INDIAN STATES, COCHIN

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Note: on my website many of the pictures can not be seen! They are of course present in the cd's;
contact me if you want to purchase them: evert@klaseboer.com.

Many forgeries exist: see the excellent site http://www.princelystates.com/CurrentIssue/ff-04-01a.shtml for more information.

1892 Arms (?) of Cochin, perforated

  1/2 p yellow
  1 p lilac
  2 p violet

These stamps exist with sheet watermark or watermark 'umbrella' (1897).

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
1/2 p	**	*
1 p	**	**
2 p	***	*

Larger sized stamp (fiscal stamp)

A larger sized 1 p stamp exists in a slightly different design (for example the word "COCHIN" is broader than the central ellipse). This stamp is a fiscal stamp, it is not clear if it was ever used for postal purposes.

Full sheet with 2 p stamps.

Typical cancel.

Crude modern forgery.

1898 Value, various frames

  3 pies blue
  1/2 put green
  1 put red (value in ellipse)
  2 put lilac

Surcharged (1909)

(Reduced size)

  '2' on 3 pies lilac

A rare second type of this overprint exists (RR), also inverted overprints and tete beche stamps are known (RR).

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
3 pies	*	*
1/2 put	*	*
1 putt	*	*
2 putt	**	*
2 on 3 pies	c	c

Typical cancels, reduced sizes.

Forgeries:

A 1/2 p forgery and two different kind of modern forgeries of the 2 p value.

I've seen some 2 p imperforate forgeries (wrong color), here with a whole bunch of forgeries of other Indian States, presumably made by the same forger:

A whole bunch of forgeries of different states, all made by the same forger, I presume.

1911 Portrait of ruler

  2 p brown
  3 p blue
  4 p green
  9 p red
  1 a brown
  1 1/2 a lilac
  2 a grey
  3 a red

Surcharged

  '2 Two pies' (2 types) on 3 p blue (1922)

With overprint "On C G S"

  3 p blue (different overprint in red, 1921)
  4 p green
  9 p red
  1 1/2 a lilac
  2 a grey
  3 a red
  6 a violet
  12 a blue
  1 1/2 R green

With overprint "On C G S" and further surcharged (1922)
  8 p on 9 p red
  10 p on 9 p red

1918 Portrait of ruler

  2 p brown
  4 p green
  6 p brown
  8 p black
  9 p red
  10 p blue
  1 a brown
  1 1/2 a lilac
  2 a grey
  2 1/2 a green
  3 a red

With overprint "On C G S"

  4 p green
  6 p brown
  8 p black
  9 p red
  10 p blue
  1 1/2 a lilac
  2 a grey
  2 1/2 a green
  3 a red
  6 a violet

With overprint "On C G S" and further surcharged (1922)

  8 p on 9 p red
  10 p on 9 p red

With overprint "ANCHAL & REVENUE"
  'ONE ANNA' on 2 1/2 a green (1928)

Later issues:

(Issued around 1933)

"On C G S"

(Issued around 1943)

(Issued around 1949)

'ANCHAL NINE PIES' on 1 a orange 'ON C G S' on 'SURCHARGED ONE ANNA THREE PIES' on 1 a orange

(Postal Stationery, "COCHIN" in circle with star)