Indian Princely States - Jammu & Kashmir A Selection from the Dan Walker Collection June 12, 2018

14 Values ½ anna 1 anna 2 annas The circular stamps were hand-printed from single dies engraved in brass at the Printing Works of Jammu City. Except for some of the later printings in oil colours, native papers of Kashmir were used throughout. The first issue of the circulars, which was Intended for use in both the Province of Jammu and the Province of Kashmir, was printed in watercolours. The three denominations—½ anna, 1 anna, 4 annas—expressed in the Indian traders’ notation are shown in the centre (see illustrations above). The denomination of the 1 anna stamp had long been taken to read 4 annas and vice versa. It was only in 1985 that the Gibbons catalogue finally recognized the correct situation and reversed the two types. Native Paper, Circulars, and both Jammu and Kashmir Old Rectangulars The paper on which the first circulars were printed was manufactured by the State itself. It was the only paper employed, whether for Circulars or Old Rectangulars, from 1866 to 1878, with the exception of some European papers used by the Jammu Province in the last two years of this period. Like all handmade papers it was subject to wide fluctuations of thickness, great variation being not uncommonly found in different parts of a single sheet. With some of the circulars in particular, the thickness almost amounts to thin card; while, on the other hand, Old Rectangulars of the Kashmir Province were frequently printed on varieties so thin as to produce an impression of pelure or tissue paper. These very thin papers do not occur with the Reprints or Official Forgeries (probably the Missing Die Forgeries), but a very thick paper is found, though rarely, with the former. Hitherto the paper has been known as “native laid” owing to the “laid” appearance when viewed towards the light. It however is not true “laid”; it will be referred to as “native paper.” In tone it is greyish or yellowish, the greyer varieties usually being those found with the Reprints. The paper has been manufactured near the capital, Srinagar, by a carefully-guarded secret process, for more than 600 years, skilled workmen having, in the first instance, been imported by one of the old Sultana of Kashmir. Circular Stamps Indian Princely States – Jammu & Kashmir A Selection from the Dan Walker Collection Introduction by Dan Walker* * This introductory work to the Jammu & Kashmir stamps combines texts taken literally from the bibliography mentioned at the end of the article, with the author’s own knowledge on the subject.