Travancore coins of Martandam Palace

 

1898 Thi-32 (തി -32) Alleppey Piravaka (ആലപ്പുഴപ്രവക) to Quilon.. cancel errors.

1898 Half chuckram stamp affixed on private envelope from Alleppey Piravaka (Thi-32) to Quilon. 

 

൭൩ /ആലപ്പുഴെ പ്രവക /മ 15. (1898/Alleppey Piravaka/ Feb 3)

73 instead of 1073. 

൭൩ instead of ൧o൭൩.

A revised version of the last pre-stamp period cancellation.Interesting alphabet usage of ആലപ്പുഴെ (instead of ആലപ്പുഴ) & പ്രവക (പിറവക).

Not recorded in Dr Mooss's book of Travancore.

Quilon /Ma /16/73 

(കൊല്ലം/മകരം 16/73..Feb 4, 1898)

'ന' with tail instead of '൬' ..one loop missing... Error...should be ൧൬.

Interesting usage of Allapuzhay (ആലപ്പുഴെ)..limited period of time where they used this.

And about Piravaka (പ്രവ്ക -- പിറവക), debate is still going on, whether Piravaka is  located near a market place (Peedika.. Angadi-- പീടിക സ്ഥല൦ -- അങ്ങാടി)  

 or is it in the vicinity of Judicial/Government offices? 

Or Piravaka is a Suburb/Rural or Mofussil Anchal office?

8 Cash thin card... rough surface texture wove paper . Scarcely seen..

8 Cash thin card... rough surface texture wove paper, with pre-stamp period cancel.

1889...Cash Eight card (thin) from Ettumanoor (June 19) to Chertalla (June 20). 

This thin card was printed on a totally different texture card, perhaps an experimental type,  which  explains the roughness  on the surface of the card. 

 As and when handled by the Anchal runner man, there was every possibility of dust/dirt getting accumulated in the tiny groove of the rough obverse surface of the card, unlike the earlier issued thin wove cards, which has a smooth and clean surface.

 These cards are so thin and flimsy and gets folded fast, if not handled properly, was another reason for the early exit (hardly a year or so).

 

By 1889 end, thick and heavy Cash Eight cards, with the same ornamental designs were issued.

Pre-stamp period Ettumanoor franking (rimless circle on top & 2 concentric arcs in radii at the bottom)  is seen on the card, probably the last month & year of usage. 

Size of the card.. 122x75. (Appears to be the smallest of the Cash Eight thin cards) 

Rough texture wove thin buff paper.

 

Recorded in Deschyl catalogue..C-1.

Value Payable.. Red/Black (V. P.) postal markings..Scarce usage on private wrappers ..and few known to exist.

 V.P. (Value Payable) system was introduced in Travancore on January 16th,1907 (1/Mak/1082).

This special purpose handstamp (red/black) cancel is found affixed only on V.P. articles, (accepted in  very few designated Anchal offices) for the despatch of packages or receipts for goods transmitted either by rail or other modes of conveyance...

 Scarce usage on wrapper/envelope....

and  few known to exist...

 Shown below are two examples.

1) 1916, July 31..from Kottayam Piravaka(16/KAR/ 91) to Alleppey (17/KAR/91).

Postage rate.. 8 Cash. Unregistered V. P. charges..1 Chuckram.

Red rectangular boxed V.P. cancellation (55×27mm). KOTTAYAMPER (Kottayam Piravaka).

 2) 1920, Jan 7.. Trivandrum (23 Dhanu/95) to Udayamperoor (26/Dh/95).

Postage rate.. 6 Cash. Unregistered V. P. charges..1 Chuckram.

V. P. for Rs 1. Chuckram 1. Cash 8).

 
Black rectangle box hand stamp, other than the red box shown top above..

Earlier it was red boxed, followed by a black boxed handstamp.A similar type, but larger (70×30mm) was used @ Monkombu & Trivandrumenvelopes,V. P. No:7716. Weight: 3 Tola.

1-1-8 (Rs 1. Chuckram 1. Cash 8).

Once these large red/black boxed cancel ceased to exist, double lined c.d.s. incorporating the letters 'V.P.' were seen used on postage stamps on V. P. wrappers/envelopes, mostly from Trivandrum Anchal office.

Wrapper.. 'SIX.CASH' surcharged (in violet) on Chuckram Half.

Dot after SIX of SIX CASH. 

Instead of SIX CASH, there appears to be a dot between SIX & CASH. 

Super rare in the Travancore wrapper section.

Stamp size..20x25mm.

17 mm.. Indent from side.

88 mm from top to stamp.

Wrapper complete..299 x 130 mm.

Part watermark of BENGAL PAPER MILLS.....'BE' ...seen on the obverse side.

Newspaper Wrappers also known as Bookpost wrapper/ Packet wrapper are used mainly to send periodicals, news paper, magazines, pamphlets 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 Half Chuckram (8 cash) 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".

Travancore Registered Envelopes, where 'CHUKRAMS' is printed instead of 'CHUCKRAMS'.

 Interesting to note that these are the only 2 envelopes of Travancore where 'CHUKRAMS' is printed instead of 'CHUCKRAMS'. 

'CHUKRAMS'... Second 'C" is missing, which has deviated  from the normally printed 'CHUCKRAMS', in all other envelopes. Not mentioned in any articles or catalogue.

These registered envelopes were found seldom used, as these were not so popular with the public at large. 

The used envelope, especially the surcharged provincial issue, can be categorised as Super RARE. 

Registered printed envelope with '3 Chs 10 Ca' (in red)  surcharged on THREE & A HALF CHUKRAMS', a provisional issue. Additional adhesive stamps of ' 2 C' on 10 Cash affixed.
1932 June 15...Trivandrum 
June 17...Ernakulam.
Registration fee: 3 Ch.
Postage fee: 12 Cash 
Weight: 1/4 Tola 

Up to 1 tola is 3/4 ch (12 cash) in 1932.

Mint Registered envelope (bottom picture)..THREE & A HALF CHUKRAMS'.  

 

Embossing on cover(under the flap).. TRAV:ANCHEL

Manuscript notations... Deceased, Not Known, Left the State, Redirected

Some interesting English notations in writings (mostly in red ink) by the Anchal runner/master, indicating the reasons for the return of the mail to its sender. Here are few examples of mails turned back to its sender, with reasons written in manuscript.

Addressee died.. Witness 

Deceased.. To Sender

Addressee deceased

മേവി മരിച്ചു പോയി (addressee died)

Not Known Returned to Sender.

Not Known 

Returned 28-1-37...Addressee gone to Br.India not returning for another month 

Left the State hence returned.

Redirected

Redirected to Sender as per endorsement 

Refused