This is Sorath 1878 4A of 1 Kori vermilion imperf. typograph (SG 17) on horizontally/vertically laid paper with broad laid lines, printed in the sheet of 5 (1×5).
It is from sheet position R1/2(2) which is characterized by small loop of the Devanagari numeral 4.
Vignette: The central circle reads
Sorath Sarkar in Urdu. The middle annulus shows the inscriptions
Saurashtra Postage in the upper half and in the lower half
Kori na 4 Ana in Devanagari script but the language is Gujarati.
The plates were ordered thru John Dickinson and Company, London, England but the actual engraver is not known. The stamp was printed by Saurashtra Nitiprakash Chhapkhanu, Junagarh.
The original plates were kept in the custody of the Manager of the Office of the Diwan of Saurashtra state.
For security reason, the printing plates were brought to the press only on the day of printing which was done in the presence of a Committee comprising the state officials of Accounts Officer, Judge of State Civil Court, Saurashtra Postmaster and the Manager of Saurashtra Nitiprakash Chhapkhanu.
After completetion of the printing, the plates were sent back to the Office of the Diwan alongwith an official report of the details of the printing work done.
The stamps printed were then handed over to the Postmaster of Junagarh for distribution to all state POs.
This stamp alongwith the 1A of a Kori denomination was issued on January 16,1878 following the Public Notice No.4 dt. December 7,1877.
The 4A of a Kori value was issued primarity to pay the registration fee of ½Kori/20Dokra per article, the rate in effect from May 24,1868 to December 19,1883 and postage for parcels for which the rates were 1Kori for every 233.2gm (20 tola) upto 466.4gm (40 tola) and 4Kori for 466.4gm (40 tola) to 1.166kg (100 tola), 5Kori for 1.166kg (100 tola) to 1.399kg (120 tola) and 6Kori for 1.399kg (120 tola) to 1.866kg (160 tola), the rate in effect from May 24,1868 to October 9,1907 and also for revenue purpose.
Generally 2000–4000 stamps of 4A denomination were printed each year upto 1912.
References:
1. Sorath.
Ron Wood and Vijay Meher.
The India Study Circle for Philately, Eastleigh, England 1999
Chapter IV: Third Issue–1877
Four Anas of a Kori; pp.49, 55-9
2. Sorath Stamps and Postal History.
Ramji Amershibhai Malaviya.
Ravi Prakashan, Junagarh 1999
Chapter VIII: Third Issue; pp.37-9
Posted 03/18/2017 12:51 pm
