STAMPS

Southland Times, Issue 21997, 22 April 1933, Page 11

STAMPS

THE COLLECTORS’ COLUMN. (By “Star N.Z.”) In this week’s notes will be commenced a short study of stamps of India, that wonderful country of the East where nearly 400,000,000 coloured people, although of different creeds and different ideals, yet acknowledge the suzerainty of one overlord or emperor, King George V. The rise and growth of British power in India forms one of the most fascinating pages in the history of the British Empire and indeed, in the history of the world. It had its beginnings in the formation of the East India Company in 1603 towards the end of the reign of Queen Elizabeth. This company began in a small way and had to contend, at first, with the Portugese and then with the Dutch, both of whom had earlier obtained a footing in this great country. The East India Company’s first trading station was established at Surat where a factory was built in 1612. In 1640 a second trading post was acquired at Madras (a strong strategic position). In 1665 the company acquired Bombay which had been received by King Charles II as part of the Infanta Catherine’s dowry. In 1690 Calcutta was founded. In the meantime France had also been establishing stations in various parts of India and a fierce struggle commenced in 1746 between the French under Dupleix and the British under Robert Clive.- By their victory at Plassey in 1757 the British became the dominant white power in India. A series of wars against various native states followed. First of all there were the Mahratta and Mysore wars, then the conquest of Sindhia of Gwalior and Holkar of Indore, and then the war against the Deccan which was ended by the victory of General Arthur Wellesley (afterwards Duke of Wellington) at Assaye in 1803. During the 19th century there were wars against various native states by which further territory and trading concessions were acquired; and then came, in 1857, the Indian Mutiny. Up to this time it was really the East India Company who had really carried out the colonization of and acquisition of British interests in India, although the British Government had appointed the various Governors-General, the first of whopi was Sir Robert Clive. In 1858 the interests of the East India Company were transferred to the Crown and, in 1877, Queen Victoria assumed the title of Empress of India. It was shortly before this period that the philatelic history of India begins. The first British postage stamps were issued in 1840, and the first New Zealand stamps in 1855. It was on July 1, 1852, that the “Dawk” embossed stamps were first issued under the authority of Sir Bartie Frere, Commissioner of Scinde, but they only applied to the Scinde district and were suppressed in October 1854. The first general issue under the East India Company took place on October 1, 1854. The central feature of the design was a portrait of Queen Victoria enclosed in an oblong frame with the inscription “India” at the top and that of the value (J anna or one anna as the case might be) at the base. There are various minor differences in the design and these stamps are catalogued by Stanley Gibbons Ltd., at from 15/— to 65/- for good used copies. It is difficult to get really good copies of this stamp, some of them being cut too close into the design and others too heavily postmarked. On October 15, 1854, a stamp of the value of four annas was issued. The central feature was, as before, a portrait of the head of Queen Victoria in profile, but this time it was enclosed within a circle which was surrounded by an octagonal frame. These stamps cut to shape are not of much value, but for cut square specimens in good condition (used) the catalogue value is from £3 10/- to £l2. On October 6, 1854, there was issued a stamp of the value of two annas similar in design to the half and one anna stamps. It was printed at the Stamp Office, Calcutta, in various shades of green, the plate having been made at the mint in Calcutta. In October, 1855, stamps of a new design were issued. These were engraved and printed by Messrs de la Rue and Co., of London. The design had as its central figure a new portrait of Queen Victoria (head in profile) which was encircled by an oval band bearing the inscription “East India Postage” with the value in annas. Prior to this date, all Indian stamps were imperforate, but now they were perforated 14 and were printed upon unwatermarked and blue glazed paper. The stamps were of the value of 4 annas (black) and 8 annas (carmine). In the following year (1856) the same design was used but the paper was yellowish to white instead of blue. The values were J anna (blue and light blue), 1 anna (brown and deep brown), 2 annas (various shades, dull pink, yellow, yellow-buff, and orange), 4 annas (black, grey-black' and in 1864, green), 8 annas (carmine and pale carmine). These stamps remained in issue until 1864—as previously stated in these notes. Her Majesty Queen Victoria’s Government assumed control in 1858 of the Indian territory theretofore administered by the East India Company and all subsequent stamp issues were “under the Crown.” The subsequent stamp issues may be conveniently dealt with under three headings: (1) The stamps of India proper; (2) the stamps of India overprinted for use in the native states of Chamba, Faridkot, Gwalior, Jhind, Nabha, and Patiala or Puttiala; and (3) the stamps of the native Fedatory States of India such as Bhopal, Cashmere, Cochin, Deccan, Travancore and others. Next week’s notes will be devoted to a study of the stamps of India proper (under the Cr.own).