So Who's Afraid Of The Indian States?

I did: I see it has a Commonwealth Games commemorative among others.

no no not that envelope. my envelope that was inside with the coat of arms?

Now I see what you mean. Very impressive. Somewhere or other I have a copy of the Mac Gillycuddy coat of arms - much plainer.

yes those are my family arms so dont post any pics of them here :)

you should also look inside the envelope that has the arms in it. the grey lines are not the grey lines :D

Are you daring me to arrange something similar, Spock? Unfortunately, older Australian recipients of my envelopes would think it was a joke.

well I am daring you to send all your mnh to me gift wrapped :)

ok now that I have won that dare I am asking you to look at the envelope on the inside thats when you will see its true artistic genius where you have the so called security lines running all around :)

Hi..
Recently got this Jaipur Post Card in an auction.




and the details about the Post Card



It is an unused PC from the Public Service Commission, Jaipur asking candidates to appear for an Interview with Certificates, Letter of recommendation and Proof of being a resident of Jaipur. In the Note it is mentioned that Travel allowance will not be given and to acknowledge receipt of this intimation......

Regards
Thomas

That's a handsome official postcard if ever I saw one!

Great topic, lots of great info.

Thomas, I've seen these SERVICE overprinted cards occasionally, although I don't have one myself. I think they're probably rather scarce. They aren't listed in the Higgins & Gage catalogue, and I think they must have appeared quite late in the life of the Jaipur Post Office. (I've handled literally thousands of the ¼ Anna SERVICE overprinted stamp.)

The earlier SERVICE overprinted postal stationery cards are also quite scarce, as are earlier SERVICE stamps on cover. Used SERVICE stamps off cover/card are very common, though.

Thanks tony for the feedback.

Meanwhile two sets more... Wonder if they can evoke any interest
It was mentioned as "Overprint thick" in one and "normal" in other of the first set.
Also "Overprint in Italics" for the second set.





Regards
Thomas

These are a bit more common, Thomas - even I have a few

I did a bit of checking in the India Study Circle India Post archive, and I found a note classifying these surcharges into four types:
(i) The italic or slanted surcharge
(ii) The straight surcharge in a small size: 19.5 mm x 3 mm
(iii) The straight surcharge in a large size: 29 mm x 5 mm
(iv) The large straight surcharge in a large size: 31 mm x 6 mm

Apparently there are forgeries of these surcharges Unfortunately the archive page describing them is missing.

These surcharges became necessary when the postcard rate was reduced from the 1 January 1947. The earliest date the writer of the article had seen on a surcharged card was in February '47.

I hope that young ne'er-do-well Rodney is watching ... Rodney, knowing how much you enjoy anti-theft markings on old Indian items, I thought you might appreciate this rather simple example from Poonch (SG 53) which arrived for me today:



Just pen strokes, but maybe life and thieves were simpler out in Poonch in the 1880s ...

A gentleman's countenance, rampant,
two arms, one clutching a loupe,
the other holding a pair of tweezers
clutching a very hideous piece of paper.

Underneath
"Turpis proinde EGO amo"
(Ugly, therefore I like)

Ne'er do well, present and correct Sir!

Indeed a super example, and on cover Tony,
just as we like them, but rarely have them.

Scan snitched, as usual


Poonch could that be a "cleft stick" job?
can you find out the route?