British India Adhesive Stamps surcharged for Native States Part I - Chamba Faridkot Gwalior

PUBLICATIONS

OF THE

PHILATELIC SOCIETY OF INDIA.
Vol. I.

CHAMBA.

Page 21.

80 (a) I 1 rupee grey.

Page 29.

252 (a) I 12 annas brown on red.
252 (b) I I rupee grey.

Watermarked Elephant's Head.
252 (c) I 6 annas bistre.

Chamba.
Faridkot.

0WALIOR.

Calcutta:
1897.

CONTENTS.

Preface

Chap. I — General Remarks

Chap. II— Chamba

Chap. Ill— Faridkot

Chap. IV — Gwalior

Appendix. — Official Documents

LIST OF PLATES.

Plate 1. — Chamba Errors ... to face page 17

Plate 2. — Faridkot Errors ... „ „ „ 39
Plate 3.— Lower pane of Gwalior Six

Annas stamps, showing the two

types op vernacular surcharge „ „ „ 47

Plate 4. — Gwalior Errors ... „ „ „ 57

PREFACE.

)HIS little book is the result of much hard
work. When I first began, in the January
1897 No. of the Philatelic Journal of India
^ to make "the first attempts to put together
materials for an illustrated handbook" on the ad-
hesive stamps of British India surcharged for use in
certain Native States I hardly realised what a task
I was undertaking. The notes hitherto published
have necessarily been incomplete, and further enquiries
(rendered possible by their publication) have revealed several
inaccuracies. These I have now corrected, and believe that
this first instalment of the promised handbook is both
accurate and fairly complete.

I ought, perhaps, to add a few words of explanation
as to the various stamps shown in the Reference Lists as
found with H errors." I have not seen all of them myself
and in some cases it appears to be very doubtful whether
owing to the small number ever in existence, and the period
that has elapsed since their issue, they will ever be seen.
To take an instance, however, if I found that the 1, 2, 4 and 8
annas values of one of these States contained a particular
error, and knew that when all these values were surcharged,
the \ anna and 12 annas values were also surcharged, it
became pi ainlhat the same error must have occurred in the
two latter denominations as well. Matters became more
complicated when there had been more than one printing v
which these values occurred simultaneously, but in
cases I have usually been able, from extraneous e T

11

0

to fix a limit of date on either side, and that limit has
usually enabled me to complete the lists with confidence
In some few cases I knew the date of issue of the sheet
in which [ had found the " error," and in such cases there
was no difficulty at all.

I have to express my obligations to the Director General
of the Post Office of India, for allowing me to make use
of official documents for the purpose of this hand-book. My
thanks are also due to Babu Narain Kissen Sen of the office
of the Superintendent of Stamps and Stationery, Calcutta,
for the trouble taken by him in - checking and correcting
the lists of various printings published in the Journal.
Several members of the Society also have assisted me in
various ways, and to them I am deeply grateful.

The illustrations speak for themselves and for the
excellence of the work done in the photographic branch of
the office of the Survey of India under the superintendence
of Mr. Pope, to whom we owe the plates,

I trust that the second and concluding portion of the
handbook will be ready for issue early in 1898.

Calcutta.
December , 1897.

C. Stewart- Wilson.

THE ADHESIVE STAMPS

OF

BRITISH INDIA
^urchargeb for mt in certain ilatibc ^tatcs.

Chapter I.

GENERAL REMARKS.

' I V HE Government of India, at one time and another,
but not in recent years, have entered into postal " con*
ventions" with the Hill State of Chamba, the four Ois-Sutlej
Sikh States of Patiala, Nabha, Faridkot and Jhind, and
with Gwalior. These conventions are almost identical in
their provisions, and, as far as philatelists are concerned, the
interest of any one of them lies in the fact that each party
thereto recognises the franking power within its own territory
of the postage stamps issued by the other party, provided
that they are of the nature laid down in the convention. In
other words, the stamps which we are now considering will
frank a letter posted in the State concerned throughout the
State and also throughout British India.

These conventions further bind the Government of India
to supply these States, on indent, with stamps current in
British India surcharged with the name of the indenting
State. The charge made to the latter for this service
is the actual price paid by the Government of India to
the contractors in England for printing the stamps, plus

s

General Remarks.

the freight to India, and the actual cost of surcharging. No
profit is made on the transaction.

These stamps are, therefore, seen to be more than mere
local" stamps, while they have not quite the character of
" general issues." For they are available over an area
vastly exceeding that of the State issuing them, and yet their
use is restricted by the fact that they are not available for
prepayment of postage on postal articles unless they are
intended for delivery at a Post Office of the State itself or at
a British Indian Post Office. They will, however, frank a
letter addressed to any place between Chitral and Tuticorin,
between Kelat and Kengtung ; and have, therefore, an
interest far above that which attaches to ordinary " local"
stamps.

It has long been recognised that the stamps of the
Straits Settlements surcharged for the use of the Native
Protected States of Johor, Negri Sembilan, Perak, and.
Selangbr are of the greatest interest. Yet those stamps have
a far more limited circulation. Their chief interest lies in
their fascinating variety of surcharges and the multitude of
bona fide "errors." And yet- these are the very qualities
which are seized upon to blacken the character of the stamps
which we are now discussing. Quite recently one of the
leading London Philatelic Journals spoke of varieties of
surcharge on these stamps as " accidentally made on
purpose," while there are not wanting hints on all sides that
"errors" are wilfully manufactured for the double purpose of
pleasing collectors, and adding to revenue. Why these things
should be said of Indian Native State stamps and not even
whispered in connection with those of the Straits Settlements
is one of the ' mysteries of creation," especially as, both in
variety of surcharges and in " errors," the Indian stamps
are so very much less wayward than the others.

\

General Remarks.

3

These stamps have everything to gain by publicity. So
far their origin has been unknown, and the darkness of
ignorance has encouraged the growth of suspicions ,as to
their standing. The more the philatelic public knows of the
actual facts as to their production and use, the more will
they be convinced of their claim to be considered genuine
postage stamps with a real interest of "their own.

They are produced under the following conditions : —

The surcharging is done in Calcutta at the Govern-
ment of India Central Printing Press, under conditions of
supervision etc., which make underhand dealings impossi-
ble. The stamps to be surcharged are supplied by the
Superintendent of Stamps and Stationery under special
precautious, and a like number have to be returned to him
after receiving the surcharge. The employes cannot bring
into the office, or introduce extraneous matter, such as unused
stamps bought for the purpose, into the machines ; and cannot
manipulate the setting, of the surcharge when once passed.

All work done by. human beings is liable to a want of
accuracy. This is specially the case when the "human beings
are Orientals not sufficiently educated to have lost the queer
belief that want of accuracy is absolutely essential to avert
the dreaded " Evil Eye." Further, the chance of error
which occurs in one setting of type is greatly increased when
that type has to be set 240 times, as it has to be for every
supply of surcharged star-watermarked stamps. And when
we remember that these 240 settings have to be made not
once, but often and at varying intervals of time, it is hardly
wonderful that mistakes do occur. There are some mistakes
which will occur, no matter what, care is taken. Type will
break while in use, and minute portions of a letter will now
and then take up too much or too little ink. These are the

4

General Remarks.

causes of « inverted L' for < T/ " " <B/ for 'B/ " " 'CP
for < D/ " " f 8' for ' S V " F." for ' E * et hoc genu* omne.
But a genuine collector despises such " deviations/' He also
takes no interest in marginal stamps from a sheet which has
been placed in the press a little to one side, so that part of the
surcharge has come on the margin, and which derive their
interest (?) merely from the fact that the margin has been
torn off.

Jt is genuine "errors" that we are now dealing with,
caused by transposition of letters, wrong spelling, use of
type from wrong founts, faulty spacing, &c. The late
Bengal Philatelic Society, while recognising that these errors
were not the result of malice or of gross negligence, thought
that exercise of even greater care than had hitherto been
bestowed might reasonably be expected, and that it should
be possible to do away with mistakes in future altogether. It
had the courage of its convictions, and one of its last official
acts was to communicate its opinions on this matter to the
Director-General of the Post Office of India, I am glad to
be able to say that it has now definitely been arranged
that the proof of the surcharge, after careful revision in
the Press, will be finally examined and scrutinised in the
office of the Director General, and that no stamps will
be actually surcharged till the proof has been passed by that
office. I think, therefore, that it may fairly be expected
that the future will see no further " errors " among these
stamps. This, of course, will have the effect of bringing
about a finality, which should make the errors which have
hitherto occurred particularly interesting, and this forms a
large part of the justification for this book and for my
claim that these stamps deserve study.

One of the other points on which the late Bengal Society
asked for reform was the stoppage of the issue of stamps of

/

General Remarks, 5

unnecessary values to these States. The stamps particularly-
objected to by jealous collectors are those of the 9 pies, 2J-
annas, and the 2, 8, and 5 rupee values. Of these the first is
now obsolete and it is not likely that the second will ever be
re-issued surcharged. Only some of the States have dabbled
in these values, and that only to a very limited extent. It
will be good news to all collectors to hear that it has been
definitely decided not to surcharge in future any stamp
above Re. 1 in value. The issue* of the three highest value
stamps have been very small indeed, and their number will
not be added to.

<>ne frequently hears another complaint against these
stamps. It is that the proportion sold to collectors is very
large as compared with the number actually used for postal
purposes. But this objection is absurd on the fare of it.
The number of current stamps of any country (excluding
the Seebeckised States) required for collections is to all intents
and purposes the same whatever that country be. The
number of stamps required for purely postal purposes is
enormously greater in Great Britain than in Gibraltar, so
that the proportion that stamps sold to collectors bears to the
total issues is very much greater in the case of the latter.
Still no one thinks of denouncing Gibraltar stamps.

I have, however, been at considerable pains to gauge
the actual wants of each State in the way of postage stamps.
I have done this, n<>t by the plausible method of working
out a sum of which the divisor is the total population of
that State, but have confined my arithmetical operations to
the number of inhabitants returned at the last census as able
to read and write. The result thus obtained errs seriously
in the direction of under-estimating the actual requirements,
because it excludes the very large number of illiterate people
who, all over India, employ letter- writers. Still, as a com-

6 General Remarks*

parative test, i. e. t for the purpose of contrasting the number
of postal articles per head of literate population in a
particular State with the number per head of the same class
of people in British India (i e. about 36), the results will be
fairly trustworthy. The figures worked out in the case of
each State will be found in their appropriate chapters, and, I
think, fully justify the conclusion that the stamps are really
wanted for postal work, and that their sale to collectors is
a purely secondary matter.

It is further important to remember that far more than
half the stamps supplied to those States consist of post cards
and embossed envelopes, which are equally with adhesives
useful for postal purposes, but for which there is practically
no sale among philatelists at present.

Forgeries are easily dealt with. I have not yet seen
any that could not be detected at a glance. They are
usually executed on used British Indian stamps over the
obliteration. A stamp which professes to belong to Chamba
and has manifestly been used in Bombay need not be further
considered.

Reprints are fortunately very few indeed, and can in
all cases be very easily detected. Full details of all reprints
are given under the appropriate chapters. They exist in
the case of Gwalior, Jhind, Nabha and Patiala.

It now remains to say a few words as to how the stamps
are surcharged.

The details of this work differ accordingly as paper
watermarked with a star or with an elephant's head is used.
In the former case the surcharge required for ordinary stamps
is set up at one time 240 times so as to fit the two panes of
the sheet. There have been occasions when the surcharging
of the sheet has been done in two operations, i. e. one

General Remarks.

1

pane at a time, but these are very rare. In the latter
case, the sheets being divided into four panes of 80
stamps each, the surcharge is applied in two operations,
so that the two top panes are similar and differ from the
two bottom panes. It follows, therefore, that the finding
of one error in a sheet of paper with the elephant's head
watermark indicates that another of the same kind exists
in the same sheet.

If stamps are required for service purposes, an additional
surcharge (except in the case of Gwalior) is made in the same
way on the requisite number of sheets of surcharged ordinary
stamps. The result of this additional surcharge being made
separately is that the interval between the word " Service"
and the name of the State, as well as its general position on
"the stamp varies greatly. This will also explain how the
"service" surcharge is sometimes found inverted, an accident
which is due to a sheet having been fed into the Press
upside-down for this second surcharge.

Chapter XI.

CH AMB A,

Ruling Chief — His Highness Raja Sham Singh.
Head of Post Office — M. Gurditta Mai.
Area — 3,126 square miles.
Population— 124,032.

Average annual number of postage stamps of
all kinds issued per head of literate popula-
TION — 27.

Date of execution of convention- January
1887.

CHAMBA is a Hill State under the political control of
the Government of the Punjab, situated between the
Territories of Kashmir and the Punjab districts of Kangra
and Grurdaspur. The population is scattered and mainly
rural.

The State maintains extensive mail lines and has eight
post offices in various parts of its territory.

The surcharge on the stamps of this State is of one
type only and it is invariably in black.

The words "Chamba" and " State" are surcharged
horizontally, the former over the latter at the bottom
of the stamp, and are so placed that " State" comes sym-
metrically below " Chamba." The service stamps bear an
additional horizontal surcharge "Service" on the top of
the stamp.

10

Chamba,

The dimensions of the surcharges are : —

"Chamba" ... ... .. 10J X 2 millimetres.

"State" ... ... ... 7| X 2 „

Interval between " Chamba" and " State" 1

"Service" ... ... .. 10J X 2 ,,

The total number of adhesive postage stamps issued for
Chamba up to date is 541,045 as under : —

\ anna Service

,. 182,639

\ ii Ordinary

. 143,039

1 ,, Service

. 75,399

1 Ordinary

. 34,199

2 annas Ordinary

. 20,719

2 Service

.. 12,259

4 Service

.. 10,919

4 Ordinary

. 10,859

8 „ Service

9,459

3 ,, Ordinary

7,465

8 „ Ordinary

5,381

8 Service

4,205

6 „ Ordinary

4,125

\\ „ Ordinary

3,700

6 ,, Service

2,952

12 ,, Ordinary

2,685

1 rupee (grey) Ordinary

2,281

" 1 ii (g rev ) Service

1,819

2\ annas Ordinary

1,920

12 ,, Service

1,565

1 rupee (current type) Ordinary ...

1,440

2 rupees Ordinary

672

3 ,, Ordinary

672

5 Ordinary

672

Total .

.. 541,045

These figures include, in the case of the three highest
values 192, and in the case of the others about 500 of each
kind reserved for distribution to the foreign countries which
belong to the Universal Postal Union.

Chamba.

11

Of these stamps, the 1 rupee grey ordinary is obsolete,
while the 1 rupee grey service, the 2 \ annas, and the
three highest values will not be reprinted. These, then,
are the prizes for the philatelist in Chamba.

It will be observed that the \ anna value accounts for
over 60 per cent of the total issues up to date, while the \, 1,
2 and 4 annas together form over 90 per cent of the total.

We now come to a detailed enumeration of the stamps
surcharged, their dates of issue, and the number supplied of
each denomination on each occasion.

In December 1885, H. EL. the Raja of Chamba sent in
his first indent for overprinted stamps. In April 1886 proofs
were received from the Superintendent of Stamps, surcharged
in red. These were not approved, as the ink was apt to be
either too oily or too dry, and the depth of colour uncertain.
The Superintendent of Stamps was asked to overprint all
such stamps in future with black ink. Proofs printed in
black were approved in June 1886.

The following is a Hst^l^the various printings: —

SERVICE.

10,000
5,000
1,000

(2) September 1887.

ORDINARY.

SERVICE,

\ anna

30,400
5,600
2,760
1,680
1,100
1,262
1,002

60,800
11,200
6,100
2,000
2,100

\ anna

2 annas

3 „

4 „
8 „

1 rupee (grey)

2 annas
4 „

12

Chamba.

(3) March 1890.

ORDINARY. SERVICE.

^ anna ...

... 19,200

1

... 9,600

1 anna

... 16,000

£t ct 1 1 lltxo ...

... 4,800

2 annas

... 1,600

.. 2,666

3 „

... 1,566

* >>

... 2,000

4

... 1,200

0 >>

766

6 „

1,036

Q

... 1,000

8 „

403

12 „

766

12 i j

760

1 rupee (grey)

800

1 rupee (grey)

700

(4) July 1891.

ORDINARY.

SERVICE.

}y anna

... 28,799

h anna

... 47,999

1

... 9,599

1 »» &

... 19,199

2 annas

... 3,359

2 annas ...

... 4,079

3 „

... 1,199

3

... 2,639

4 ,,

... 3,359

4 „

... 4,079

6 m

... 1,919

6

... 1.919

8 „

... 1,919

8 „

.. 1,199

12 „

719

12 „

799

1 rupee (grey)

479

1 rupee (grey)

... 1,119

(5) December 1895.

ORDINARY. SERVICE.

^ anna

44,640

1 „

2,400

h anna

... 63,840

annas

3,700

2 „

4,800

1 „

... 24,000

2§

1,920

3 „

1,920

2 annas . . .

480

4 ,.

2,400

6 „

1,440

4 „

... 2,640

8 „

1,200

12 „

1,200

8

... 5,760

1 rupee (current type)

1,440

Ordinary.

2 rupees ... ••• ... ... 192

3 „ . , ... ... ... 192

5 „ ... ... ... ... 192

(6). The indent for the higher value stamps was made
with the idea that each sheet consisted of 240 stamps. On
it being discovered that the sheet contained only 96, c

Chamba.

13

further indent was sent in, and executed in October 1896.
It consisted of the following ordinary stamps : —

2 rupees .. ... ... ... 480

3 „ ... ... ... ... 480

5 „ ... ... ... ... 480

A full list of all errors known by me to exist will

be found in the Reference List which follows. It will

however, probably be of some interest to add a few notes

as to their comparative rarity, so far as I am able to

supply trustworthy information.

The commonest of all the errors is that which shows a
small " A" in " State." It occurs in the first five printings
at least once in the sheet of each value, except in the case
of the three highest denominations. The comparative rarity
of this error in each denomination may, therefore, be judged
from the table above showing the number issued up to date
of each value.

All the other errors are much more uncommon. Two
occur in the 6 annas of the third printing, once in each
double pane of 160, or twice in each sheet of 320. One
is "Iservice," of which there can have been only 6 or
7 copies. This error is due to a r< lead " showing. The
other is the error in which the word "State" is
wrongly placed as to " Chamba." Of this there cannot
have been more than 4 or 5 copies in the ordinary issue and
6 or 7 in the service variety. This error also occurs once in
each sheet of the star watermarked stamps of the fourth issue.
It is, therefore, very rare in the 12 annas and 1 rupee values.

The " Serv ce" error can only have existed, if (as seems

likely), it occurred in the first printing, in the following

numbers, as it is found only once in the sheet : —

\ anna ... ... ... ... ... 42

1 anna ... ... ... ... ... 21

4 annas ,,. ... ... .,. 4

14

Chamba.

The " Chmaba" error occurred in the fourth printing
and its numbers cannot have exceeded the following : —

ORDINARY STAMPS.

\ anna ... ... ... ... 120 copies.

1 anna ... ... ••• ••• 40 „

2 annas ... ... ... ••• 14 ,,

3 annas ... ... ... 5 „

4 annas ... ... ••• ••• 14

8 annas ... ... ••• ••• ° >>

12 annas ... ... ••• ••• 3 »

1 rupee (grey) ... ... ... - »

SRRVICE STAMPS.

^ anna

1 anna

2 annas

3 annas

4 annas
8 annas

12 annas
1 rupee (grey)

200 copies.

80 „

17 „

11 *

17 „

5 „

3 „

5 „

The last " A" in Chamba is small in the 6 annas of
the fifth issue, and occurs once in every double pane of 160,
or twice in each sheet. Copies of this error, therefore, cannot
exceed 9 in number. It is not certain in which printing
this error occurred in other values, but it was probably
the first.

It may also be pointed out that the errors numbered
245, 250, 255, 277 and 282 must all be very rare, as only
two sheets of the Service two annas value were surcharged in
the fifth issue, to which they belong. The error (numbered
131), where the word "State" measures millimetres
must exist in other values besides the one anna, but I

Chamha.

15

have seen no others and cannot trace the printing to which
it belongs, though it was probably one of the first three.

I am in doubt as to whether the errors numbered 62 to
91 and 243 to 257 are real errors or only cases of broken
type. I incline to the former belief and have, therefore,
included them, but each collector must decide the question
for himself.

Three other varieties exist which have not been
included, as they are probably due to the use of damaged
type. One has one of the " Ts, " in " State " shaped some-
what like the Greek letter TJpsilon. The others have a curi-
ously shaped " 0 " in Chamba and "Service" respectively.

PLATE I.

16.

Photo-etching .

S\irveyof India Offices, Calcutta, Decembe

Reference List.

17

Black Horizontal surcharge C state^ Perf- *4-

(a) Ordinary Stamps.

1886. Watermarked Star.

anna green

1 ,. plum

2 annas blue
4 olive

1887. Same Watermark.

3 annas orange
8 mauve
1 rupee grey

1890. Watermakkkd Elephant's Head.
8 b' annas bistre

Watermarked Star.
g | 12 annas brown on red paper

18

Ghamba.

1895. Same Watermark.

10

H

annas

brown

11

H

yellow green

12

l

rupee

carmine and green

*3

2

rupees

yellow-brown and carmine

H

3

green and brown

15

5

violet and ultramarine

ERRORS.

1. STaTE. (fig. 1.) Watermarked Star.

16

1

2

anna

green

17

1

5)

plum

18

u

annas

brown

19

2

))

blue

20

2 i

5 5

yellow green

21

3

)»

orange

22

4

J J

olive

23

8

J)

mauve

24

12

J)

brown on red paper

25

1

rupee

grey

26

I

>»

carmine and green

Watermarked Elephant's Head.
27 I 6 annas bistre

Reference List.

19

2. CHaMBA. (figs. 2 and 3.) Watermarked Star.

28

|

anna

green

29

1

plum

30

annas

brown

31

2

j i

blue

32

2$

>J

yellow green

33

3

jj

orange

34

4

J j

olive

35

8

jj

mauve

36

12

JJ

brown on red

37

1

rupee

grey

38

1

jj

carmine and green

39

6

Watermarked Elephant's Head.
annas bistre

40

u

3. CHAMBa, (fig. 4.) Same Watermark
annas bistre

1

2

anna

Watermarked Star.
green

1

plum

43

2

annas

blue

44

4

j>

olive

4. STATE, (pig. 5.) Same Watermark.

45

anna

green

46

1

jj

plum

20

Ghamba.

47

! 2

annas

blue

48

3

annas

orange

49

4

>r

olive

Co

8

mauve

CI

D A

1

rupee

grey

Watermarked Elephant's Head.

52

6

annas

bistre

5. CHAMBA. (fig. 6.) Watermarked Star

S3

anna

green

54

1

plum

55

2

annas

blue

56

3

orange

57

4

j»

olive

8

mauve

50

12

>;

brown on red paper

60

1

rupee

grey

Watermarked Elephant's Head.

61

6

annas

bistre

6. STaTE. (fig. 7.) AVatermarked Star.

62

1

2

anna

green

63

1

plum

64

\\

annas

brown

Reference List.

■21

65

0

annas

blue

66

H

yellow green

67

3

j>

orange

68

4

jj

olive

69

8

}>

mauve

70

12

brown on red paper

71

1

rupee

carmine and green

7. STATE. ( fig. 8.) Sa

T-

anna

green

73

1

>>

plum

74

H

annas

brown

75

2

u

blue

76

?i

yellow green

77

3

orange

78

4

olive

79

8

3)

mauve

80 1 12

brown on red paper

81

1

rupee

carmine and green

Watermarked Elephant's Head.
8la 6 annas bistre

8. SJAJE. (fig. 9.) Watermarked Star.

82

i anna green

83 | 1 „ plum

(jhamha.

84

1|

annas

brown

85

2

j j

blue

86

2-1

?^

yellow green

87

3

orange

88

4

5.5

olive

89

8

> ?

mauve

90

12

J?

brown on red

91

1

rupee

carmine and £

9. CHMABA. (Fro. 10.) Same Watermark.

92

1

2

anna

green

93

1

plum

94

2

annas

blue

95

3

orange

96

4

olive

97

8

>)

mauve

98

12

55

brown on red paper

99

1

rupee

grey

10. CHAMBA ]S8TEAB op OHAMHA. (piQ . n#) Wateb .
marked. Elephant's Head.

ioo I 6 annas bistre

Reference List

Watermarked Star.

101

i

anna

green

102

1

»>

plum

103

2

annas

blue

104

3

orange

105

4

»

olive

106

8

mauve

107

12

J*

brown on red

108

1

rupee

grey

119

120

11. CH AM BA. (fig. 12.) Same Watermark.

109

1

2

anna

green

110

1

plum

111

li

A 2

annas

brown

112

2

blue

113

9i
-2

yellow green

114

3

>>

orange

115

4

»

olive

116

8

>>

mauve

117

12

>>

brown on red

U8

1 rupee

carmine and £

12. qHAMBA, (fig. 13.) Same Watermark.

^ anna green
1 „ plum

24

Chamba.

121

H

annas

brown

122

2

>»

blue

123

>»

yellow green

124

3

orange

125

4

>»

olive

126

8

mauve

127

1

rupee

carmine and green

128

2

rupees yellow-brown and carmine

129

3

j»

green and brown

130

5

violet and ultramarine

13. ST A TE. (fig. 14.) (Measuring 8£ millimetres.)
Same Watermark.

131 I 1 anna plum

14. Double Surcharge of "CHAMBA"
Same Watermark.

132 J 2 annas blue

26

Chamba.

(b.) Service Stamps.

With additional horizontal surcharge. SERVICE.

1886. Watermarked Star.

200

1
2

anna

green

201

J

>?

plum

202

4

4

annas

olive

1887.

Same Watermark.

203

2

annas

blue

204

8

mauve

1890.

Same Watermark.

205

3

annas

orange

206

12

brown on red paper

207

1

rupee

grey

Watermarked Elephant's Head.

208

1 6

annas

bistre

ERRORS.

209
210

1. STaTE. (fig. 1.) Watermarked Star.
^ anna green
1 „ plum

Reference List.

27

211

2

annas

blue

212

3

j>

orange

213

4

j>

olive

214

8

JJ

mauve

215

12

>>

brown on red paper

2l6

1

rupee

grey

Watermarked Elephant's Head,
217 j 6 annas bistre

2. CHaMBA. (figs. 2 and 3.) Watermarked Star.

218

l
2

anna

green

219

1

jj

plum

220

2

annas

blue

221

3

j >

orange

222

4

if

olive

223

8

jj

mauve

224

12

jj

brown on red paper

225

1

rupee

grey

3. CHAMBa. (pig. 4.) Same Watermark*

226

h

anna

green

227

1

jj

plum

228

4

annas

olive

28

Ghamba,

4, STATE, (fig. 5.) Same Watermark.

229

i

anna

green

230

i

X

if

plum

231

2

annas

blue

232

4

olive

233

8

»

mauve

5. CHAMBA- (fig. 6.) Same Watermark.

234

h

anna

green

235

1

n

plum

236

2

annas

blue

237

3

»>

orange

238

4

>5

olive

239

8

i)

mauve

240

12

>>

brown

241

1

rupee

grey

Watermarked Elephant's Head.
242 I 6 annas bistre

6. STaTE. (fig. 7.) Watermarked Star.

243

I

anna

green

244

1

plum

245

2

annas

blue

246

4

olive

247

8

mauve

Reference List.

29

7. STATE, (fig. 8.) Same Watermark.

248

1

anna

green

249

1

*>

plum

250

2

annas

blue

251

4

11

olive

252

8

>j

mauve

8, STATE, (fig. 9.) Same Watermark.

253

I

anna

green

254

1

plum

255

2

annas

blue

256

4

olive

257

8

»

mauve

9. CHMABA. (fig. 10.) Same Watermark.

258

i

anna

green

259

1

plum

260

2

annas

blue

261

3

orange

262

4

M

olive

263

8

mauve

264

12

»

brown

265

1

rupee

grey

30

Chamba.

°* STATE INSTEAD OF g TATE . (FIG. 11.) WATER-
MARKED Elephant's Head.

266

6

annas

bistre

Watermarked

267

\

anna

green

268

1

»

plum

269

2

annas

blue

270

3

orange

271

4

olive

272

8

mauve

273

12

brown on red

274

1

rupee

grey

11. CH MA BA. (fig. 12.)

275

\

anna

green

276

1

>>

plum

277

2

annas

blue

278

4

olive

279

8

mauve

12. qHAMBA. (fig. 13.)

280

1

anna

green

28l

1

»

plum

282

2

annas

blue

1 atermark.

Reference List.

31

83 4 annas olive

84 8 5J mauve

13, ISERVICE. (fig. 15.) Watermarked Elephant's Head.
J85 I 6 annas bistre

14. SERV CE, (fig. 16.) Watermarked Star.
#6 I anna green
J87 1 plum

188 I 4 annas olive

15. Double Surcharge.

189 I 1 anna plum

Chapter III.

FARIDKOT.

Ruling Chief — His Highness Raja Bikram Singh
Bahadur, Barar Bans, Farzand-i-Saadat, Nishan-
i-Hazarat-i-Kaisar-i-Hind.

Head of Post Offick — L. Harji Ram.

Area— 643 square miles.

Population — 115,040.

Average annual number of postage stamps of all
kinds issued per head of literate population — 35.

Date of commencement of convention — January

ARIDKOT is the smallest of the group of four Cis-

Sutlej Sikh States with which we have to deal. It
borders with the British District of Ferozpore in the Punjab.
Its population is mainly agricultural, its two largest towns
numbering only 16,000 inhabitants in all.

As in the case of Chamba, the first proofs of the stamps
were surcharged in red and were not approved. The sur-
charges are, therefore, all in black.

The dimensions of the surcharges are: —

"Faridkot" ... ... ... 12f X 2 millimetres.

"State" ... ... ... 7f x 2 ,,

Interval between " Faridkot " and " State "1 ,,
"Service" ... ... ... 10J X 2 „

1887.

34

Faridkot.

The surcharges are applied in exactly the same manner
as on the stamps of (Jhamba.

The total number of adhesive postage stamps issued for
Faridkot up to date is 873,400, as under: —

^ Anna Ordinary ... ... 115,310

1 ., „ ... ... ... 85,340

}y ,, Service ... ... ... 79,100

6 Annas Ordinary .. ... ... 70,780

2 „ „ ... ... ... 66,540

1 Anna Service ... ... .. GO, 100

3 Annas Ordinary ... ... ... 65,360

2 ,, Service ... ... . . 55,500

4 ,, Ordinary ... ... ... 55,020

8 „ „ ... ... 52,260

4 Service ... ... ... 52,140

8 , s „ ... .. ... 51,540

1 Rupee Ordinary (current type) ... ... 49,680

3 Annas Service ... ... ... 3,440

6 „ „ ... ... ... 2,380

1 Rupee Ordinary (grey) ... ,.. 1,560

1 ,, Service „ ... ... 1,320

Total ... 873,400

Here the i anna values are only about 22*5 per cent
of the total ; but the \, 1, 2, and 4 annas values taken
together constitute 77*75 per cent of the whole number.
The comparatively small proportion of the ^ anna value is
explained by the very large use of post cards and embossed
envelopes in this State.

It will be observed with pleasure that the 9 pies, 1J
annas, 2\ annas, 12 annas, as well as the 2 } 3, and 5 rupees
values have never been used in Faridkot, and that the
3 and 6 annas values in the Service series have been very
sparingly indented for.

Pdridkot.

The only obsolete stamp is the 1 rupee grey, ordinary,
but the same stamp surcharged for service purposes will
not be reprinted. They are both, as the above numbers
show, rare stamps.

From the year 1886 the native series of stamps in use in
this State ceased to be available for postage. The last issue
of these stamps appears to have been made in or about August
1886. This issue consisted probably of the i( re-engraved"
''one folus/' " half anna" and " one paisa" values. The
following letter dated 16th July 1886 from the Finance
Minister, Faridkot to the Superintendent of Mails, Simla, may
be of interest as fixing the dates of these Native issues : —

" What about the outcome of your negotiations with
" this State for establishing the English system of Post Office
6( throughout this territory, and printing and supplying letter
" etc. stamps in vogue? Our stock of the latter is almost
' ' spent ; we are thinking of printing a fresh batch. If your
" proposal be not carried out within a fortnight, I shall have
"to continue the old system till the end of this year, L e.
" till our printed stamps are wholly exhausted. "

The proofs of the surcharge were passed in June 1886,
and the first supply was made in the following month, but
the stamps did not come into use till January 1887, from
which month the convention took effect.

The following is a list of the various printings : —

(1). July 1886.

Ordinary.

Service.

| anua

1 a

2 annas

4,500
2,500
1,000
1,500
1,000
600
640
640

J anna

4,500
2,500
1,000
1,500
1,000
600
640
640

1 rupee (grey)

3 „
6 „

it ,, ..
4 „
6 „
8 „

1 rupee (grey)

36

Faridkot.

(2). February 1887.

Ordinary.

anna
annas

rupee 'grey)

5,000

i

2

1,000

1

500

2

500

Q

500

4

500

6

500

8

200

1

Service.

anna
2 annas

-3), February 1889.

Ordinary.

anna
annas

ruree (grey)

Ordinary.

9,600

i

2

6,000

t

6,000

2

4,800

3

1,440

4

1.920

6

960

8

480

1

Skrvigb.

A). June 1890.

3,600
4,800

Sfrvice.

1

(5) . December 1891.

Ordinary.
... 4,800 i 1 anna

(6) . September 1892.

Ordinary.
... 9,600 I Re. 1 (grey)

(7). August 1893.

Ordinary.

anna
annas

rupee (current type)

Service.

5,000
1 .000
500
500
500
500
500
200

4,800
3.840
2.400
1.440
960
1,280
720
480

4,800
4,800

2.400

24)

12,000

i

anna

... 6,000

2,400

1

.. 6,000

2,400

2

annas

... 2,400

1,920

4

480

1,200

8

>» ' f

480

1,600

960

240

Faridkot.

37

(8). February 1894.

Ordinary.

.V anna
annas

rupee (current type)

48,000
48,000
48,000
48,000
48,000
64,0C0
48,000
48,000

Service.

2 annas
4 „

48,000
48,000
48,000
48,000
48,000

(9). August 1894.

Ordinary.
1 rupee (current type) 240

(10). November 1895.

Ordinary.

\ anna

1 „

2 annas ...

3

4 „
6 „
8 „

1 rupee (current type)

12,000
12,000
6,000
6,000
2,880
2,160
1,200
720

Service.

2 annas
4 „

(11). August 1896.

Ordinary.

1 „

2 annas

6,240
6,240
2,640

3 annas

1 rupee (cuirent type)

6,000
6,000
1,200
1,200
1,200

2,640
720

The errors in the Faridkot stamps are fortunately but
few. 1 have been unable to make absolutely certain of the
issues to which these errors belong, but it seems nearly
cert iin that the curious ' FAR1DCT" error occurred in the
8th, printing. If this is so, as it occurred only once
in each sheet, there should be 200 copies of this error in
each value.

38

FaridkoL

The curious error where the. "TAT" of "STATE" is
only If millimetres high appears to be of the 6th issue. If
so, the stamp shown at fig. 3 is unique.

The " SERYIOE" error — in the six annas value must be
rare, whatever issue it belongs to, I have omitted a curiously
shaped "C" in "SERVICE/' as I believe it to be due to
broken type. The same remark holds good of the so-called
small " a" in " FARIDKOT."

PLATE H.

Photo-etching .

Survey of India Ofnces.Calculta.Decem'ber 1837

Reference List.

39

FHRIDKO&.

Black Horizontal surcharge FA state T P er f- J 4

(a) Ordinary Stamps.

1886. Watermarked Star.

1

\

anna

green

2

1

plum

3

2

annas

blue

4

3

orange

5

4

olive

6

8

mauve

7

1

rupee

grey

Watermarked Elephant's Head.

8 | 6 annas bistre

1893. Watermarked Star.

9 | 1 rupee carmine and green

40

Faridkoi.

ERRORS.

STaTE. (pig 1.) Watermarked Star.

12

anna

green

13

1

plum

14

2

annas

blue

*5

3

}>

orange

16

4

3'

olive

8

) J

mauve

18

1

rupee

grey

19

1

carmine

2. FARIDKCT.

20

i

anna

green

21

1

plum

22

2

annas

blue

23

3

53

orange

24

4

olive

25

8

mauve

20

1

rupee

carmine i

3. STATE ( TAT ONLY If MILLIMETRES HIGH) (FIG. 3.)

Same Watermark.

^ anna green
1 rupee grey

Reference List.

41

4. FARI^OT. (fig. 4.) Same Watermark.

29

\

anna

green

30

1

plum

31

2

annas

blue

33

3

>>

orange

33

4

olive

34

8

mauve

35

1

rupee grey

42

Faridkot.

(b) Service Stamps.

With additional black horizontal surcharge SERVICE.

1886. Watermarked Star.

50

i

anna

green

51

1

»

plum

52

2

annas

blue

53

3

>>

orange

54

4

olive

55

8

mauve

56

1

rupee

grey

Watermarked Elephant's Head.
57 | 6 annas bistre

ERRORS.

1. STaTE. (fig. 1.) Watermraebd Star.

6o

I

anna

green

6i

1

99

plum

62

2

annas

blue

63

3

99

orange

Reference List.

43

64 4 annas olive

65 8 „ mauve

66 rupee grey

2. FARIDKCT. (fig. 2.) Same Watermark.
■J anna green

1 „ plum

2 annas blue
4 „ olive
8 „ mauve

3. FARI DK OT, (fig. 4.) Same Watermark.
\ anna green

1 „ plum

2 annas blue

3 „ orange

4 „ olive
8 „ mauve
1 rupee grey

4. SERV CE. (fig, 5.) Same Watermark.

79

*

anna

green

80

1

plum

81

2

annas

blue

82

4

olive

83

8

J*

mauve

67
68

69
70

71

72
73
74
75
76
77
78

44

Fqridkot.

5. SERVIC . (fig. 6.) Watermarked Elephant's Head.
84 I 6 annas bistre

6. SERVICE (fig. 7.) Watermarked Star.

85

h

anna

green

86

1

plum

87

2

annas

blue

88

3

H

orange

89

4

?J

olive

90

8

)J

mauve

91

1

rupee

grey

Chapter IV,

GWALIO R.

Ruling Chief — His Highness Mukhtar-ul-Mulk, Azim-

ul-Iktidar Rafi-us-shan Wala Shikoh,
Mohtashami-Dauran, Umdat-ul-Uruara,
M ah a raj - Dhir aj , Alijah, Hissam-us-
Sultanat, Maharaja Madho Rao Sindia,
Bahadur, Srinath, Mausur-i-Zaman,
Fidwi- i - Hasarat-i - Malika - i - Muazama,
Rafi-ud-darja-i-Inglistan.

Head of the Post Office — Pandit Shiva Charan.
Area — 25,846 square miles.
Population— 3,513,703.

Average annual number of postage stamps of all

KINDS ISSUED PER HEAD OF LITERATE

population — As service articles have, up
till quite recently, travelled free in G walior,
it is useless to work out these figures.

Date of commencement of convention — 1st July 1885,

WALIOR is the largest of the Central India Native

States. It consists of two main portions, Gwalior
proper and Malwa, but portions of State are scattered all
about Central India. Gwalior is the fortunate possessor of
an unusually efficient postal system with its head-quarters at
the capital city of Lashkar, managed by Pundit Shiva
Charan, Postmaster-General of the State, on the same prin-
ciples as the Imperial British Indian Post Office.

46

Gwcdior.

The Durbar maintains 117 Post Offices ,and several
hundred miles of postal lines. The number of postal articles
dealt with by the State Post Office during 1896-97 was nearly
nine millions.

The City of Lashkar and the neighbouring cantonment
of Morar contain nearly 130,000 inhabitants, and Ujjain
nearly 35,000.

In dealing with the stamps of this State, the first thing
that strikes one is the fact that the surcharge is quite differ-
ent from that of any other of the u convention" States.
Instead of a surcharge " Grwalior State," Scindia's Govern-
ment has always preferred the one word " Gwalior" in
English and in Hindi. It introduced service stamps in 1895
only, and, remembering that most of the officials who would
use these stamps would be ignorant of English, it asked for
a purely Hindi surcharge.

The other point which differentiates it from the two
States which we have hitherto considered is that there are
four distinct varieties of surcharge in the ordinary stamps
and that three of them are obsolete. We have therefore the
advantage of finality in these issues.

These varieties are characterised as follows: — 9.2 \

First Variety. — The surcharge in Hindi is at the top
of the stamp, and that in English at the bottom, both in
black. This variety occurs with the Hindi surcharge printed
in two sizes, in one of them the vernacular letters being from
a smaller fount (fig. 1.) and both siz^s occurring in the same
sheet in the proportion of about one of the former to three
of the latter. The measurements of the surcharges are : —

Gwalior .. ... ... 14 x 2 millimetres.

"Short " Hindi ... .. 13J— 14x2 „

"Long "Hindi .. ... 15— 15±x2J „

r I he interval between the surcharges on the * Star'' water-
marked stamps of this issue varies from 16 to 17 millimetres,

"YPES OF VERNACULAR SURCHARGE .

Gwalior.

47

while in those watermarked with the " Elephants Head"
(ie., 4 and 6 annas , it measures 15 millimetres. I have
also seen the \ and 1 anna with an interval of only
13 millimetres hetween the lines. These are, however, to
the best of my belief, reprints, of which about 300 were
made in each of these two values. All these reprints are
further heavily surcharged with the word " SPECIMEN"
between the lines.

Second Variety. --This variety bears a red surcharge,
the English printed over the Hindi, and both being at the
bottom of the stamp. This variety is also found with the
"long" and "short" Hindi surcharge on each sheet in about
the same proportions as above. *

Third Variety. — The same in black (Plate 3). The
measurements in stamps belonging to the second and third
varieties are as above, except that the interval between the
English and Hindi surcharges measures only 2 millimetres

Fourth Variety. — This consists of the current ordinary
stamps with black surcharge ; the Hindi overprint invariably
measuring 15 — 15J x millimetres, and the interval being
the same as in the two last mentioned varieties.

The first three varieties are obsolete. It is an in-
teresting and very difficult task to endeavour 10 collect all
the values of each of them in pairs showing the long and
short vernacular surcharges.

Of the fourth variety the grey rupee and the annas
stamps are obsolete.

Service stamps — The measurements of the vernacular)
surcharges on the service stamps are : —

"Sarvis" .. ... . 11 X 2^ millimetres.

"Gwalior" ... ... 14X2

"Interval between surcharge ... 10 ,

48

Givalior.

The postal convention between the Government of India
and H. II Maharaja Scindia was signed on 28th April 1885,
but did not come into force until 1st July of that year.

In April 1884 the first request was made by Scindia's
Durbar for the pieparation of overprinted postage stamps.
It was asked that in addition to the word " Gwalior," they
should bear the arms of the State, viz., the Sun and two
Serpents. Proofs were printed in compliance with this respect,
but the impression of the arms had perforce to be so small
that His Highness decided in September 1884 to have the
name of the State printed in bold letters in English and
Hindi, and to omit the arms, except in the case of post-cards
and embossed envelopes.

The following is a list of the various printings : —

(1) May 1885.

h anna ... ... ... ... 24,000

1 ... ... ... ... 6,500

2 annas ... ... ... ... 12,500

(2; June 1885.

i anna . ... ... ... 74,100

l| annas ... ... ... ... 2,420

3 „ ... • ... ... ... 2,100

4 . . ... ... ... 1,940

6 ,; ... ... ... 1,780

8 „ ... ... ... ... 1,780

1 rupee (grey) , ... ... 1,780

These are all of the rave first variety.

(3) September 1885.

I anna ... ... 292,800 Red surcharge.

1 5J ... ... 6,720 Black

H annas ... ... 5,760 ,,

2 „ ... .. 7,680 Red

3 „ ... ... 4,800 Black

, 4 .. ... 4,320 Red

6 .. ... 3,840 Black surcharge.

8 „ .... ... 3,840

1 rupee (grey) ... 3,840 Red ,,

Gwalior.

49

(4) December 1885.

1 anoa

2 annas

25,000 Slack surcharge.
10,000

After this date, all surcharges were in Mack.

(h) June 1886.

1 anna

1 anna

(6) July 1886.
(7) October 1888.

(8) June 1889.

H annas

3 „
4

J anna

(9) December. 1889.

2 annas

3 „

1 rupee (grey)

(10) June 1890.

(11) July 1890.

\ anna
1 „
]J annas

1^ annas

(12) January 1891.

5,040
4,500

24,000
12,000
6,000

36,000
4,800
3,600
4,800
720
960

24,500
10,100
4,800
4,800
500

4,800

91,200
48,000
2,400
48,000
6,000
6,000

9,600

50

G trali or.

(13) April 1891.

I anua
9 pies
1 anna
1 annas

.. 24,000
.. 1,700
24,000
978

Front this date all stamps bear the long
vernacular surcharge only

(II) . November 1&91.

1 v, annas

4
12

0 annas

(15) December 1891.
(16.) July 189£.

\ anna * •
8 annas
] rupee (grey)

f anna
2 annas

3

jf anna

2 annas
3

(17) April 1893.

(18) April 1894.

48,000
48,000
12.000
24,000
12,000
24,500
6,500

8,500

96,000
24,000
24,000

96,000
24,000
24,000

168,000
24,000
24,000
24,000

The first supply of Service Stamps was made
in April 1895.

(19) April 1895.
(Service Stamps.)

\ anna

2 annas
4

... 96,000

... 48,000

... 12,000

... 6,000

... 6,000

Qwatiov,

51

| anna
anxicsS

(20) August 1895.
(Service Stamps.)

... 192,000

... 96,000

... 48 000

... 6,000

f anna
12 annas

1 anna

•fcl) September 1895.

Ordinary Stamps, i
(28) March 1890.

(Service Stamps.)

(23) May 1896.

24,000
6,000

48,000

Ordinary.

Service.

1

anna

144,240

i

anna

384,480

21

annas

6,240

1

>»

. 192,480

1

rupee

(current type)

6,240

2

annas

. 24,480

2

rupees

2,496

4

l»

. 12,480

2,496

8

. 6,480

5

> j

1,248

1

rupee

. 2,880

\ anna

(24) September 189(1
(Ordinary Stamps.)

(25) August 1897.
(Service Stamps.)

2 annas
8 h

1 rupee (current type)

24,240
48,240
24,240
6,240

384,000
192,000
(5,000
6,000
6,000
2,400

:>->

Gwatlor.

(26) September 1897.
(Ordinary Stamps.)

J anna ... .. ... 96,000

1 „ ... . ... ... 24.000

H annas .. ... ... ... 12,000

2 ... ... ... .. 24,000

3 " ... - ... ... 24,000

4 " ... ... - - 6,000

6 ,! ... .. ... ... 5,760

8 ... ... - 6,000

12 ,', ... ... ... 6.000

1 rupee (current type) . ... ... 6,000

The following is a list of the numbers of each value
issued in each variety : —

Ftrst Variety.

\ anna

2 annas
1 anna
fcj annas

3 „

4 „
6 „
8 „

1 rupee (gr^y)

... 98,100
... 12,500
6,500
... 2,420
.. 2,100
1,940
... 1,780
... 1,780
... 1,780

Total ... 128,900

All the values of this variety with the long sur-
charge are of great rarity, except perhaps in the case
of the J anna value.

Second Variety.

\ anna ... ... •» 292,800

2 annas ... .. — — 7,680

4 „ ... ... — 4,320

1 rupee (grey) ... •• ••• 3,840

Total 308,640
The \ anna value of this variety is common in both
sizes of surcharge. The other values with the long surcharge
are rare.

Gwalior.

53

Third Variety.

| anna .. ••• ... ... 180,500

1 „ ... ... ... ... 147,660

2 annas ... ... •• ... 84,100

3 „ ... ... ... . 22,320

U ,, ... ... ... ... 21,360

4~ „ ... ... ... 6,960

6 „ .. ... ... ... 3,840

8 „ ... ... ... — 3,840

9 pies ... ... ... ... 1,700

12 annas ... ... ... ... 978

1 rupee grey) ... ... ... 500

Total ... 473,758

It will probably be a surprise to most collectors that the
Ci short" black surcharge varieties of the 6, 8 and 12 annas
values have always been so rare, and to learn of the existence
of the grey rupee value in this issue. I have a pair (fig 2),
which shows the two sizes of surcharge, in my own collec-
tion. All these values except that of 9 pies have since
appeared in the " long" surcharge and are fairly common
with this surcharge.

The rarest stamps in Gwalior are, in order of rarity : —

(1) 1 rupee (grey) "short" black surcharge (third variety).

(2) 9 pies "long" ,, ,, ,,

(3) 6 annas ,, ,, ,, (tirst variety).
( 8 annas ,, ,, ,,

ml

[ 1 rupee (grey) „ ,, ., ,,

(5) 4 annas ,, ,, ,, ,,

(6) 3 ,5 ft a

(7) i| „

(8; 12 „ "short" ,, ., (third variety).

(9) 1 rupee ( grey) "long" red ,, i second variety)

Of the first five, less than 500 ever existed, and of the
others less than 1,000. Other really rare stamps are the 4 annas
"long" red surcharge (second variety), 9 pies "short" black
surcharge (third variety), 1 anna "long" black surcharge
(first variety), and 2 annas "long" red surcharge (second
variety). The "pairs" of these stamps, showing the two
types of surcharge are all extremely scarce.

54

Gwalior,

The "elephant's heacP watermarked paper has one-fourth
of the stamps with the " long 33 surcharge, and the "star"
watermarked paper a little more (74 out of 240).

Fourth Variety,

I anna ... ... ... ... 696,480

f „ .. ... ... 144.240

2 annas .. . ... ... 120,240

3 „ ... ... ... ... 84,000

4 „ ... .. ... ... 36,740

8 . ... ... ... 30,000

* .1 rupee (grey) .., ... ... 24,000

U annas .. ... .. 24,000

12 „ ... ... .. ... 18,500

6 „ ... ... ... 14,260

1 rupee (current type) . .. .. 12,240

♦ 2J anna- .. *' ... .. ... 6,240

2 rupees ... ... ... ... 2,496

3 „ ... ... ... 2,496.

5 „ ... ... ... ... 1,248

Total ...1,217,180

Of these, only the two values marked with an asterisk
are obsolete.

Service Stamps.

1 anna ... .. ... ••• 1,056,480

1 ,, ... .. ... ... 528,480

2 annas .. .. .. ... 90,480

4 „ ••• ... ... ... 30,480

8 „ ... ... - . . 18.480

1 rupee (current type) ... •-• 5,280

Total ... 1,729,680

The total issues of Gwalior up to date number 3,858,1 58.
Of this total, the " Service " issues form nearly half, though
they have been in existence for ten years less than the others.
Of the various values, that of \ anna accounts for over 60
per cent of the total ; and the \, 1 and 2 annas together for
almost exactly 90 per cent. With these facts before one it is
difficult to see how this State can be accused of merely eater-
ring to dealers and collectors. The truth is that the facts

Gwaliov.

55

have not hitherto been known. If further proof of this were
required^ it is to be found in the catalogues of the leading
dealers who price these stamps without the least regard to their
comparative rarity.

Of the errors in this State, the most interesting are the
" GWALICR " and " wtfm " mis-spellings, and that in which
" GWALIOR" measures 15 instead of 14 millimetres.

The first occurs in the smaller sized stamps of the 23rd
printing, and the following was the entire number, printed
as it occurs only once in each sheet : —

J anna ... ... ... 601 copies.

2| annas ... .. ... 26

1 rupee (current type) ... ... 26 ,,

The second, which is caused by the two last letters
being printed in wrong order, occurs once in each sheet in the
same printing. Its numbers are therefore : —

J anna ... ... ... 1,602 copies.

1 „ ... ... ... 802

2 annas ... ... ••• 102 ,,

4 „ .. .. ... 52 „

8 „ ... ... ... 27 ,-,

1 rupee (current type) .. .. 12 ,,

As to the third, it occurs in either the 17th or 18th
printing. If the error is found in the 1 anna value, it will be
possible to fix it as belonging to the latter printing. It occurred
once in each sheet. If it is the product of the 17th printing,
there are 400 copies in the J anna value, if in the 18th 700
copies. There are 100 copies each of the 2 and 3 annas value ;
and if it occurred in the 18th printing, there are also 100 in
the 1 anna value.

I have hesitated to include the ^Tf *r variety, as it is
really caused by the dropping out of a letter, but have .done
so on the advice of various members of the Society.

The error with the small " A " in Gwalior is not common
except in the lower value stamps. The other errors are caused

56

Gtvaliov.

by abnormal intervals between the lines of surcharge and by
faulty alignment of the letters. The latter are so numerous
and varied that I have not thought it worth while to list them.
Two varieties are shown on Plate 3 and another in fig. 5
of Plate 4.

Major Maxwell has shown me a used 3 anna stamp in which
apparently the Hindi % (or W) in Gwalior is printed z (or T).
The shape of the letter does not lend itself to the supposition
that the type has been broken. I have, however, failed to
find the variety in any of the sheets which I have examined,
and prefer to look upon it as a doubtful " error " till I have
more information. It is probably of the 17th or 18th issue,
in which case it should occur in the § and 2 annas value as
well, and possibly also in the one anna.

Reference List.

GWHIiIOR,

/. Black horizontal surcharge Perf. 14.

GWALIOR

1. Hindi Surcharge Measuring 13i - 14 x 2
Millimetres.

(a) Interval between Hindi and English sur-
charges 16-17 millimetres.

May i 1885. — Watermarked Star.
J anna green

1 „ plum

2 annas blue

June, 1885. — Same Watermark.
1^ annas brown

3 9> orange

8 „ mauve

1 rupee grey

(b) Interval between Hindi and English surcharges
15 millimetres.

June, 1885. — Watermarked Elephant's Head.
4 annas green

6 „ bistre

No errors knoivn in this issue

58

Gu alio)\

2. Hindi surcharge measuring 15 - 15£ x 2|
millimetres.

(a) Interval between Hindi and English surcharges
16-17 millimetres.

May, 1885. — Watermarked Star,

10

n
12

anna green

1 9 , plum

2 annas blue

14
15
16

]l annas brown

June, 1885. — Same Watermark,

3 , ? orange
mauve

1 rupee grey

(b) Interval between Hindi and English surcharges
15 millimetres.

17
18

June, 1885. — Watermarked Elephant's Head.
4 annas green
6 bistre

No errors known in this issue.

Reference List.

59

//. Red horizontal surcharge ^^^^^

1. Hindi surcharge measuring 13£ - 14 x 2
millimetres.

September, 1885. — Watermarked Star.

19 ^ anna green

20
21

2 annas blue
1 rupee grey

Watermarked Elephant's Head.
22 I 4 annas green

2 Hindi surcharge measuring 15 - 15^ x 2|
millimetres.

September, 1885.— Watermarked Star.

23 ^ anna green

24 2 annas blue

25 1 rupee grey

Watermarked Elephant's Head.

26 I 4 annas green

ISlo errors known in this issue.

60

Gun I t o r .

III. Black horizontal surcharge similar to II.

L Hindi surcharge measuring 13! - 14 * 2
millimetres.

27

28

29
30

September, 1885. Watermarked Star.
1 anna plum
1^ annas brown

3 „ orange
8 „ mauve

Watermarked Elephant's Head.

31 | 6 annas bistre

December, 1885. Watermarked Star.

32 | 2 annas blue

1889. Same Watermark.

33 ^ anna green

34 4 annas olive

1893, Same Watermark.

35 | 1 rupee grey

1891. Same Watermark.

36

37

9 pies carmine

12 annas brown on red paper

Reference List.

61

ERRORS.

i. GWaLIOR. (fig. 3.) Watermarked Star.

38

1

2

anna

green

39

9

pies

carmine

40

1

anna

plum

41

annas

brown

42

2

blue

43

3

orange

44

4

>>

olive

45

8

mauve

46

12

>»

brown on red paper

47

1

rupee

grey

Watermarked Elephant's Head,

48 I 6 annas bistree

2. INTERVAL BETWEEN ENGLISH AND HINDI SUR-
CHARGE 2\ MILLIMETRES INSTEAD OF
2 MILLIMETRES. ( Jig. 4- )

Watermarked Star.

49 £ anna green

50 9 pies carmine

51 1 anna plum

62

Qicalior.

53

annas

brown

53

2

blue

54

Q
D

oidiige

55

4

olive

56

8

}>

mauve

57

12

brown on red paper

58

1

rupee

grey

Watermarked Elephant's Head.
59 | 6 annas bistre

Reference List.

2- Hindi surcharge measuring 1 15 - 15£ * %
millimetres.

60
61
62
63

September, 1885. Watermarked Star.
1 anna plum
1£ annas brown
3 „ orange
8 mauve

Watermarked Elephant's Head.

64 I 6 annas bistre

December, 1885. Watermarked Star,

65 J 2 annas blue

1889. Same Watermark.

66 anna green

67 4 annas olive

1890. Same Watermark,

68 I 1 rupee grey

1891. Same Watermark,

69

70

9 pies carmine

12 annas brown on red paper

Qwalior,

1896. Same Watermark.

71

24

annas

yellow green

72

1

rupee

carmine and green

73

.)

rupees

yellow-brown and carmine

74

3

green and brown

75

5

violet and ultramarine

ERRORS.

1.- GWaLIOK. (ho. 3.) Watermarked Star.

76

2

anna

green

77

1

»

plum

78

1|

annas

brown

79

2

>>

blue

80

01
^2

yellow green

81

3

orange

82

4

olive

83

8

man ve

84

12

>?

brown on red paper

85

1

rupee

grey

86

1

carmine and green

Reference List.

2 GWALICR (fig 6.) Same Watermark.

87 -k anna green

88 2-1 annas yellow green

89 1 rupee carmine and green

3. INTER VAL BETWEEN ENGLISH AND HINDI SUR-
CHARGES MEASURING 2J—3 MILLIMETRES
INSTEAD OF 2 MILLIMETRES, (fig. 4(4).)

Same Watermark.

90

1

anna

green

91

9

pies

carmine

92

1

anna

plum

93

if

annas

brown

94

2

;)

blue

95

n

>J

yellow green

96

3

)j

orange

97

4

5 ?

olive

98

8

3 ?

mauve

99

12

brown on red paper

100

1

rupee

grey

101

1

?5

carmine and green

Grwalior.

4. INTERVAL BETWEEN HINDI AND ENGLISH SUR-
CHARGES MEASURING i\ MILLIMETRES INSTEAD
OF 2 MILLIMETRES, {fig, 5.)

Same Watermark.

102

1

2

anna

green

103

1

plum

104

H

annas

brown

105

2

»j

blue

106

3

fi

orange

107

4

jj

olive

108

8

ty

mauve

T09

12

brown on red paper

110

1

rupee

grey

5. GWALI OR (Measuring 15 Millimetres)
Same Watermark.

111 £ anna green

1 ,, plum

2 annas blue

3 3 , orange

Reference List.

67

IV. Black horizontal surcharge
for "Service" purposes.

1895. AVatermarked Star.

150

A

g

anna

green

151

1

plum

152

O

annas

blue

153

4

»

olive

154

8

>>

mauve

1896, Samk AVatermark,
155 I 1 rupee carmine and green

ERRORS.

1. *r*f *r (fig. 7.) Watermarked Star.

156

i

anna

green

157

1

>j

plum

158

2

annas

blue

159

4

55

olive

160

8

» a

mauve

68

Gtvalior,

'2. *r*fa* (fig. 8.) Same Watermark.

161 -J- anna green

162 1 „ plum

163
164

165
166

2 annas blue

4 „ olive

8 „ mauve

1 rupee carmine and green

HPPGRDIX.

OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS.

Official Documents,

71

POSTAL NOTICE.

Correspondence, Money orders, 8fc. t exchanged ivith
the Chamba State.

1. A Postal Convention, to come into force from J anuary
1887, having been concluded with the Chamba State, cor-
respond once of all kinds (including insured and value-pay-
able articles), parcels and money orders may be exchanged
from that date between Imperial Post Offices in British
India and Post Offices in that State.

2. The inland rates of postage and conditions relating
to registered, insured and value- payable articles will apply
to articles posted in British India for transmission to the
Chamba State and vice versa. The prepayment of parcel
postage is, however, compulsory in both directions.

3. Money Orders may be exchanged under the inland
money order rates and conditions.

Calcutta.
The 5th January 1887

P. SHERIDAN.

Offg. Dy. Director General of the Post Office of India.

Official Documents.

73

POSTAL NOTICE.

Correspondence, Money Orders, fyc., exchanged
with the Faridkot State.

A Postal Convention, to come into force from January 1887,
having been concluded with the Faridkot State, correspondence
of all kinds (including insured and value-payable articles)
parcels and money orders may be exchanged from that date
between Imperial Post Offices in British India and Post Offices
in that State,

2. The inland rates of postage and conditions relating to
registered, insured, and value-payable articles will apply to
articles posted in British India for transmission to the Faridkot
State and vice-versa. The prepayment of parcel postage is,
however, compulsory in both directions.

3. Money orders may be exchanged under the inland
money order rates and conditions.

P. SHERIDAN.

Offg. Dy. Director General of
the Post Ofice of India.

Official Documents.

75

POSTAL NOTICE.

Correspondence, 'Money Orders, fye.. exchanged
with the Gwalior State.

A Postal Convention, to come into force from 1st July
1885, having been concluded with the Gwalior State, correspond-
ence of all kinds (including insured and value payable article
parcels and money orders and India postal notes may be
exchanged from that date between Imperial Post Offices in
British India and Post Offices in that State.

2. The inland rates of postage and conditions "relating to
registered, insured, and value-payable articles will apply to
articles posted in British India for transmission to the Gwalior
State and vice versd. The prepayment of parcel postage is
however, compulsory in both directions.

3. Money orders may be exchanged under the inland
money order rates and conditions.

4. India postal notes sold by Gwalior State Post Offices
will be payable in British India, and notes sold by Imperial Post
Offices will be payable in the Gwalior State, under the inland
rates and conditions.

H. E. M. JAMES.

Offy. Director-General of
the Post Office of India.