Lot 60348 – 1878-94 New Rectangular Issues: Specialized Collection

1878-94 New Rectangular Issues, a remarkable and highly specialized collection of the New Rectangular issues, comprising a wide range of shades, papers, perforations, multiples, and covers, including several outstanding rarities.Among the highlights is a complete unused sheet of fifteen of the ½ anna red on vertically laid paper, of which only three such sheets are believed to exist. Perforations unchecked. Also included are: ½ anna slate, perf. 13–16 ½ anna red, perf. 10–12, on medium wove paper and horizontal laid paper 1½ anna red, perf. 10–12, on vertically laid paper ¼ anna red on thin European wove paper ¼ anna red, unused and used, in State I The rare ½ anna on local paper with forged postmark ¼ anna on thin wove and medium wove paper A pair of ¼ anna red on thick wove paper ½ anna red in a range of shades on medium and thin wove papers An original sheet of the ½ anna red on European thin laid paper ½ anna red, State III, showing loss of printing An original sheet of the 1 anna red on thin wove paper, with the papermaker’s control marks embossed on reverse, showing a small elephant within an oval, measuring approximately 19 mm The collection is further enhanced by 21 covers, including local, mixed Imperial-state, and registered usages.A notable foreign letter from Srinagar to London bears ½ anna red in combination with ½ anna and 4 annas British-India adhesives, paying the ship letter rate. The stamps are cancelled by the barred-L obliterator of the British Post Office at Srinagar, with reverse Kashmir datestamp of 12 July and London arrival in red, 4 August.Also present is a registered letter from Srinagar to Rawalpindi, franked with 2 × ½ anna red and 2 × 2 annas plus ½ anna British-India, all cancelled by the oval barred-L obliterator of the British Post Office at Srinagar (in use 1880–1891). The reverse bears Kashmir registration marking dated 14 July 1880, circular Kashmir datestamp, and Rawalpindi arrival of 20 July. The 1 anna state postage represented the special visitors’ half-rate for outgoing correspondence, while the full registered letter rate from India was 5 annas.Another attractive item is a decorated cover from Srinagar to Amritsar, bearing 1½ anna red additionally franked with ½ anna Imperial postage, cancelled by the Kashmir duplex 5/L-6, with arrival marking on reverse, dated May 17 (1878?). A fine and scarce assembly, rich in original sheets, paper varieties, and important covers, offering excellent scope for both specialized study and exhibition (SG £3000+).