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

24 The outer frames of the spandrels of this die are unmarked by a series of dots and, in this respect, impressions differ essentially from those of any other Old Rectangulars, whether of Kashmir or of Jammu. No exact date has yet been suggested for the termination of this issue, and the commencement of the next. The latest date which we can trace is 22nd April, 1867, and the earliest for the ½ anna plate-printed stamps, 1st April in the same year. The life of the issue may, therefore, be put at about six months. The obliteration on used stamps should either he the brick-red seal of Srinagar or pen-cancellation. SG 88 and 89 (April 1867, ½ anna and 1 anna black from composite plate of 25 with twenty ½ anna on top four rows and five 1 anna on bottom row in watercolour on native paper) SG 88 (Lot 10118) SG 89 (Lot 10119) Printings from this plate in blue are known as early as 22nd June, 1867, giving barely 3 months, at most, for the black issue. The only dates for the latter (i.e. the black issues) which we have seen, occur in April and May (1867). These black stamps are, therefore, of considerable rarity, but when used, the ½ anna is less so than its die-produced predecessor. Both values are really rare unused, and out of more than a hundred specimens examined by us, we have only found a single 1anna and some seven or eight ½ anna stamps in unused condition. A suggestion made by Evans that this had been some special issue for local use at Srinagar, is not supported by any evidence obtainable from the stamps themselves. The obliteration should be the brick-red seal. Collectors should note that, at about this period and for some years following, a very brilliant magenta gum was being used by natives for affixing stamps. This gum, when appearing on the face of a stamp, may very easily be mistaken for a blurred impression of the magenta seal of the Jammu Province, and so lead to serious errors in classification. SG 90 to 101 (1867 to 1877, ½ to 8 annas composite plates and single die in different watercolour pigments on native paper) SG 98 (Lot 10169) SG 99 (Lot 10170) SG 100a (Lot 10172) SG 90 (¼ anna black shades) This stamp occurs in shades frompale gray-black to deep glossy black, the clear gray-black shades being earliest and the heavy glossy blacks the latest prints. These stamps were printed in strips of five which constitute the top half of a two-row plate, the bottom half being a strip of five of the 2 anna value. Although no doubt difficult to print separately, no copies are known of 2 annas in black or of ¼ anna in buff or yellow. This stamp used alone could serve only one purpose: to pay the half-rate {concession rate} on minimum rate letters sent by visitors to addresses outside the state. No early date is known to the writer. It is known with the cancellation of the first type of the imperial post office (in use from 1867 to 1870). Earlier writers have stated that this stamp was available for use only from the Imperial post office, but the writer has several copies used at the state post office at Srinagar. It can be found used in pairs to make up the half rate, and occurs used in Leh. Unused it is quite common, less so used, and rare on cover.