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".
Half Chuckram... ചക്ക്രം അര (8 cash) wrapper.. 1896 to 1900.
Sept 15, 1896..(October 1896)..
Earlier dates exist.
Indent from the side:21.5mm
Size of stamp die: 21:26mm
Wrapper Type No 2
'CASH SIX' surcharged on 1/2 chuckram wrapper..1900 a.d.
Metal hand stamped. Provisional issue.
Short gestation period of few 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 Type No 3
Picture courtesy of Mr Thomas Puthangadi.
Different Die types of Wrapper No 3.. 'CASH SIX'.
CASH SIX (കാശു ആറു ) 1900-1905.
Minor variations exists in size of die,colour, paper size & varieties and floral designs etc (not shown here).
Die Type 1.
May 26, 1900.
Earliest recorded than catalogued in Deschl (1901).
a) Concentric circle almost touches bottom rectangle box.
b) Corner 'fluer-de-lis' are 'white' on the green background.
c) Frame appears to have a thin white line running all around.
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 & above the circle.
b) Corner 'fluer-de-lis' are 'white' on the green background.
c) Gap between 'H' of CASH &'S' of SIX.
d) Small gap between 'E' & 'A' of TRAVANCORE ANCHEL.
e) Thick solid green frame.
Die size: 22:26.5 mm Indent : 19 mm
Die Type 2 b
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 CASH & 'S' of SIX.
d) Lettering in circle is small and thin...'TRAVANCORE ANCHAL SIX CASH'.
e) With & w/o bridge on 'H' of 'ANCIIEL'
f) Thick solid green frame.
Die Type 3..
Jan 04,1905
a) Concentric circle almost touches bottom rectangle box.(Similar to die Type 1)
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.
f) Thin letters within the concentric circle.
g) Thick solid green frame.
h) Gap reduced between 'H' of CASH &'S' of SIX.
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 minimal space for 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.
e) Double white line with space in the bottom tablet.
Indent : 18mm Die size: 22:27 mm
Die Type 4 (b)
Oct 01,1905.
Die is similar to Type 2, except to the fluer-de-lis (white instead of green).
a) Concentric circle, which does not touch the frame all around, with space for ornamental floral design under & above 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.
f) Double white line in the bottom tablet.
Die size: 23:28 mm Indent: 14 mm
Comparison shown below:
Green in 'fleur-de-lis' pattern.
White(instead of green) in 'fleur-de-lis' pattern...
