India : Orchha 1949

Yeah, I've got one of them :-)

well lubos, if you want to sell,
here I am :)

Rodney, you old tease You knew I wouldn't be able to resist ...

My 1955 Gibbons Part 1 says of this set:
'A series of 21 values, from ¼ a. to 25 r., bicoloured and with a portrait of the ruler in European dress, was introduced in 1935, but owing to lack of proper State control was offered in large quantities to dealers and collectors at less than face value. Eventually the authorities withdrew the issue and exchanged supplies for stamps of the 1939 issue. Though some of the values have been seen with what appears to be genuine postmarks, the circumstances of the issue were such that we feel we are serving the best interests of philately by continuing not to list it.'

The stamps were legitimately used, as Gibbons now admits:



(SG 11a and 17 on a registered cover)

but they were sold at less than face value. This prompted the State PO to start stamping a State seal on the backs of stamps sold legitimately, at full face value, across the PO counter. Some poor fool paid full face value of 40 Rupees





for this block of the 10 Rupees. To put that in perspective, 40 Rupees would have paid an Orchha State postman for a month ...

There are large numbers of errors



(SG 16b)

and plain printer's waste



about also.

And to cap it all, there were 10 different types of perforation, as well as imperf, used. (If anyone is interested, I have a file showing what perforation variations are known for what values. Email me, and I'll be happy to send it.)

Altogether a happy, happy hunting ground

Oh, and this is from the 1939 set that replaced them:



Very dreary and unexciting ... although the set to the 10 Rupee value in UHM blocks of 4 sold last month for £8600. (There are a 15 Rupee (£18,000) and a 25 Rupee (£13,000) value as well, not included in that September auction )

Ah we raised the bear from hibernation :)

Yes please, perf varieties list, you have my email addy I think.
But please, do not nag me for more Travancore issues.

List sent

BTW, did you see the recent Grosvenor auction of John Trowbridge's Cochin and Travancore collections? If not, it should still be on their Web site (http://www.grosvenorauctions.com/) Some of the Travancore did rather well. It appears there's a second collector of Travancore out there.

Hahahaha,

No there's not Tony,
That's me again under a pseudonym,
I Like to fool myself that Travancore is popular.

I'll pop over to Grosvenor for a bo-peep.

John Trowbridge

The outstanding collection of over 350 lots formed by J.F.A. Trowbridge, focusing on the stamps and postal history of Cochin, Jaipur, Travancore-Cochin and the revenue issues of selected Native States

John Trowbridge - "I remember lying in bed, ill, aged 7, eagerly awaiting the return of my mother from the local sweetshop which sold stamps at 4d. and 9d. per packet of all different, dearer items being mounted on cards at up to 2s.6d. a set. During my RAF service I regularly bought approvals from Harry Burgess. After service I joined Ashford Philatelic Society in Middlesex where some members commented on my 'bravery' in tackling such a difficult subject. However, I was bid up from 6d. to 4s. on a lot at my first society auction on the premise that it must contain something good if I was bidding on it (and it did!). Then, through a dealer I met Dr Pereira who introduced me to the ISG. where I met such stalwarts as Colonel Martin, L.E. Dawson and Dr Parsons and heard talks by such as Jal Cooper and Robson Lowe. Now, having no one to inherit my collections, I hope others will enjoy them as I have, over many years."

He was (is? What verb tense does one use for a collector who has sold his/her collection, but is still with us?) a scholar-collector of the old school. He made some wonderful contributions to the India Study Circle's journal, India Post, and I for one will sorely miss them.

I think I was able to pick up a couple of lots from the auction, and I will be proud to label them 'ex Trowbridge'.

And while we're (in the words of the hymn tune) praising famous men and the fathers that begat us, I shouldn't forget Harry Burgess, from whom the young John Trowbridge used to buy, and I did too. Harry specialized in the Uglies, and must have launched more collectors on a philatelic career in the Indian States than just about any other human being.

He also co-authored with the late Charlie Sturton the first serious study of the Bundi 'Sacred Cows'



putting them firmly on the philatelic map. I have the fondest memories of him, too.

Wow! very nice Tony.
nice yarns too.
I think I am becoming a bibliophile,
I love philatelic books, you can experience
the pinnacle of other peoples studies.

How are you getting along with Easton, Rod?

tony dont you think its high time you got rid of some of your mnh indian states like you got rid of the nabha. I can pay you one whole cent for the dollar but still :)

Hi Stampgal,
absolutely brilliant stuff,
one book deals with historical development,
the other in design development,
they enhance each other brilliantly.
I have not had the time to read them properly
as I am moving to the country, and my focus lies there at
the moment.

One book you picked came from the convent school
in exmouth devon, as a signed gift to an unknown
lady by 4 lasses in July 1951. Terrific.

In a well repected book from 1950
I have this stamp image as a "Bogus Stamp"
Can anyone confirm?

Comments?