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INDIA MISCELLANEOUS

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Postage stamps overprinted with "POSTAL SERVICE" are fiscal stamps. According to "Stamps of India" by J.Cooper, the indicated the amount of customs duty to be collected on foreign parcels. Examples:

The following values exist with overprint "POSTAL SERVICE";
on Queen Victoria stamps (1895): 1/2 a green, 'ONE ANNA' on 9 p lilac, 'ONE ANNA' on 9 p red, 1 a brown, 2 a blue, 2 a violet, 4 a olive, 8 a lilac, 1 R red and green, 2 R brown and red, 3 R green and brown, 5 R violet and blue;
on King Edward VII stamps (1904): 1/2 a green, 1 a red, 2 a violet, 4 a olive, 8 a violet, 1 R red and green.
I have seen other postage stamps of Queen Victoria with several overprints. I have seen 'Estate.'and 'High Court'. Also I have seen overprints with 'Municipal' or a large 'M' in a circle (used for the same municipal purposes as well). The overprints 'TIMES OF INDIA.' and 'Bombay Gazette' were apparently made for newspaper purposes.

"Bombay Gazette" overprint.

Stamp of India used in Aden:

Postcards, envelopes etc.

Examples:

(Reduced sizes)

'ONE ANNA' on 1 1/2 a blue cut

Cut from envelope with image of King George VI

Telegraph stamps

1861 Horizontal stamp with Queen Victoria, inscription "ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH"

  4 a violet
  1 R violet
  4 R violet

These stamps are rare. They also exist with overprint "COURT FEE".

1865 Vertical stamps with Queen Victoria below and on top

Examples (used stamps are always cut into two halves):

  1 a green
  2 a red
  4 a blue
  8 a brown
  1 R grey
  2 R 8 a orange
  5 R brown
  10 R green
  14 R 4 a violet
  25 R violet
  28 R 8 a green
  50 R red

These stamps exists with overprint "CEYLON." to be used in Ceylon.

1891 Vertical stamps with text or value on top and Queen Victoria below

(reduced sizes)

  1 a green
  2 a red
  4 a blue
  8 a brown
  1 R grey
  2 R yellow (1900, different portrait of the Queen)
  2 R 8 a orange
  5 R brown
  10 R green
  25 R violet
  50 R red

Surcharged
  '2 RUPEES' on 2 R 8 a orange (1899)

1904 Vertical stamps, with King Edward below and value on top

(Reduced size)

  1 a green
  2 a red
  4 a blue
  8 a brown
  1 R grey
  2 R orange
  5 R brown
  10 R green
  25 R violet
  50 R red

Surcharged
  '2 TWO' on 8 a brown
  'FOUR ANNAS' on 1 R grey

The values 2 R, 5 R, 10 R, 25 R and 50 R seem to exist with a 'OHMS' overprint (official stamps), but I have never seen them.

Some fiscal stamps (1 a, 2 a and 4 a) were also overprinted with "TELEGRAPH." in 1881 and 1904.

4 a Special Adhesive stamp with "TELEGRAPH." overprint.

Here another "TELEGRAPH" overprint with accents on the "E"s: forgery? I've also seen the 2 a with the same overprint.

"TELEGRAPH 1 ANNA" on 4 R, here with "SPECIMEN" overprint.

Forged "TELEGRAPH" overprint made by the forger Francois Fournier (reduced size).

Labels

Lady Mintos fete, Calcutta January 1907, cinderella issued for the birthday of lady Minto:

Reduced size.

I've seen another label with a map of India and inscription 'LADY MINTO'S FETE CALCUTTA JANUARY 1907' 1 Rupee, in the colors black, green (sea) and red (India). A similar label exists in blue with the portrait of a man (Lady Minto's husband?) also in the value 4 a (see images above).

Bombay Presidency War & Relief Fund Women's Branch 1/2 a blue label

Copyright by Evert Klaseboer