Lot 60357 – 1883-94 Rectangular issues. The 1/8 anna value in different

1883-94 Rectangular Issues: ⅛ Anna and ¼ Anna Values – Specialized Collection with Covers. An extensive and highly specialized collection of the Rectangular issues, focusing on the ⅛ anna and ¼ anna values, presented in a wide range of shades, paper varieties, multiples, and important postal history, including 13+ covers and sheets.

The ⅛ anna value is represented in numerous shades and papers, including:

Yellow-brown on thin wove paper

Buff on wove paper, cancelled by the Tavi obliterator of Srinagar

Yellowish on creamy wove paper

Dull yellow on white and coarse papers

An original sheet on coarse yellowish paper

A remarkable outgoing cover from Srinagar to Birmingham bears a block of eight ⅛ anna dull yellow (= 1 anna), paying the third weight rate (visitors’ half-rate), cancelled by the British Post Office Srinagar datestamp (14 September 1890) on 4 annas 6 pies British-Indian postal stationery (ship letter rate). With Bombay transit and Birmingham arrival, this is believed to be the only recorded high-franking philatelic example.

Additional items include:

A local letter-piece with 3 × ⅛ anna buff and 1 × ⅛ anna dull yellow (= 1½ annas), cancelled by Srinagar 3-ring datestamps (28–29 August)

A foreign letter to Dublin (1890), bearing 2 × ⅛ anna yellow-brown, ¼ anna brown, and 1½ anna red, cancelled by barred-L obliterator, with Bombay and H&K Packet transit markings

The ¼ anna value is equally well represented, including:

Multiple shade and paper varieties (fine white, yellow-toned, thin wove)

A 1893 error of colour on white paper

An original sheet of the ¼ anna brown

Postal history highlights include:

A local letter (second weight rate) with 4 × ¼ anna, cancelled by Srinagar 3-ring postmark

A third weight rate cover combining ¼ anna and ⅛ anna values, cancelled at Srinagar

Covers to Amritsar, showing combinations of ¼ anna values on British-Indian postal stationery, with Jammu and Sialkot transit markings

A particularly important section comprises foreign mail, including:

A cover from Leh to Dresden (Germany), franked with 4 × ¼ anna brown and British-Indian adhesives, cancelled by the Leh datestamp; sent by a member of the Moravian Mission, with Leh-origin mail being notably scarce

A cover from Srinagar to Paris, bearing ¼ anna Kashmir adhesives with British-Indian stamps, showing red Paris arrival marking, illustrating complex rate structure (Bombay + ship mail)

An extraordinary cover from Leh to Cape Colony (South Africa), addressed to Clarkebury, bearing Kashmir and British-Indian adhesives paying multiple transit charges (Bombay–London–Cape Town–inland), a rare long-distance usage of great exhibition significance

Further notable items include:

An external postcard from Leh (1888) bearing 1/4 anna brown on British-Indian postal stationery, with Leh and Batala datestamps

A postcard from Jammu to Rawalpindi (1891), showing an early use of the Tavi obliterator, with additional Kashmir franking

A rich and wide-ranging collection, combining rare sheets, multiples, and outstanding postal history, including several exceptional foreign destinations. Condition generally very fine, with strong exhibition and research potential. (SG £4000+)