Experimental town markings of Travancore.
An Experimental Anchal office is normally seen put up in a new region which has the potential to have a good volume of mail conveyance, to generate a substanial revenue, or in areas of strategic importance, for a small period of time, where the business is not expected to be normal.
These new Anchal (post) offices were started on a temporary experimental basis for a fixed period, and if found to be self economically supporting, will be made permanent, or else, will be closed down.
There are few experimental offices seen in operation for a longer period of time.
Experimental postal markings (despatch /delivery) are found without any office name.
Nov 06, 1941..Travancore Anchal Department, Muvattupuzha Division's Anchal Inspector's official letter to a person, who is interested in opening up an Anchal office in Kizhakkambalam.
Shown below are the 22 different types of experimental postal cancellations.
Type 1
a) 8 bar (thin).
b) 8 bar (thick).
c) 6 bar (thick).
a) 8 bar (thin).....found only on laid paper issue.
b) 8 bar (thick).....found only on laid paper issue.
c) 6 bar (thick).
Type 2
6 broken bar..in 9 parallel bars..
with 'Thi' (തി).. shortened version of 'T', which stands either for Travancore or Town...from the town of Mulagumudu.
Type 2a
4 broken bar in 8 parallel bars, with 'തി' inset...from. the town of Kothamangalam.
Type 3.
Missing letter 'Thi' (തി)...8 broken bars (either side) in 8 parallel lines forming the circle..probably meant for a numbered 'Thi' (തി), or might be a defunct experimental trial run.
Type 4
Black rectangle box under 'Thi' (തി )...8 parallel lines with 4 broken bars... seen only in the towns of Arumana & Kaliyal.
Type 5
Cut to shape.....small arch (third parallel line) on the bar above 'Vi' (വി ).. shortened version of Village..used during the experimental period of Village post offices.
Type 5a
Straight horizontal line (no arch) is seen on the third bar above 'വി'.
Type 5b
Fourth parallel line do have a thin cut extended up to the middle, above 'വ' of വി.
Type 6.
'പരീക്ഷാർത്ഥം അപ്പീസ് ' ..vernacular usage of Experimental office.
...with year (3rd line inside the circle) in Malayalam '94'...the earliest recorded.
2 digit Malayalam year.
Type 6a
3 digit Malayalam year..101 in Malayalam year.
Type 7.
'പരീക്ഷാർത്ഥം അപ്പീസ് '.. vernacular usage of Experimental office.
with year in English..(3rd line inside the circle)..first year of usage...104
Type 8
'Experimental Anchal office' on the top, between the circles & 'Travancore' at the bottom....in 26/27/29mm x 18 mm: cds..with office number (8) in the top hemisperical tablet & shorter bars in the bottom tab.
With 2 digit year..'90'.
Type 8a
Similar to Type 8, but with a large 'N' & oval 'o' in 'No'.
Type 8b
Similar to Type 8, but with a longer bar in the bottom hemispherical tablet.
Type 9
Year in 3 digit..(126)
'Experi: Anchal office' on the top & 'TRAV.' at the bottom of cds.
Type 9a
Year in 2 digit...Inverted date.
Type 10....
Same as Type 8 a, but the office number is missing from the top hemispherical tablet.
Type 11.
'Experimental A. O' with a 8 pointed star at the bottom. No dot after 'O' of A.O
Small and raised 'o' in 'No 12'.
Type 12
Circle measures 33mm and 21mm, with 'Experiment'. A. O' and T. A. D
Dot after Experimental. No dot after 'O' of A.O.
1) Small 'O' in No
2) 'E' of EXPERIMENTAL' starts along the second line (day/month)
3) Large six pointed stars.
Type 12a
1) Large 'O' in NO
2) 'E' of EXPERIMENTAL' starts below the third line (year)
3) Small six pointed stars.
4) Spacing between the letters of 'EXPERIMENTAL'.
Type 13..
same as Type 12, but the date appears in a single line..and the 'Experimental. A.O.' in serifed letters. Dot after Experimental, and after 'O' of A. O.
Four leaf on either side of T. A. D.
Type 13a..
Inverted date/month/year.
Type 14
Year in 2 digits... '20'
Date appears in the centre between 2 parallel lines.
Type 14a.
Year in 3 digits... '114'
Type 15
similar to Type 14 with small circles and letters.
Type 16
similar to Type 15 with small and thin letters, with year shown in 2 digits(15) instead of 115.
Year in 2 digits(15) instead of 115.
Type 16a..
Same type with year '106' in 3 digits ... Almost similar to Type 15, but small & thin letters.
Type 17
Size: 28:19mm..(without dividing/seperating line).
Type 18
'NO.' appears on top inside the circle with date in the next line.
Type 18a..
without dot after 'NO'
Type 19
Format of 'No'differs with year in 3 digits...day/month/year.Dot after Experimental, and after 'O' of A. O...parallel line below 'o' of 'No'.
Type 19 a.
Almost similar to Type 19 except the small size of the lettering (between the circles). Space after 'N &'o' of No...parallel line below oval 'o' of 'No'...but one with a broken line.
Type 19 b.
Almost similar to Type 19, but 2 dots under the line below 'o' of 'No'.
Type 20
Similar to Type 19 a, except it appears in the format of Year/month/day after Experimental.
Year 105 before month & date.
Dot after Experimental, and after 'O' of A. O.
Type 21
Similar to Type 15 with big letters filling up the circle. And inverted date.
Type 22
Size: 30:21mm..Shows a similarity (font different) to Type 17.Single line date, without dividing line
Type 22 a
The circles measures 30mm & 21mm.
EXPERIMENTALA.O.
..no dot and space after EXPERIMENTAL
