Piravaka or Piravagai cancellations of Travancore.. ALLEPPEY, QUILON, KOTTAYAM & CHANGNACHERRY.

 

In the state of Travancore, four Anchal offices with the name 'Piravagai/Piravaka' attached to the town name were seen used as cancellation, both in Malayalam & English. 

1) ALLEPPEY.

 2) QUILON. 

3) KOTTAYAM.  

4) CHANGANACHERRY .

These Piravaka cancellations are used only as despatch markings. It appears that Piravaka offices do not have delivery markings, from the study, so far. It is understood that these are the only 4 Anchal offices which exclusively do have despatch facilities in the entire Anchal offices in Travancore.

About Piravaka (പ്രവക/പിറവക), debate is still going on...

whether Piravaka Anchal office is located near a market place (Angadi.. (അങ്ങാടി) / Peedika..(പീടിക). 

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

In all probability, Piravaka means a post office near the court of judiciary in an urban or in a provincial/rural area (Mofussil Anchal office). 

Alleppey (T-32), Quilon (T-25) & Kottayam (T-18) Piravakas exists from the initial 'Thi' obliteration period... followed by Changanacherry during the latter stages.

Varieties in cancellations seen in each Town Piravaka's..(shown below), is an interesting study. 

Further more Piravakas might exist..

1) ALLEPPEY PIRAVAGAI.

4 varieties are found.

ആലപ്പുഴപിറവക

  

ആലപ്പുഴ‌െപ്രവക 

ആലപ്പുഴപിറവക('ക' comes under 'വ'

ALLEPPEY PIRAVAGAI

2) QUILON PIRAVAKA

3 varieties are found. 

കൊല്ലംപിറവക

കൊല്ലംപിറവക ('ക' comes under 'വ'

QUILON PIRAVAKA

3) KOTTAYAM PIRAVAKA

2 varieties are found. 

കോട്ടയംപിറവക ('ക' comes under 'വ'

KOTTAYAM PIRAVAKA

4) CHANGANACHERRY PIRAVAGAI

1945 Cash 8 stamp affixed private card (Palai Central Bank) from Ponkunnam to Cragnanore.

1945 Cash 8 (surcharged on 6 Cash) stamp affixed private card (Palai Central Bank) from Ponkunnam to Cragnanore (Kodungallur).

 

Day digit missing.. manuscript instead.... Changnacherry to Kottayam..1895

1895 One Chuckram envelope from Changnacherry (Thi-48) to Kottayam.

Day (4) of '24' missing and filled up in writing at the delivery location of Kottayam by the Anchal Master.

Posted from Changnacherry (23/11/70..23/Mithunam/70...July 6/1895) to Kottayam (24/11/70).

Digit '4' of 24 missing and manuscripted in vernacular numerical (Malayalam) by Anchal Master of Kottayam. 

Addressed to Reverend Father Bernard, Prior General, Kottayam.

Thi-48

Digit '0' of 70 slightly raised.

1895 Thrikariyoor (manuscript markings), Muvattupuzha, Kottayam and then to Vaikom

1895 One Chuckram envelope posted at Thrikariyoor Anchal Pillar box with the pen inscriptions, was transferred to the nearest Anchal office @ Muvattupuzha, and then transported via Kottayam to Vaikom....Scarce.

 Manuscript inscriptions 

'തൃക്കറിയൂർ ബാകം (ഭാഗം)
71-11-28'..

Thrikariyoor Bakam 71-11-28' (manuscript markings..28-11-1071).

Thrikariyoor..June 11, 1895. Muvattupuzha..June 11.

Kottayam..June 12.

Vycome..June 13.

 

Thrikariyoor Anchal office opened in 1888 and closed in 1890..and then reopened in 1902. Thi-15 (T-15) was allotted to Thrikariyoor.

This envelope is in 1895 (1071)..so no Anchal office at Thrikariyoor... hence manuscript markings by the Anchal runner.

 

'തൃക്കറിയൂർ ബാകം 
71-11-28'

Thrikariyoor Bakam 71-11-28' (manuscript markings..28-11-1071).

This envelope which is posted in Anchal box installed there at Thrikariyoor, is taken to the nearest post office at Muvattupuzha. 

Thi-41 (തി -41) Muvattupuzha.

Travancore limited edition ഇരട്ട (double) Chuckrams

Travancore ഇരട്ട (double) chuckrams .. Less than 10 coins known to exist of each.


1) Rani Gouri Lakshmi Bai (1810-'15) period issued 2 Chuckram coin..... 0.74grams & 9mm. 

Also known as ഇരട്ട (double) chuckram, with English & Malayalam '2' in legend. 

Probably issued in 1810 soon after the coronation, and also to favour the new Dewan, Colonel John Munroe, who is also the British Resident of Travancore and Cochin states.

2) Swathi Thirunal (1829-'46) period issued Chuckram 2..Silver coin....0.74grams & 9mm. 

A Gold version was also issued (seen in the book of Dr Joseph Thomas), probably for ritual or presentation purpose.

Photos of the Gold version are taken from Joseph Thomas book ...'Legends of Travancore, a Numismatic Heritage'.

One Chuckram 1889 envelope...'Ribbon' cut variety of Die 1

An interesting find in Die 1 specimen of Travancore ONE CHUCKRAM envelopes, is the 'ribbon cut' variety. Seen only in envelope Knife (K-1 & K-2).

 These ribbon cut varieties are found in the first laid paper issues of 1889 envelopes (Die Type 1) with no embossed legends. Scarce.

RIBBON CUT  (right ear of the conch) variety.

Die 1a¹.. Ribbon (broken right ear of the Conch shell) cut..shell slightly tilted to the left).

Die 1a¹.. Ribbon (broken right ear of the Conch shell) cut.

Deschl catalogue..Envelope Knife..K 1.

Close up image of the indicium.

Deschl catalogue..Envelope Knife..K 2.

Close up image of the indicium.

Formula cards of Travancore

Formula cards are those cards which are devoid of price and not sold over the counter.
Mainly used by government institutions.

The 1902 Service blue card is catalogue by Peter Wells (S-1) & Edward Deschl (OC-2) inadvertently as a postal stationary, under the  Official Postal Cards.

Blue tinted.. 1902 Service formula card (with no denomination / value.....inter departmental usage).

1906 Paravur to Ettumannor.

(The above card is from the collection of Dr Mohan, Trichur).

Travancore 1932 Service (Formula) card, primarily used by the Savings Bank of Anchal department, Travancore.....Udayamperoor to Udayamperoor.

The 1902 blue formula card was later reissued (1922) with '5 C' surcharged in red, and sold over the counter. But less than 5 are know to exist.

Travancore 1921 official card.....actually 1902 formula card (with no denomination / value.....inter departmental usage) surcharged (reddish violet / red) with 5 C ( 5 Cash). Card...bluish tint in colour. Very Scarce.

A used copy of this stationary card is yet to be seen.