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INDIAN STATES, CHARKHARI

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1894 Inscription "CHARKARI STATE P.O. B.C. INDIA POSTAGE STAMP"


(Certified genuine)

  1/4 a violet
  1/2 a violet
  1 a blue or green
  2 a blue or green
  4 a green

The first print had "ANNAS" for the 1 a, 2 a and 4 a stamps, in later prints the 'S' was removed. The genuine stamps should have dots behind "P" and "O" in the upper corners and behind "B" and "C" of "B.C. INDIA". Also, there is often a weakness in the frame above the "P." in the left upper corner.

Value of the stamps

 
vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
 
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
1/4 a ** **  
1/2 a ** ***  
1 a *** ***  
2 a *** ***  
4 a *** ***  

I've seen an envelope with a 1/2 anna in the same design.

Cancels:


with cancel (cancelled to order on remainders)

Genuine cancels are circles, for example "CHARKARI STATE" written in a circular fashion, with "H.P.O." and date in the center. The cancel "29 MAR 1942" appears on forgeries (see there).


Not sure what to think about this cancel "CHARKAR BC INDIA JY 97", genuine?


Forged "CHARKAR 21 JY 97 PM B.C.INDIA" cancel made by the forger Fournier. Is this the same cancel as shown above?

Forgeries exist, example:

The genuine stamps should have dots behind "P" and "O" in the upper corners and behind "B" and "C" of "B.C. INDIA".


I believe these to be modern forgeries discussed on http://www.princelystates.com/CurrentIssue/ff-04-01b.shtml (around 1980's), with the top frame slanting downwards (almost touching the "P"). There is no stop behind "O" and usually none after "P". The "S" of "POSTAGE" is very peculiar (too narrow and too tall). The sword is too short. The 1/4 a has most of its value missing. The lettering appears smaller. They also exist in the wrong colors. These forgeries are very common. See also: Indian States, modern forgeries.


More 'modern' forgeries of the same set as shown above.

Another forgery:


These forgeries have a "C" instead of a "G" in "POSTAGE STAMP". Also note the strange "S" in "STATE".

The next stamps are also forgeries:



Forgeries with cancel "29 MAR 1942" (long after the date of validity!). The 1/2 a appears to be the same forgery as shown above. The 1 a is supposed to be in green color.


Forgery with much taller letters and bigger sword (especially the handle, which almost touches the "O." of "P.O.".). The shading on the dagger is slanting.

 

1909 Arms, perforated or imperforate


1 pice with error "P" in "CHARKAPI" instead of "CHARKARI" (appearing once on the sheet)


I've been told that this "CHARKARI STATE P.O." crossed sword cancel was applied to remainders or reprints. 

Perforated (1909), right hand sword crosses the left one

Image obtained from a Feldman auction 

  1 p brown
  1 p blue
  1/2 a red
  1 a green
  2 a blue
  4 a green
  8 a red
  1 R brown

Imperforate (1919), left hand sword crosses the right one

Genuine? Image obtained from a Feldman auction 1 a black Image obtained from a Feldman auction Image obtained from a Feldman auction 

  1 p black
  1 p violet
  1 p blue
  1/2 a olive
  1 a green
  2 a blue
  4 a red

Value of the stamps

 
vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
 
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
Perforated 11
1 p brown R R  
1 p blue * *  
1/2 a red * *  
1 a * *  
2 a * *  
4 a ** **  
8 a *** ***  
1 R *** ***  
Imperforate
1 p black RR RR  
1 p violet *** ** Official stamp?
1 p blue c c  
1/2 a c c  
1 a * *  
2 a * *   
Surcharged (1940)

Image obtained from a Feldman auction Image obtained from a Feldman auction

  1/2 a on 8 a red
  1 a on 1 R brown
  '1 ANNA' on 1 R brown (RRR)


Forgery, the "B" of "BUNDELKHAND" is different. Also the frameline is thicker than in a genuine stamp.

I have seen whole sheets of these forgeries, some imperforate, other perforated. Also sheets with forged cancels "CHARKARI STATE 29 MAR 1912". See http://www.princelystates.com/CurrentIssue/ff-04-01a.shtml for more information concerning these forgeries. Sometimes they are offered as reprints on Internet auctions.


Forgery with the same "CHARKARI STATE 29 MAR 1942" cancel as in the 1894 issue forgeries. In my opinion, the "1/2" is different, the "I" of "CHARKARI" is slanting backwards.


Other forgeries with the same "CHARKARI STATE 29 MAR 1942" cancel

Not sure if this stamp is genuine
Forgery on the right with the same "CHARKARI STATE 29 MAR 1942" cancel. I'm not sure if the one on the left is also a forgery but both stamps have inscription "BHNDEI KHAND"


Another set of 'reprints' with the '1942' cancel.

 

1926 Large sized stamp with arms

Genuine 

  1 a violet

Value of the stamps

 
vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
 
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
1 a ** **  

I've seen a forgery with the "G" of "POSTAGE" inverted (looks more like an "S").


Forgery with cancel "29 MAR 1942" and "G" looking like an "S". It also exists uncancelled. The "O" of "ONE" is too close to the frame below it.

 

1931 Various local buildings and views

  1/2 a green (The Lake)
  1 a brown (Imlia Palace)
  2 a violet (Industrial School)
  4 a green (Bird's eye view of city)
  8 a lilac (Fort)
  1 R green and red (Gueat House)
  2 R red and brown (Palace Gate)
  3 R brown and green (Rainpur Temple)
  5 R blue and lilac (Goverdhan Temple)

Most of these stamps are cancelled to order. Many (deliberate?) printing errors exist.

 

Copyright by Evert Klaseboer