Newspaper Wrappers also known as Bookpost wrapper/ Packet wrapper are used mainly to send gazettes, periodicals, news paper, magazines, pamphlets etc etc.
Travancore wrappers were introduced in September 1896, shortly after wrappers came into existence in British India (15 April,1895).
Travancore wrappers lasted hardly a decade (1896 to 1905).
1896..Half Chuckram (8 Cash) green wrappers were used up to 1900.
1900..'SIX CASH' surcharged with violet handstamp on 1/2 Chuckram which lasted up to a few months.
1900.. Cash Six wrapper lasted upto 1905, which eventually was phased out by the introduction of Six Cash stamp in 1904, which also can be used for bookpost.
Travancore wrapper watermark.....with & without watermark.
"Bengal Paper Mills -Co Ltd".
Wrapper No 1
Half Chuckram... ചക്ക്രം അര (8 cash) wrapper.. 1896 to 1900.
Sept 15, 1896..(October 1896)..
Earlier dates also exist.
Indent from the side:21.5mm
Size of stamp die: 21:26mm
Wrapper No 2
'CASH SIX' surcharged on 1/2 chuckram wrapper..1900 a.d.
Metal hand stamped. Provisional issue.
Short gestation period of less than 2 months of its usage.
Indent from the wrapper side: 9 mm
Size of stamps die: 21.5:26mm
Full size of wrapper: 300x129 mm
Stamp Die top to the wrapper top: 89 mm
Wrapper No 3
Cash Six (കാശു ആറു ) 1900-1905.
Minor variations exists in size of die,colour, paper difference, floral designs etc (not shown here).
Different Die types of Wrapper No 3..
Die Type 1..
May 26, 1900..
earliest recorded than catalogued in Deschyl (1901).
a) Concentric circle touches bottom rectangle box.
b) Corner 'fluer-de-lis' are 'white' on the green background.
Full size of wrapper: 301x123 mm
Indent: 7.5 mm Die size: 21.5x25.5 mm
Die Type 2..
earliest seen on Oct 29, 1901.
a) Concentric circle, which does not touch the frame all around, with ornamental floral design under the circle.
b) Corner 'fluer-de-lis' are 'white' on the green background.
c) Gap between 'H' of SIX & 'S' of SIX
Die size: 23:26mm Indent : 21 mm
Top of stamp die to the wrapper top: 114mm
Die Type 2 b
Jan 02, 1904.
a) Concentric circle, which does not touch the frame all around, with ornamental floral design under the circle.
b) Corner 'fluer-de-lis' are 'white' on the green background.
c) Gap between 'H' of SIX & 'S' of SIX.
d) Lettering in circle is small and thin...'TRAVANCORE ANCHAL SIX CASH'.
e) Also no bridge on 'H' of 'ANCIIEL'
Die Type 3..
Jan 04,1905.
Similar to Type 1
a) Concentric circle touches bottom rectangle box.
b) Corner 'fluer-de-lis' are 'white' on the green background.
c) Thick green border.
d) Lettering in circle is small and thin...'TRAVANCORE ANCHAL SIX CASH'
e) Also no bridge on 'H' of 'ANCIIEL'... check die type 2 b.
Die size: 22:26 mm
Indent from the side: 19.5mm
Die Type 4
Sept 17,1905.
a) Concentric circle, which does not touch the frame all around, with ornamental floral design under the circle.
b) Corner 'fluer-de-lis' are 'green' on the white background.
c) Malayalam inscriptions fills the rectangular box, which is bordered by white lines.
d) Very thin gap between 'ശു' (കാശു ) & 'ആ'(ആറു).. in the rectangular box.
Indent : 18mm Die size: 22:27 mm
Die Type 4 (b)
Oct 01,1905.
a) Concentric circle, which does not touch the frame all around, with ornamental floral design under the circle.
b) Corner 'fluer-de-lis' are 'green' on the white background.
c) Malayalam inscriptions fills the box.
d) Small space between 'H' & 'S' of CASH SIX.
e) Very thin gap between 'ശു' (കാശു ) & 'ആ'(ആറു)... in the rectangular box.
Die size: 23:28 mm Indent: 14 mm
Green in 'fleur-de-lis' pattern.
White(instead of green) in 'fleur-de-lis' pattern...
