Sunday, February 8, 2026

1901 Wrapper with extra stamp (lost in transit) from Mannanam to Changnacherry

1901 Cash Six Wrapper, affixed with extra stamp (due to excess weight) which is lost in transit, cancelled by indistinct T-80 barred circle of Mannanam (Oct 29), addressed to Changnacherry (Oct 30).   

 

Wrappers with extra stamp (in this case, lost in transit) affixed are scarce to find. 


Extra postage are used, when the pamplets or newspapers tucked inside the wrapper are above the specified Anchal weight.


Wrapper Cash Six 
Die: Type 2
Stamp size: 22:26.5
Indent: 19 mm.


Mannanam|Thulam 13|1077.

Changnacherry|Thu 14|77.







 



Monday, November 24, 2025

1931 CHITHRANAGAR & 1936 SRICHITRANAGAR special cancellations


Exhibition post markings of Travancore.



2 types of commemorative special postmarks..

CHITHRANAGAR & SRICHITRANAGAR.


 



CHITHRANAGAR 


This linear rectangular box (48x12mm) 'CHITHRANAGAR' was found used for the cancellation of mails posted at the temporary Anchal offices put up at the Exhibition grounds at Kanakakunnu Palace grounds,Trivandrum during the All India Exhibitions in 1931 & 1936.

In connection with the Coronation (Bala Rama Varma), a 7 day exhibition was conducted at the Kanakakunnu Palace grounds in Trivandrum, with the opening of a temporary Anchal office. Nov 6 - 11, 1931.


Registered envelope to Attungal from Trivandrum

Rectangular box (CHITHRANAGAR) black ink marking.

Postage 12 cash..Registeration..3 Chuckram.. Acknowledgement 4 cash.



 





SRICHITRANAGAR



This was employed for the cancellation of mails posted at the temporary Anchal office put up in the SRICHITRANAGAR exhibition ground at Kanakakunnu Palace garden, during the 20 days period of All-India Exhibition (11 Nov to 30 Nov) . This was opened by The Governor of Madras, Lord Eskine..11 Nov, 1936. 

 This special linear rectangular box (65x10mm) postmark 'SRICHITRANAGAR' is always found applied with a 2 ring circular date stamp, bearing  the Experimental office No 16.


Ordinary envelope to Cochin from Trivandrum.

Postage 12 cash (4 cash stamps affixed on the reverse).





Registered envelope to Quilon from the exhibition venue Experimental Anchal office, Trivandrum. 

Signed & dated  (flapside), with the reason, for the delayed delivery by the Anchal man, with a vernacular manuscript of  'കച്ചേരി ഒഴിവു' (Court holiday)'.




Thursday, October 30, 2025

1899 CASH FIVE double postcard mint


1899 'CASH FIVE' double postcard (Perf: 10) mint...was in use for a limited period, for it was followed soon by different varieties of Cash Five without legends.  

This mint double card (same as Cash Eight), known to exist less than 10 copies, are supposedly to be branded as 'Rare'.





 

Friday, October 3, 2025

India Study Circle 75th anniversary Diamond Jubilee Book

 Favourite possession (related to Travancore & Cochin shown here), of each philatelists, around the world, came out in print in India Study Circle's 75th Diamond Jubilee Book (168 pages), sponsored by David Feldman, (Switzerland), compiled by Sandeep Jaiswal (USA). 














































Tuesday, September 23, 2025

1936 Travancore to U.K.with official stamps affixed and stamped with Postage Due

 

Envelope affixed with 8 official stamps (110 Cash) posted from Trivandrum Anchal office (15 Medam 1111) & then transmitted to the British India post office @ Trivandrum on the same date (27 April 1936), with Postage Due (horse shoe cancel) to Liverpool, England.



50 centimes taxed hexagon postmark stamped enroute with 4 Penny (2d x 2 stamps) Postage Due from Liverpool.


Normally this envelope would not be allowed to transit by affixing only Travancore stamps, except to Cochin.

 Probably this must have passed thru' the postal authorities, for it's an envelope with Travancore service stamps...an enigmatic item.





















Friday, August 15, 2025

Smallest Postage Due (Kooli) folded letter

Small folded kooli (24 cash or 1&1/2 Chuckram) unstamped letter (6.8x4.7 cm) from Thiruvattar to Kottakkakam (Trivandrum) dated 9 /12 /116 (1941). 


Postage rate in 1941 is 3/4 Chuckram(12 Cash)..hence the Postage Due is double the actual postage...ie 24 Cash.










For comparison of its midget size along with a 1890 Thin 8 Cash card. 



 

1901 Wrapper with extra stamp (lost in transit) from Mannanam to Changnacherry

1901 Cash Six Wrapper, affixed with extra stamp (due to excess weight) which is lost in transit, cancelled by indistinct T-80 barred circle...