Indian States: Alwar, Sg 1c (Sc 1A)—imperf Or Fake?

Gibbons identifies three series of stamps of this image: two stamps of 1877, lithographed, rouletted; a redrawn series of two stamps, perf 12 (Scott says pin-perf) with wide margins in 1899-1901; and a similarly redrawn single stamp, also perf 12, with narrower margins in 1901. The original design featured a thick outer frameline both at the bottom and on the left. The redrawn had a thick frameline only at the bottom. My stamp has the original design but seems imperf rather than rouletted. Gibbons says that imperf pairs exist, but only of the redrawn design. Could my stamp just be a fake?

Looks fine ,not a fake

The basic stamp is genuine.

The margins of these are sometimes quite wide, the rouletting is often not very precise and it is probable that the rouletting has been trimmed off.

As you stated, these stamps are not known imperf.

Thank you, both. I'd worried that the margins were wide enough to show the rouletting. Trimmed or not, I'm glad to think it genuine.

In my opinion it is a genuine perforated stamp that has been timmed and the red ink is NOT a genuine cancel of the period.

My impression from Gibbons is that only the redrawn design was perforated.

Does this close-up perhaps show evidence of either rouletting or pin perf?

Sorry, my comment was really only to note that it was altered and faked. In point of fact, it is the rouletted 1a brown that has been rubbished

Gibbons shows a photo of the ½ anna blue. Scott shows a picture of the 1 anna brown. I know absolutely nothing of the languages of India, but I note that the all the characters of my stamp match what Gibbons shows of ½ anna blue. But the first character of the lower line is also quite different from what Scott shows for the 1 anna brown. Accordingly, I'm struggling to accept the idea that my stamp was originally a 1 anna brown.

I agree that it's likely a rouletted stamp that's been trimmed. About the red ink I'm in no position to question your opinion (or that of anyone else, for that matter).

bad day, 1/2 anna blue. very sorry.

No problem. And thanks always for your input here or elsewhere. It's that sort of willingness to contribute that makes this forum so good.

Eric

@EMaxim



@Richard Frajola



Bad day indeed.
The denomination below in Devnagari script reads Pav Ana where Pav (pronounced Pao) means quarter.

THe Blue stamp is from stone A ,transfer 5. These were printed in a matrix of 6 stamps repeated in the sheet.
Trasfer 5 : dot in the leaf. All the positions have their little differences.

And Gibbons does say 1/4 anna. I should never try to read any catalogue without my magnifier in hand.

Thanks for chiming in Joy. A good forum needs people who know the languages.

And thanks to perf12 as well. Something to look for if ever I aquire a second copy.

There is an online source on Alwar stamps by our India Study Circle for Philately member Bill Lewis.

https://www.stampboards.com/viewtopic.php?t=16831

Though the primary reference we use for identification of stones and flaws of Alwar ¼A 1st issue, is this.

Alwar Postage Stamps and Postmarks.
Raymond John Benns.
India Study Circle for Philately, Eastleigh, England 1982 2nd Ed.
Chapter II: The Rouletted Quarter Anna Issues; pp.8-13
Plates I-II; pp.41-2

Thank you, Joy. Very helpful.

Eric