Help Required With Identification. India ?.

Would appreciate some informed comments on this stamp found in the 'back blocks' of an old album entitled 'India. Thankyou.!

try Nepal

In earlier times, Nepal was grouped with the Indian States. In fact, my 1941 Gibbons Part 1 still has Nepal listed there.

Thankyou Gentlemen, will move to the Nepal section.!

And, incidentally, a very fine specimen of 'native' paper!

Native paper indeed.! Under magnification I can see large pieces of bark .! Very cool.!

I'm not sure how native paper was made at Kathmandu, but here's how it was made at Srinagar in Kashmir, at the other end of the Himalayas, at around that time:




(From Frits Staal's, The Stamps of Jammu and Kashmir

Very cool stamp indeed

Dianne

Thanks Dianne, I have a stock book marked "Canada" to sort through in the next few weeks, will be looking for some help.

I have a similar example of the shown stamp.. I never would have thought Nepal???.. Are the readers sure that this is an example of an INDIA State issue?? I thought it was 'other Asian (like China??.. no justification for thought only that I found it in an envelope with some China [which I had for many years ]) Any information would be extremely helpful

Okay-just checked my Scott 2011 Nepal section.. It appears to be a 29A issued 1917-18 1a bright blue Imperf $9.00 mint & $3.00 Used. There is a note that it may NOT have been used postally.. (At least now I can catalog & value this 'mystery' piece.

Nice how one persons question can assist others.! the beauty of a "Stamp Forum". I thought 1886 on 'native paper'?.

Robster, your copy is unquestionably on native paper. Maybe eligies' copy is different.

With these early Nepal, you need to look out for telegraph cancellations. They're large crescent-shaped cancellations, that extend over a couple of stamps. You can find whole sheets of the ½ Anna with telegraph cancels. They're worth much less than postally used copies. Here are a couple of examples of postal use:



You have to bear in mind that, around 1900, there were few roads in Nepal, and the mail was carried by human runners - over very high mountain passes that could often be blocked by snow. If what you had to communicate was at all urgent, you used the telegraph. So, for example, if you were a merchant wanting to know or offer the latest prices for agricultural commodities, you'd probably send a telegram, rather than post a letter.

I can't speak for Nepal, but south of the border in India, the great majority of the surviving mail from that time was either between merchants, or to or from lawyers.

These eyes of mine aren't what they used to be! I took a second look at my specimen and re-read the Scotts..

Robster, I believe you show a type A4 design blue 1a,which is a Scott 29A (I think native wove). My specimen is a type A4, indigo 1a which is Scott 29Ab (I think native wove)

tonymacq, your left specimen appears to be a type A1 Scott #4. imperf 1a blue, native wove 1881 (or possibly #5, purple; #7 Ultramarine,; #8 violet) The right specimen I could not offer an opinion w/o knowing the value.

The A4 type was issued 1917-18; The A1 was issued 1881 in both European and native wove, pin-perf (?) and Imperf. (#s7 & 8 issued 1886)

In 1903-4 a type A1 issued 1a blue Scott #23b (vice a 23 1a Bright Blue) values high in used condition.

My Scott is a 2011 maybe someone has a later version with further - better info??

Eligies, I'm sorry but I don't use Scott for any of the Indian States or related areas. It's not very reliable.

The first is the 1881 1 Anna blue, on white wove. The second is an 1886, early print on thin, smooth native paper.

Here are a few more, all picked up from old collections of Indian States:



An early, clear print of the ½ Anna, and a later print with a small part of a telegraphic cancel:



Another of the 1 Annas, again the 1886 on thin smooth native paper:



And finally, the 4 Anna on roughish, medium to thick native paper:



Incidentally, if anyone's looking for a relatively inexpensive subject with scope for research, might I suggest the 1941-46 Kathmandu printings of the Siva Mahadeva types:

Great images and information.! Thanks to you both for your replies and knowledge.!

robster glad I could contribute a little. tonymacq, nice specimen collection. I only got the Scotts to catalog my world stash so I expect some shortcomings in the info with anything other than US. Thanks for showing the examples they are real nice. (just curious.. do you have the high end 23b??)