INDIA 1855-1865 Issues

Return To Catalogue - India overview - India 1854 issue

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.

For stamps of India issued in 1854, click here.

1855 Queen Victoria, inscription "EAST INDIA POSTAGE"

1/2 a blue 1 a brown 1 a brown, typical cancel Used in Singapore ('B172' cancel) 8 a red 

  1/2 a blue
  1 a brown
  2 a green
  2 a brown to orange
  4 a grey
  4 a green
  8 a red

These stamps have perforation 14.

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
On bluish paper, no watermark (1855)
4 a grey RR ***  
8 a RR ***  
On white paper, no watermark (1856)
1/2 a R **  
1 a R ***  
2 a green RRR - Prepared, but not issued
2 a orange RR *** Red: R
4 a black RR ***  
4 a green RRR RR  
8 a RR ***  
With watermark 'Elephant head' (1865)
1/2 a blue *** c Specialists distinghuish two types
1 a *** *  
2 a orange R *  
4 a green RR R  
8 a red R *** Specialists distinghuish two types 
Official stamps, Overprinted "Service." (small or large)

1/2 a blue 2 p orange 4 a green
(Small "Service" overprint)

Large 'Service' overprint
(Large "Service" overprint)

  1/2 a blue
  1 a brown
  2 a red
  4 a green
  8 a red

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
On stamps with no watermark (small 'Service')
1/2 a RRR RR  
1 a RRR RR  
8 a *** RR  
On stamps with watermark 'Elephant head' (small 'Service')
1/2 a RR R  
1 a RR R  
2 a RR RR  
4 a RR RR  

On stamps with watermark 'Elephant head' (large 'Service')
1/2 a R **  
1 a R **  
2 a orange *** *  
8 a *** *  

A forged overprint:


(Forged "Service" overprint)

Official stamps, overprinted "On H.M.S."



  1/2 a blue
  1 a brown
  2 a red
  8 a red

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
On stamps with watermark 'Elephant head'
1/2 a *** *  
1 a *** *  
2 a R ***  
8 a *** ***  

These stamps overprinted with a crown and a value in "CENTS" were used in Straits Settlements.

I've seen the values 2 a and 8 a with "CANCELLED" overprint.


Forged "Service." and "On H. M. S." overprints made by the forger Francois Fournier (reduced sizes).

The forger Sperati made forgeries of the unissued 2 a green stamps (two reproductions: 'A' and 'B').


Sperati blackprint 'proof' of the 2 a value.

 


I've been told that this primitive stamp is a postal forgery.


Some kind of primitive forgery?

 

1860 Queen Victoria, inscription "EAST INDIA POSTAGE"

  8 p lilac

This stamp has perforation 14.

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
On bluish paper, no watermark
8 p RR RR  
On white paper, no watermark
8 p R ***  
With watermark 'Elephant head'
8 p *** ***   
Official stamp, overprinted "Service."
  8 p lilac

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
8 p RRR RR No watermark
8 p RR RR With watermark 'Elephant head'


Forgery with wrong inscription "EIGHP" and a very peculiar cancel. Next to it a very similar product from Wurttemberg.


A more sophisticated forgery.

 

1866 Fiscal Stamp, overprinted "POSTAGE" in green

  6 a violet

This stamp has the top and bottom cut off, therefore it is always imperforated at the top and bottom. Two types of the overprint exist: type 1 with 3 1/2 mm high overprint and type 2 with 2 1/2 mm high overprint:

Type 1 overprint: 3 1/2 mm high Type 2 overprint, 2 1/2 mm high

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
6 a RR RR Both types, overprint in green

Similar stamps were issued as official stamps:


(Reduced size, with black overprint)

The values 1/2 a, 2 a (2 different designs), 4 a and 8 a exist with overprint 'SERVICE POSTAGE' or 'SERVICE TWO ANNAS'. These overprints are very rare:


(Images obtained from a Shreves auction)

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 a RR RR  
2 a RR RR Smaller sized stamp
2 a RRR RRR Larger sized stamp (as 4 a and 8 a)
4 a RRR RRR  
6 a RRR RRR  

Official 'reprints' were made in 1885. I've seen the 6 a but with a different text "SERVICE POSTAGE" in green; this reprint does not have the top and bottom cut off. I've also seen the 4 a reprint, but with a much smaller "SERVICE POSTAGE" overprint (again with top and bottom still intact). The "SERVICE TWO ANNAS" on 2 a stamp was reprinted with green color (original stamp have a black overprint). If I'm well informed the 1/2 a was also reprinted, it has a dot behind "POSTAGE" (the original stamp does not have this dot). All these reprints are very rare (RR).


Reprints, made in 1885; overprint type different and bottom and top of the stamps still intact.


Forged overprint.


Forgery of the 4 a stamp, with "FALSCH" written in green at the bottom part of the stamp (just below "ANNAS"). The face of the Queen is badly done. The perforation is printed. This is possibly a Senf forgery.


Forged "POSTAGE" overprint made by the forger Francois Fournier (reduced size).

 

For more stamps issued from 1866 to 1902 click here.

Copyright by Evert Klaseboer