Travancore Letter Cards of 1898 & 1903

In 1898, Travancore is the only state in the whole of India, where letter-cards are used.

 Though there was an attempt in circa 1860's, by British India to come out with Letter cards, which eventually has to be aborted.

These letter-cards didn't survive long as they were not accepted by the public, unlike other cards.

 One Chuckram Letter card in an ornate design in lithographed (perforated - 12) with different shifts in design, size & colour of cards, as shown below.

 

'UNCLAIMED'..in rectangular black boxed postmark .

'UNCLAIMED'..in rectangular black boxed postmark...applied by the delivery post office, when a registered letter is undelivered after several futile attempts by the postman, to find the addresee, to get it delivered. 

At times, the addresee will unclaim it, fearing it might be an Injuction order / Intaas from the court. 

Most of these 'UNCLAIMED' markings are seen on the registered articles from the Judicial Court.

 Several reasons will be written by the postman on the cover for non-delivery...not found, death of the addresee, out of town, reluctant to take delivery etc etc. 

This marking is uncatalogued in Dr Mooss's book on Travancore. Here we find 4 different types..differences in the size of box & lettering.