George VI Era Cochin - Mostly Used

Sheets of 48 from Cochin, so we may not need quite so many bits.

Maharaja Kerala Varma II succeeded in 1941, and died in 1943. You might expect such a short reign would be uneventful, or at least not as philatelically tumultuous as that of his brother. And you know, of course, you'd be wrong.

The first stamps bearing his portrait appeared in 1943, the year of his death. The ordinary stamps ranged from 2 Pies to 2¼ Annas (there was a 3 Anna, but this was only released with a Service overprint).

Some of the old single umbrella watermark paper was left over, and - frugally - it was used up, mainly to print the 2 Pies stamp, but also for literally a few sheets of the 4 Pies (£900 mint/£400 used) and 1 Anna (£100 mint/£130 used).

Many of the stamps also exist in both perf gauges, 11 and 13x13½, so you can see that this will be another marathon ...

Here is the second cheapest version of the 2 Pies, SG 86 (on sheet watermarked paper, perf 13x13½)



The 2 Pies is known, just, perf 11. If you have a lazy £2250, you can get the cheaper version on single umbrella paper; otherwise, you can go for the deluxe, sheet watermark version, at £3250. Both prices are for used - mint appear to be unknown. Is that the distant rumble of perf gauges I hear?

The 4 Pies is another sleeper. Gibbons rates the cheaper, perf 11, variety at £5.50. I think it's worth rather more. This is the only example I have:



SG 87a

The 9 Pies is only known perf 11, and is much easier



SG 89

The 1 Anna is another hard one. This cheaper perf 11 version, SG 90a, is still a £60 item. Beware of cleaned fiscal usages!



Finally, the top value, the 2¼ Anna on one of my favourite covers:



SG 91

What was this lad sending registered to the Victory Stamp Stall? And why did he use his school, and not his home, return address? Could it be he didn't want his parents knowing where he was spending his pocket money?

The Service overprints may lack the complication of two different watermarks ... but they make up for it with the introduction of a new gauge 13 perforator.

The 2 Pies wasn't overprinted, but again, the 4 Pies stamp isn't particularly common, although Gibbons flatters the cheapest (perf 11) version, SG O68a at £5.50:



This also occurs perf 13 (distinctly scarce) and perf 13x13½.

The 6 Pies, SG O69, is one of the commonest Cochin stamps. In any collection of ten or more Cochin, you'll probably find one of these. It comes in all three perfs, and none of them is particularly scarce:



It does offer a range of (unlisted) shades, though. This is a distinctive dark shade - less common, though not rare by any means.

The 9 Pies wasn't overprinted, although the 1 Anna was. It's another tough stamp: £3250 mint, but a steal at £60 used. Unfortunately, I haven't yet stretched to one.

The 2¼ Anna, SG O72, exists only perf 13x13½, and the 3 Anna, SG O73 also exists perf 11. Neither value is very difficult, although on cover they're not so common, and used together ...



This is an example of Wartime economy: the envelope has been constructed from office wastepaper.

only 48? do you have any for trade?

Do you have a Barwani SG 15 to offer in return? Mint, used or in cover - I don't mind.

well my printer isnt working otherwise I could make you a block of 4 with 2010 gum?

you know I might have to search for barwani it might be up in storage. the question is who will climb up the ladder. certainly not me

Hmmm, Barwani SG 15 with gum? Not a good look

Is that quite correct? or is that a "British" thing.

Should not that bumbershoot really be classified as a "Parasol" ?

Enough of your youthful radicalism, Young Rodney I'm merely following tradition in describing it as an 'umbrella'. (Though etymologically, 'umbrella' - 'little shade' and 'parasol' - 'against the sun' - seem to share the same basic meaning, anyway )

And now I may have to leave you to play quietly among yourselves for a while, as I turn my attention to graver matters, like earning a living.

Whew! for a minute there, I thought you were off to buy a plot.

With the toll this job looks like taking on my few remaining brain cells, I might as well reserve my spot under the gum tree, and prepare to curl up under it.

yes thats where we get the gum for your barwani.

I warn you Spock: if I find eucalyptus-scented gum on a Barwani stamp, I will smell a rat ...

how about if it is smellin like jasmine? will you smell cobras then?

The mere thought of gum on any pre-1932 Barwani stamp makes me reach for my six-shooter, regardless of the flavour of the gum.