Lot 60342 – 1866 A rare and important example of the 1½ anna black,

1866 A rare and important used example of the 1½ anna black, single die, printed in watercolour on native paper. This single-die issue remained in use for nearly a year and likely overlapped with the introduction of the circular issues imported from Jammu, reflecting a transitional phase in the postal system. Unused examples are of the utmost rarity, with only three recorded in the literature. Also included is an internal letter from Srinagar to British India, bearing a ½ anna black single-die stamp, cancelled by the red Srinagar seal, in combination with a ½ anna East India adhesive, cancelled by protective pen strokes and the numeral “54” obliterator of Sialkot in transit. This mixed franking illustrates the dual postal rate structure, whereby the Kashmir adhesive prepaid carriage to the frontier (up to 14 tolas single weight), and the British-Indian stamp paid onward delivery within British India. A rare and highly instructive postal history item, with notable provenance ex Eames Collection, and accompanied by a Sismondo certificate. (SG £2000+)