Travancore Trunk Telephones Phonocom

 

Thi-76...a new find...Thalavady

Earlier 'Thi-76' was attributed to Paravur/Munambam, which later was allocated to Thalavady.

A scarce item.

 

In manuscripts,  by the anchal man from the pickup point of 'Munambam.....Registered -No,weight...all in Malayalam language.

 

Pre-adhesive folded letters of Travancore...Registered & unregistered.

1058 M.E.. (1883) REGISTERED (rectangular box) folded letter from Kuzhithura (Medam 23) to Trivandrum (Medam 30) via Bhoothapandy (25 Medam), Nagercoil (27 Medam)....and returned to Kuzhithura (Edavam 2). 

Took 7 days to reach Trivandrum from Kuzhithura.

1883 (1058 M.E.)....pre-adhesive period registered Letter Reciept from.Ambalapuzha addressed to the Cocbin Diwan, with the Ernakulam seal.

 

Challikkavattam post office existed for a short period from 1882 to 1888...just before Travancore issued its first adhesive stamps & envelopes.

Pre post  folded letter 1881... from Irinjalakuda (1056 kumbham 23) to Trivandrum..Postage.. അണ അര..half anna.

അടിയന്തരം (Express)

 Prepost period...1880 a.d...From Irinjalakuda (Cochin State) to Trivandrum(Travancore)..31 Chingam 1056

Addressed to the temple trustee family Tharnanelloor..Also mentioned ...that it should be send അടിയന്തരം (urgent)

Postage in  manuscript ..'അണ അര'..(Half Anna) 

Date inverted 8 cash (6 PLUS 2) post card

Travancore 6 CASH PLUS 2 CASH (21.5mm lenngth..Deschl C-31), from Trivandrum 18 EDA 119 (31 May 1944) via Mavelikkara 19 EDA 119 (Date inverted) to Mannar.

 

 

 

'Olakettyambalam' cancellation folded letter

1939 letter from the District Court of Kottayam, posted registered, from the court premises post office with Kottayam 'Piravaka' cds to Olakettiyambalam (probably the name must have derived from the thatched roof temple...ഓലകെട്ടിയമ്പലo.

with the addresee refused...'Nisheditchu' in linear rectangular box.

 

'Service Bearing' unpaid letter...'കുല്ലിവാങ്ങണം'

'SERVICE BEARING' unpaid letters of Travancore.

 On  Government Service (സർക്കാർ കാര്യം) endorsed unpaid letter with Postage due to be collected (കുല്ലി വാങ്ങണം).

These Governmental 'unpaid' Service letters were posted with superscription of 'കൂലി വാങ്ങണം' in vernacular language, at double the prepaid postage rates till the year 1905 (as from the specimens of service bearing letters seen, so far).

From 1905 onwards, actual postal rates were charged.. prior to 1905, which was double the postage. 

2 Types of Service despatch.

1) All government service unstamped correspondence letters (departmental or administrative) were to be superscribed with 'On Sircar Service only' and will be despatched free.

2) Whereas Bearing letters are those unstamped  letters from government agencies to private individuals for the reply to their personal matters (related to applications for appointment & transfer, petitions, enquiries about leave etc etc), were to be superscribed with 'postage due to be collected" (കൂലി വാങ്ങണം), which will later be collected from the recipient, at the point of delivery.

And it is mandatory that these bearing letters should bear the name of the office of origin, along with the signature of the official clerk. 

Examples of 'bearing letters' are shown below....

1) 1897 Chapelikara Supervisor Office, Mavelikara to Mavelikara...signed by the Gumasthan Velayudanpilla. The postage due charged is 2 Chuckram (double the normal postage charge, which is One Chuckram).

2) 1905 Service Bearing letter.. (Ambalapuzha Kandam krushi Kacheri) duly signed by the authorised signatory (bottom right), from Ambalapuzha (2 Edavam 1080) to Alleppey (3 Edavam), where the postage due charges is only the actual postage..3/4 Chuckram.

3) 1908 unpaid  govt: service  bearing letter from Thodupuzha Range Supervisor office to Kidangoor, duly signed by the authorized signatory.  Postage charged is 3/4 chuckram (in blue crayon), the normal postage rate. 

Interstate card of 1930....Kerala Muslim Bank

1930 Cochin interstate 11nd Raja FOUR PIES post card from KERALA MUSLIM BANK Ltd, Ernakulam to Thodupuzha(Travancore), and was returned for reason (കണ്ടില്ല)... Not Found ( in vernacular oval cancel)Rate of card...4 Pies, Registered charges...2 Anna's, Acknowledgement fee...1 Anna's. Total charges ...3Annas 4 Pies.Breakup in the vernacular 'കണ്ടില്ല'