Early Birthday Present - Jammu & Kashmir

this is what is confusing you

In 1939, 1a stamps were overprinted "ANCHAL" for postal purposes (those not overprinted were used for revenue purposes). Here an understanding of the two printing types is useful. The recess printed 1a overprinted "ANCHAL" is quite common in used and mint condition, but the litho printed variety [Sc 59/SG 73] is rare in mint state. However, a slightly different "ANCHAL" was also printed on the litho, and it is very common in both used and unused condition. From 1942 to 1944, both recess and offset printed stamps were surcharged. It is difficult to obtain a complete set of the surcharged overprints, as many of them are scarce to rare

so while the anchal stamps were used for postal purposes anchal doesnt mean post in the hindi language

Spock, I wouldn't presume to question your knowledge of Hindi , but 'ANCHAL' is a Malayalam word, not a Hindi word. (Malayalam was the official language of both Cochin and Travancore.) I have it on the authority of several Malayalam speakers that it does mean 'Post'.

I have to finally admit I am also an Indian States accumulator. Due to the language barrier and large number of verities. I have learned a lot from this discussion. Thank you all for your information. I think that I shall sometime in the reasonable future I might tackle them.

Wow! what a lot of great information! I will send more.

Another similar to the first but a different page

Some more.

Enough for tonight.

Stampaddict, now you're getting down into territory where Gibbons is is a must. I wouldn't dare intrude on Sir Rodney's territory of Travancore - beyond saying that these can be quite involved, with differences in watermark, perforation and overprint making a great difference to value. Just as an example of the sorts of things that can go on in Travancore, the 6 cash stamp at left



can be worth anything from 70p to £70, depending on the type of SERVICE overprint and the perforation, and the stamps in the block at right from £4.50 each to £150 each.

The Cochin are the same. A difference in perforation can make a very big difference in value. For example, the 6 Pies brown stamp on this cover



is worth 10p because it's perf 11. If it had been perf 13x13½, it would be a £3500 proposition (and considerably more for being on cover).

We stamp collectors are a nutty bunch.

Thanks to all for keeping this thread going. More, please, when anyone has the time.

C.

Well, how about a few early Jammu & Kashmir? These are a very good test of the viewer's tolerance for the Indian States. Love these, and you're an open Indian States lover, or at least a fellow traveller. Hate 'em, and you'd better avert your eyes now.



Jammu & Kashmir SG 5a, and one of the stars of my collection. I love the colour; the pigment would have been made up from Afghan lapis lazuli. (Makes this modern rubbish look a shade unromantic, doesn't it?)



SG 8 - these are both watercolour printings, so they are NOT to be soaked, Rodney The pigment for this one might have been either realgar (arsenic monosulphide, for the curious; Jammu & Kashmir used other arsenic-based pigments later) or haematite (iron oxide) from the Jammu iron mines



SG 1 used, and



SG 91 on a combination cover with India SG 55, required because the cover was travelling from Jammu & Kashmir to an address in British India

oh fo rth estate collectors I would recommend get a specialized book for all the states but a lot of them are out of print due to lack of demand SG is a good way to start but I never liked their lack of pics.

Tony so anchal is also a malu word very interesting.

Rev,

you collected india but didnt tel me to think I was trolling the forum by myself thinking no one else collected until tony showed up and all of you cam out of the closet. Where is my phaser?

Tony,

If you dont like any of the indian states I will take all of these of your hand (the mnh ones) as soon as I find some work.

Spock, I have deeply held religious convictions which prevent me from parting with any of my treasures, I'm afraid

I agree: Gibbons is a good starting point, but you can, and should, go much deeper. If anyone is interested in them, the place to be is the India Study Circle. It is the great repository of knowledge on the subject. Its Handbooks (all out of print, sad to say) are vital for understanding the States they cover. The best example would be the Sacred Cows of Bundi



Gibbons' listing leaves Scott for dead, but the ISC Handbook lists and describes 57 settings of these stamps. You can see the possibilities.

Then there's Bamra



SG 8, 8a, 8b and 8c

Nine settings, and various sub-settings of these - some rare - listed in the ISC Handbook, but not in Gibbons, and certainly not in Scott.

It seems to me that we may need a new Topic, devoted specifically to the Indian States, rather than have them scattered about all over the place. What do people think? Would it be too dreary? Would it scare the horses?

Revstampan, the States revenues are a bit much (even) for me. I do have a few, but I'm definitely not the full bottle on the subject. Still, post away when you can. They're a fascinating area.

dear Tony,

you dont have to part with your treasures I am only interested in the indian stamps :)

dont worry about money rod's beast will lay golden eggs at night :)

i cant beleive it looks like tony has left for the day and I am trolling the forum by myself again

sigh