Envelope 1905 From Signapore To Karaikudi

Any information/evaluation about these postmarks ?






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My basic info is Singapore departure cancel with a "8" charge handstamp.Arrival Karaikudi
(South India) cancel with a "T" tax handstamp on arrival.

Rather: Karaikudi (Dec 9) to Singapore (Dec 18)?
Originally addressed in black, then the portions underlined in red were translated - enough to get it delivered.

Karaikudi departure cancels for that time period look like this: A date mix up?



I guess the stampless cover would read departure from Karaikudi like this one from

www.coverstoryltd.com/index.php?s=177&sort=description&c=1




1899 incoming stampless cover from Karaikudi, India via Negapatam bearing on reverse these cancels, '8' charge handstamp and Singapore cds, the front with framed Postage Due handstamp on despatch and 'T' on arrival. Some faults to envelope.

A little learning is a dangerous thing
Alexander Pope (1688-1744) in "An Essay on Criticism" (1709)

Once again this instant internet expert proves it.

@perf12



This cover was sent from Karaikkudi (10.0731°N 78.7802°E), now in Sivagangai district of Tamizh Nadu to Singapura as the underlined last part of the address in Tamizh clearly shows.



Secondly, T Taxe marks were always applied at the country of origin, not destination.

Here the circular T mark (recorded used 1886 to 1907) is of Nagappattinam Office of Foreign Exchange, as Karaikkudi till then was not issued this stamp.

@perf12



This Karaikkudi postmark is Smith type A27A combined datestamp and obliterator which was introduced only in 1910 whereas the cover in question is from 1905.

This very type with movable hour slugs was allotted to selected HPOs/SPOs, replacing the earlier allotted datestamp with index letters denoting specific time of dispatch. It was discontinued in 1936.

Moreover combined datestamp and obliterators were specifically issued to POs to cancel postage stamps and stamp imprints on postal stationeries, so it could never be used on unpaid covers unlike the datestamp like on the 1905 cover, which had multipurpose role.

Datestamps were impressed on postal articles to indicate the name of the post office and the date, acting as both dispatch and receipt marks, in addition to on missent and redirected letters. These were also authorized to be used to cancel stamp imprints of postal stationeries in the Branch POs/Extra-Departmental POs which were not issued combined datestamps.

The Karaikkudi cds type shown here was introduced in 1893 to selected HPOs/SPOs which were not allotted cdss with index letters denoting specific time or cdss with district name.

@perf12



Where is the front which shows the unique 'T' on arrival?

The letter rate from India to Singapura was 1A for every 14.18gm (½oz) from December 25,1898 to September 30,1907 when the weight slab was increased to 28.35gm (1oz).

Now the basic surface mail rate 1A was equivalent to 25 gold LMU and since this cover was unpaid, the cover was charged double deficiency 2A i.e. equivalent to 50 gold LMU which was converted to 8c in Singapura, indicated by Proud UP46 handstamp 8 (used 10/1888-4/1918), as the basic surface rate to India (and other GB colonies) was 4c per 14.18gm (½oz) from December 25,1898 to September 30,1907.

What is new here is Proud D67 datestamp of Singapura which Proud records being used only on 04.21.1906. whereas the example here extends the period of use back to 12.18.1905.

Routing: From 1903 to 1911, a fortnightly Nagappattinam to Singapura line was operated by British India Steam Navigation Company via Pinang when mail was sent only on every alternate Tuesdays.

So this cover left Nagappattinam on 12.12.1905., reached Pinang on 12.14.1905. and finally Singapura on 12.16.1905.

As expected, the rectangular bipartite Postage Due mark was applied at Karaikkudi, which was irrelevant with respect to unpaid/underpaid mail to foreign destinations which is why no due amount i.e. 2in the space proved before Ana was entered in manuscript.

The circular T is a typical Indian mark, which here was again used by the Nagappattinam Office of Foreign Exchange.

The Singapura T Taxe marks during that time were triangular.

Wrong discription by the seller then. Oh well….

Fascinating information as always Joy, thank you

Could you please tell us, is 4 days from Pinang (ie: Penang for any readers who aren't sure) to Singapore usual and was the service overland or by the Malacca Strait?

Thanks a lot perf12, John Becker and Joy Daschaudhuriy.

Joy Daschaudhuriy very informative comments ! one thing im not understand is that you said "What is new here is Proud D67 datestamp of Singapura which Proud records being used only on 04.21.1906. whereas the example here extends the period of use back to 12.18.1905." .

I found this in an auction https://www.stampcircuit.com/stamp-...-schutzstaat

Is that the same cds >?

And also how someone evaluate a postcard / main cover / envelope ?

No. The Singapura datestamp on that 1905 Johor Bahru to Oss cover is Proud D65 mark, recorded by Proud being used from 01.17.1905. to 12.20.1906.

There is an extensive chronological list of all recorded postmarks of Singapura used from 1829 to 1965, published in Postal History of British Malaya (Vol.I: Straits Settlements) 2000 2nd Ed., edited by Edward Wilfrid Baxby Proud, where each and every postmark has been arranged in accordance of type (e.g. pre-stamp mark, datestamp, killer, combined datestamp and obliterator, registration mark, tax mark etc. etc.) and assigned specific number based on Proud copyrighted numbering system, with range of dates of usage (earliest redorded date and latest recorded date).

In the Postal History of British Malaya (Vol.I: Straits Settlements) 1982 1st Ed., there was no distinction between D65 and D67. Both were listed under D44 but in the 2000 2nd Ed., there was a complete overhaul of the postmark listing.

There were 26 different hammers of Singapura datestamps with inset arcs and hour slugs, each prima facie appears similar but differs in minute details.
I will post the illustrations later.

@manosp



Valuation of covers or postcards basically depends on factors like
postmark scarcity and clarity of impression (important criterion in pre-stamp entires) and rare use of specific color of ink of postmarks, uncommon destination, short period of specific mail routing, condition etc. etc. and also auxiliary markings indicating suspension of service, jusqu'à, redirection, censorship etc. etc.
And there is always the supply and demand factor.

I shoud add that the valuation of Singapura postmarks by Proud should be taken with say tablespoon of salt.