3 types of 'REGISTERED' Rectangular handstamp.

Registration of letters were introduced in the year 1041 M.E.(1865-'66). Rectangular handstamps were supplied in the year 1047 M.E.(1871-'72).

TYPE 1...this rectangular boxed (രജിസ്റ്റർചെയ്തു) handstamp inscribed in Malayalam, which was used in the pre-adhesive period, followed it up (very scarce) to the early years of post-adhesive period (after 1888)..a sample of which, shown below is of 1890 (Kanjirapally...Thi-46). 

Rarely seen used in after 1888.

 TYPE 11..this rectangular boxed handstamp in Malayalam (രജിസ്റ്റർചെയ്തു) with Number (ന... (നമ്പർ ) & Weight (തു.... (തൂക്കം ) measuring in multliple sizes existed over a period of time.

TYPE 111..this rectangular boxed handstamp (REGISTERED) in English, with numerous size & style exists...mostly seen after 1940.

Pre-adhesive period...REGISTER..in manuscript. .1879

1879 Registered (in pen stroke..രജി നമ്പ്ര-ന്ന...Reg No 6) folded letter from South (തെക്കൻ  പറവൂർ ) Paravur  (21/2/55...Sept 08, 1879) to Irinjalakuda.

Registration fee was 7 Chuckram  (registration process of letters was introduced in 1865).

This fee was lowered to 6 Ch in 1881-'82, and subsequently to 3 Ch, when adhesive stamps & envelopes were first issued in 1888.

2 different types of EXPRESS (അടിയന്തിരം) mail markings.

2 different types of EXPRESS (അടിയന്തിരം) mail postal markings.
 
1) അടിയന്ത്രം..vernacular (Malayalam).

2) EXPRESS...English marking.

These instructional 'Express'(അടിയന്ത്രം) markings were seen affixed on registered postal articles which are meant to delivered urgently within few hours of posting.

The postal fees were calculated on the basis of distance per mile.

As these Express or Urgent delivery system were not accepted by the public, due to the high postal charges, they were seldom seen used on postal articles.

 These markings were never found used as cancellations, but only as directions to the postman as to the the importance of its expedite delivery.

 അടിയന്തരം'... Pre-adhesive period (prior to 1888) manuscript ...requires further study, for it is written  by the sender itself, in order to be delivered ASAP.

1944 Dead Letter Office (D.L.O.) 'Ambulance' envelope

This privelege 'ambulance' (serves the purpose of an Ambulance which carries the deceased to its home)  envelope was used to return the  unclaimed / refused / D. L. O.  letters/envelopes to the office of despatch (only if the senders address is written on the dead cover), for delivery to the sender, free of charge.

An unclaimed envelope addressed to K.Kunjulakshmi Amma, enclosed in the D.L.O. envelope was posted from D. L.O. office @ Trivandrum (19 Vri 1120..Dec 04, 1944) to the Official Receiver, Trivandrum  (21 Vri '20..6/12/'44).

'Detter' for Letter...erroneously printed.

 Very Rare.  

British India 'Postage Due' on Travancore Cash Eight card

1) Travancore to Calcutta. 

1892...Travancore 8 Cash card posted from Tiruvella Anchal office (Medam 11, 1067...April 24) to Changnacherry Anchal office (Medam 12..April 25) ...Pre-stamp era cds.

 & transferred to Changnacherry (manuscript in Malayalam by the Anchal postmaster) Imperial post on April 25  for onward transmission to Calcutta with boxed Postage Due (1/2 Anna..in red manuscript). Delivered @ Calcutta  (April 30).

Postcard rate is 1/4 Anna, hence taxed by 1/2 Anna..twice the deficient.

 2) Travancore green Anchal postbox to Imperial  red postbox.

1893 (13 April) Travancore Cash Eight perforated (10) post card from Kanjirapally (addressed to Appu Ayengar, Sub postmaster of Kottayam Post Office-British India) to Kottayam local Travancore anchal office (15 April) 

& then transferred/posted to British Imperial Kottayam office, attracting a Postage Due fine of One Anna...(normal post card rate is 1/4 Anna,  since this is a (part of) double card..normal rate for double card is 1/2 Anna...hence taxed by 1 Anna).

Travelled thru' the green Travancore post box & red box of British India.

British Imperial India combination envelopes.

1) 1892 Travancore One Chuckram envelope tied with Victoria Half Anna stamp cancelled with squared circle of Tenkasi on the reverse....posted from Tenkasi (25 April 1892) to  British post @ Shencottah (26 April)...then transferred to Travancore Anchal post @ Shencotta..Thi-54 barred circle (Medam 15, 1067...27 April) & to the final destination @ Quilon (Medam 16...28 April).

2) 1889 Private envelope tied with One Chuckram stamp affixed on the reverse with  Thi 50 barred circle of  Mavelikara  (Kanni 5, 1065) posted to Kayamkulam  (Kanni 6) & then transferred to British Post of Kayamkulam (27 Sept, 1889) with Queen Victoria 1/2 Anna stamp tied with 'M' in barred circle of Kayamkulam, addressed to Tellicherry (29 Sept).

Reverse of the envelopes..1 & 2

Obverse of the envelopes..1 & 2.

 

Travancore...covers affixed with only Travancore stamps travelled to Australia & England...with Postage Due.

 1936 & 1942...Unusual to find envelopes with Travancore stamps only,  travelled abroad with censor markings ...Usually these envelopes would be affixed with British India stamps.

Probably this must have escaped the postal authorities attention, and passed thru', only because they are official envelopes with Travancore service stamps.