Early India Half Anna Blue Stripes

I have a half Anna early India. I don't know the Scott number or near value, but more important can someone tell me what is going on with the three blue (look blue to me) stripes going across the stamp. The stamp is heavily postmarked so I can't figure out what those three stripes are, almost the same color as the stamp. Any help please? Thanks as always - Jeff



ok something is going on that I don't know about

Not an India expert at all but from my learning and reading from posts (Tony's, Rod's) on here those stripes look like anti-theft markings that would tie the stamp to the envelope so that when the envelope was carried to the post office by servants or helpers one could tell if a stamp had been on the envelope or not.

I thought the anti-theft marks were big obliterating x's.

Sometimes they have little marks all around the edges that make them look like Dr. Frankenstein sewed them on himself. Sometimes a word is written across the stamp, looking for all the world like a manuscript or revenue cancel.

There seems to be a lot of variability.

thanks collin

Well done Puzzler!

Yes, the main anti theft markings are the Rubber Stamp "X"
"stamped" in script, and various pen strokes.

Any super nerds who adore these markings as I do
will have a catalogue of scribbles like this...
They all point to a particular area of India

As Cjd says, you can find stamps very carefully tied to the envelope, like this one from Jammu & Kashmir