 42 mm x 30 mm, 4mm letters ) blue

A045

APCAR & STEPHENS

Triple oval

Internet

25 November 1844 folded letter to Batavia.

A050

THE ASIATIC STAMP CO. / PENANG S.S. / 154 PRAGIN ROAD

Triple oval ( 48 mm x 24 mm, 2.5 to 3 mm letters ) violet

From an 1909 Postal Stationary Card from PENANG to the USA

"PENANG" and the address are serif

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--- B ---

B010	BEHN, MEYER & Co. / SINGAPORE
	Oval ( 34 mm x 18 mm ) black, blue
Listed by Kenneth Rowe [reported used 1842-1856] PP0001 Can anyone supply images and dates of usage?

B030

BRINKMANN KUMPERS & CO. / SINGAPORE

Single rectangle ( Estimated 40 mm x 24 mm, 3 mm letters ) blue

seen in blue on 8 cent on 2 anna yellow Straits Settlements
seen in blue on a 32 cent on 8 anna yellow Straits Settlements cancelled duplex D14 for Singapore

B040

BROWN & Co. / PINANG

Double oval ( Estimated40 mm x 25 mm, 3 mm letters ) black, blue, red

B050

BROWN & Co. / PENANG

Double oval ( Estimated40 mm x 22 mm, 2.5 - 3 mm letters ) violet

PENANG in serifs

B060

BROWN & Co. / ???

2 lines ( Estimated 40mm x 10 mm, 3 mm serif letters ) violet

B070

BOUSTEAD & Co /SINGAPORE.

Double oval ( Estimated 30mm x 18 mm, 2.5 mm serif letters ) blue

seen in blue on the reverse of a Hong Kong stampless cover [dateline: Hong Kong 15 April 1865] via Singapore [CDS 23 April] to Paris [CDS 26 May]. (Interasia Auctions, Dec 6-7,2008 lot 886)
seen on an 1865 ( 12 July ) cover using four Indian stamps mailed from HONG KONG to BOSTON [AC0005, lot 60262] and [AC0008, lot 3081A]

B080

BOUSTEAD & Co.

Double oval ( Estimated35 mm x 25 mm, 3 mm serif letters ) red

seen in red on an 1860 ( 31 January ) cover using Indian stamps from BANGKOK, SIAM to HONG KONG via Singapore [AC0006, lot 704]

B090

BOUSTEAD & Co. / SINGAPORE

Single rectangle (Estimated 48 mm x 19 mm, 2.5 - 3 mm letters ) black, violet

B&Co is the company's chop

B100

BOUSTEAD & Co. / PENANG

Double oval ( Estimated28 mm x 18 mm, 1.5 - 2 mm letters ) blue, violet

B110

BOUSTEAD & Co. / PENANG

Fancy rectangle ( Estimated 32 mm x 16 mm, 3 mm letters ) violet

Internet

B120

BOUSTEAD & Co., LTD. /SINGAPORE.

Single rectangle ( 34 mm x 22 mm, 2.5 - 3 mm letters) violet

From a November 1940 cover to Australia.

The stamps are PERFIN B & Co.

B125

BOUSTEAD & Co., LTD. /SINGAPORE.

Triple Oval ( 38 mm x 28 mm, 2 - 2.5 mm letters )violet

From a 31 November 1941 cover to Scotland.

The stamp is PERFIN B & Co.
The letters in SINGAPORE are 2.5 mm tall.
BOUSTEAD & CO., LTD are serif

B130

BOUSTEAD .... / SINGAPORE.

Double oval ( Estimated46 mm x 30 mm, 2.5 - 3 mm letters ) violet

Cancelled SINGAPORE

B132

SHIPPING DEPARTMENT / BOUSTEAD & Co., LTD. / SINGAPORE.

Triple circle oval, violet

From the Internet

B135

BOUSTEAD & Co.. Ltd. / KUALA LUMPUR. / F. M. S.

TRIPLE oval (Estimated 40 mm x 25 mm, 1.5 to 3 mm letters) violet

From the back of a 1 Oct. 1937 cover addressed to the Channel Islands

[Thanks to Sankaran Viswa Kumar (Oct. 2006)]

B140

BRENNAND & Co. / SINGAPORE

Single oval ( 30 mm x 20mm, 2.5 mm letters ) black

seen on an 1874 ( 22 October ) cover TRIESTE [AC0006, lot 779]
See also R010, R. BRENNAND

B145

BRENNAND OLDHAM & Co.

Double oval: black

The 8 cent yellow stamp is cancelled by the D17 used in PENANG from 1868 to 1874

B150

BOUSTEAD, SCHWABE & CO. /SINGAPORE

Oval (43 mm x 24 mm) black

Listed by Kenneth Rowe [reported used 1836 - 1846] PP0001

Can anyone supply images and dates of usage?

B160	BUSING SCHRODER & Co. (SINGAPORE )
	Oval (41 mm x 18 mm) black
Listed by Kenneth Rowe [reported used 1863] PP0001 Can anyone supply images and dates of usage?

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z || TOP

--- C ---

C010

C. A. RIBEIRO & Co /SINGAPORE

Triple oval ( ???? ) violet

Image from an 1897 cover

C015

C. A. RIBEIRO / No. 4, Malacca Street /SINGAPORE

No Frame ( 40mm x 24mm, 2.5 - 3mm letter ) violet

some letters have serifs

C020

Consulate of U.S. ( Singapore )

Oval (33 mm x 21) red

Listed by Kenneth Rowe [reported used 1835] PP0001

Can anyone supply images and dates of usage?

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z || TOP

--- D ---

D010

DOUGLAS MACKENZIE & Co. (SINGAPORE )

Listed by Kenneth Rowe [reported used 1836] PP0001

Can anyone supply images and dates of usage?

D020

DYCE. MARTIN & Co.

Single Oval ( Estimated:47 mm x 31 mm , 3 mm letters) black

FORWARDED BY YOUR OBEDIENT SERVANTS
seen on an 1842 cover from Batavia to Finland [PP0007]

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z || TOP

--- E ---

E005

EASTERN EXTENSION AUSTRALIAN AND CHINA TELEGRAPH COMPANY

Double oval, violet

Internet

E010

EE THYE / PENANG

Single rectangle, violet

This was the chop for a firm operated by the Lim family of Singapore. Lim Lan operated as a merchant and commission agent in Boat Quay and by1869 had branches in Palembang and Sarawak. His son, Lim Eng Leng, became a Municipal Commissioner in 1888-9 and was a considerable man and ran ship chandlery. His son, in turn, Lee Chin Swee, with partners, was part of Seet Guan Swee, which used the chop E Thye. In 1879 this firm dissolved and reconstituted itself as Lee Chin Swee, still using the cop E Thye. [John Wilson May 16, 2006]

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z || TOP

--- F ---

F010

F. E. WALTE & Co. (SINGAPORE )

Oval (55 mm x 29 mm) red

Listed by Kenneth Rowe [reported used 1857 to 1858] PP0001

Can anyone supply images and dates of usage?

F020	FRASER & CO. / PENANG
	fancy rectangle ( Estimated 38 mm x 11 mm, 2 - 2.5 mm serif letters ) green, blue, black
Image from the Internet

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z || TOP

--- G ---

G010

G. ARMSTRONG & CO. / SINGAPORE

Single oval ( ? ) ?

seen in red on an 1862 cover using Indian stamps to LONDON [AC0002, lot 160]

G020

GILFILLAN, WOOD & CO. / PENANG

Double oval ( Estimated35 mm x 24 mm, 2.5 - 3 mm letters ) violet, blue

GILFILLAN-WOOD-cover

8 December 1898 cover to New York - Intetnet

G025

GILFILLAN, WOOD & CO / PENANG

Single Circle ( Diameter 38 mm, 3 mm letters ) violet

PENANG is in serifs
The cover was cancelled 25 January 1894

G030

GILFILLAN, WOOD & Co. / PENANG

Single oval ( Estimated45 mm x 38 mm, 3.5 mm letters ) violet

there is a design inside the oval above the words"FORWARDED BY"

G040

GUTHRIE & Co. / SINGAPORE

Single oval ( 38 mm x 26mm, 2.5 mm serif letters ) red, black

Composite Image

seen in red on an 1854 letter from CANTON via SINGAPORE to SCOTLAND [AC0010, lot 59]
seen on an 1881 ( 14 July ) cover to DUNDEE, SCOTLAND [AC0006, lot 822]

G050

GUTHRIE & Co. / SINGAPORE

Single oval ( wavy lines above and below name in centre) violet

Image from Gaden Robinson 31 Jan. 2006

Cancelled SINGAPORE

Note the G & Co. handstamp of the same firm

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z || TOP

--- H ---

H010

H. C. RAUTENBERG ( SINGAPORE )

Unframed 1 line 42 mm long

Listed by Kenneth Rowe [reported used 1855] PP0001

Can anyone supply images and dates of usage?

H015

HARRISON SMITH & Co. / SINGAPORE

Single oval (?) blue, black

Harrison & Co. were an European firm established in Singapore in 1873.

H020

HUTCHINSON & Co / SINGAPORE.

Single oval ( ? ) red, orange

seen in red on an 1865 ( 1 June ) printed circular using a single Indian stamp from SINGAPORE to HONG KONG [AC0008, lot 3252]

H030

HUTTENBACH, LIEBERT & Co. / PENANG

Triple oval ( Estimated 30 mm x 22 mm, 2.5 mm letters ) violet

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z || TOP

--- I ---

I010

INTERNATIONAL FORWARDING / SINGAPORE

Single Rectangle ( Estimated 30 mm x 22 mm, 2.5 mm letters ) violet

Image from Gaden Robinson 31 Jan. 2006

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z || TOP

--- J ---

J010

J. BALESTIER / SINGAPORE

Single oval (Estimated 34mm x 25 mm, 3 mm letters) violet, blue, black

seen on an 1839 stampless cover from BATAVIA to LONDON via SINGAPORE [AC0002, lot 72]
seen in blue on an 1841 (22 June)letter from SAMBUS, DUTCH BORNEO via SINGAPORE to NEW YORK [AC0010, lot 56]
seen in blue on a stampless letter dated 6 December 1842 from Elihiu Doty, an American missionary stationed at Pontianak in south west Borneo, addressed to Albany, New York. In addition on the reverse, showing manuscript "Forwarded from St Helena by the U. States Consular Agent." [Lot 80070001 in the 10 April 2008 Spink auction of North Borneo - The Patrick Cassels Collection.]
seen on in blue-green on an 1844 (8 August) letter from BATAVIA privately carried to SINGAPORE [AC0010, lot 57]
seen in blue on an 1845 ( 5 May ) stampless cover from PENANG to CAMBRIDGE and redirected to LONDON [AC0009, lot 703]
seen on an 1844 redirected cover from Batavia to Finland [PP0007]

J015

JACOB RAHAMIN

Double oval, black

J020

JOHN PERVIS & SON / SINGAPORE

Single Oval, red

Image from the Internet

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z || TOP

--- K ---

K005	KATZ BROTHERS
	possible three lines unframed, blue
Internet

K010

KELLY & WALSH Ld. / SINGAPORE

Single oval ( 40 mm x 23mm, 2-3 mm serif letters ) violet

Both cancelled SINGAPORE, 1897 ( left stamp ) and 1896 ( right stamp )

Also seen on a stamp cancelled 1899

K020	KELLY & WALSH Ltd. / SINGAPORE
	Double oval ( 50 mm x 23mm, 2.5 mm serif letters ) violet
Cancelled SINGAPORE 1900 Also with the company PERFIN ( K&W )

H030

Ker Rawson & Co. / Singapore

Framed, red

1850 (c.) entire, to Batavia "per Str. Batavia" showing "Forwarded by Rienken Rawson & Co. / China" oval h.s. in red and on reverse "Forwarded by Ker Rawson & Co. / Singapore" framed h.s. also in red, neither recorded by Rowe, fine and uncommon incidence of double forwarding.

Lot 1023, Matthew Bennett Auction Sale 13, November 2, 2006

Can anyone supply images and dates of usage?

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z || TOP

--- L ---

L010	LORRAIN GILLESPIE & Co. /PENANG
	Single oval (?) red

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z || TOP

--- M ---

M010

MACLAINE FRASER & Co. / SINGAPORE

Single rectangle ( Estimated 27 mm x 13 mm, 1.5 - 2mm serif letters ) black, blue

M020

STAMPED AND FORWARDED BY /SINGAPORE / MACLAINE, FRASER & Co

Double oval (Estimated 44 mm x 25 mm, 3 mm letters ) blue, black

the letters in "AND" are 1.5 mm tall
seen in black on a 3 April 1878 cover from SINGAPORE to MARSEILLES

M030

MACLAINE, FRASER & CO. /SINGAPORE

Fancy rectangle ( 44 mm x 24 mm, 2.5 mm serif letters ) black

seen in blue on a 6 September 1867 cover SINGAPORE to BOMBAY [AC0007, lot 201] [AC0010, lot 133]

M040

MARTIN DYCE & Co. / SINGAPORE

Double oval ( Estimated36 mm x 20 mm, 2.5 mm letters ) orange

Composite Image

seen in black on an 1847 (25 May) letter from BATAVIA to BIRMINGHAM [AC0010, lot 58]

M050

MIDDLETON, HARRISON & Co.

2 lines, black

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z || TOP

--- N ---

N010	Nederlandsche Handel-Maatschappy
	Double oval

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z || TOP

--- O ---

O010	OLIVEIRO & CO / PENANG
	Single oval, red

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z || TOP

--- P ---

P005

PATERSON SIMONS / SINGAPORE

Single oval (Size ?) red

seen in red on a pre 1867 cover.

P010

PATERSON SIMONS & Co. /SINGAPORE

Single oval ( Estimated 32 mm x 18 mm, 2.5 mm letters ) red, black, blue

seen in black on an 1866 ( 1 November ) cover using a strip of three + a single Indian stamps to SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA [AC0010, lot 109]
the "S" of "Singapore" is fancy script

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z || TOP

--- Q ---

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z || TOP

--- R ---

R010

R. BRENNAND / SINGAPORE

Single oval ( 25 mm x 1mm, 2.5 mm letters ) black

See also B014, BRENNAND

R020

Rautenberg Schmidt & Co. /Singapore

Fancy Rectangle (?) ?

Listed by Kenneth Rowe PP0001

Can anyone supply images and dates of usage?

seen on a piece along with two Indian stamps [AC0006, lot 655]

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z || TOP

--- S ---

S010

SANDILANDS BUTTERY & Co. /PENANG.

Single oval ( 60 mm x 50 mm, 3 to 4 mm serif letters) violet, blue, black

25 Oct 1873 cover to Glasgow - Internet

seen in blue on a 15 February 1868 cover from PENANG to LIVERPOOL [AC0006, lot 731] [AC0010, lot 141]
seen in red on an 13 April 1869 cover to STAINES,GREAT BRITAIN [AC0006, lot 745]
seen in black on a 4 June1882 cover from PENANG to CHELTENHAM, England

S020

SHAW, SCHOLFIELD / SINGAPORE

Single oval ( Estimated27 mm x 17 mm, 2 - 2.5 mm letters ) black

Interent

S023

SHAW WHITEHEAD & Co. / SINGAPORE

Single oval (40 mm x 30 mm, 3 mm letters ) red

Applied to an 1845 cover sent by "Overland Mail" from Singapore to Harrlem, Holland.

S025	SMITH, BELL& Co /SINGAPORE
	Single rectangle ( 45 mm x 13 mm, 2.5 - 3 mm ) black
On India 8 anna carmine [1865], 8 pies purple [1860-61 issue] and 2 anna yellow [1865] Also seen on an India 8 annas carmine

S030

... ON SMITH & CO. / SINGAPORE

Single oval ( Estimated28 mm x 16 mm, 1.5 - 2 mm letters ) blue, back

Cancelled SINGAPORE

S040

SPOTTISWOODE & CONNOLLY /SINGAPORE

Single Oval (Estimated 27 mm x 19 mm letters 2.5 to 3.5mm) red

Listed by Kenneth Rowe [reported used 1845 to 1847] PP0001

Can anyone supply images and dates of usage?

S050

SYME & Co. / SINGAPORE

Single oval ( Estimated36 mm x 17 mm, 2 - 2.5 mm letters ) black, red

seen in black on December 1865cover using Indian stamps from SINGAPORE to MONTROSE, UK [AC0010 lot 97]

S055

SYME & Co. / SINGAPORE

Single rectangle (?)violet

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z || TOP

--- T ---

T010

THE BORNEO COMPANY LIMITED /SINGAPORE

Double oval ( 48 mm x 22 mm, 3 - 4 mm serif letters) blue, black, red

"FORWARDED BY" is in italics and not serif

T020

THEAN CHEE & Co. / BEACH STREET / PENANG

Double oval ( Estimated 44 mm 22 mm, 2 mm letters ) black

The illustrated stamp is a Crown CA first issued in August 1882.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z || TOP

--- U ---

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z || TOP

--- V ---

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z || TOP

--- W ---

W010

Williams Anthon & Co. /SINGAPORE

Single oval ( ?) violet, red

seen on an 12 January 1857 cover using two Indian stamp from BATAVIA to AMSTERDAM [AC0002, lot 168]
seen in red on an 1858 stampless cover from SWATOW to NEW YORK [AC0005, lot 60045]