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Jammu and Kashmir

By Wolfgang Hellrigl

Thursday 16 November 2006

The valley [of Kashmir] is an emerald set in pearls; a land of lakes, clear streams, green turf, magnificent trees and mighty mountains where the air is cool, and the water sweet...
Sir Walter Lawrence

Kashmir, if literally translated, means land desiccated from water: ka (the water) and shimeera (to desiccate). Tradition says that Kashmir was originally a lake that was drained by the great saint of ancient India Kashyap. Kashmir formed part of the empire of Ashoka who is credited with the foundation of the city of Srinagar around 250 BC. During this period Buddhism spread in Kashmir, but the region later became a Hindu Kingdom. From 1339 onwards, the country was subject to Muslim, Mughal, Afghan and Sikh rule, respectively.

The two Anglo-Sikh wars of 1846 resulted in the extinction of the Sikh sovereignty in Kashmir. By virtue of the treaties of Lahore and Amritsar the British East India Company, who had by now become undisputed masters of India, transferred Kashmir to the Maharaja Gulab Singh, a Dogra prince. In consideration of this transfer, Gulab Singh paid to the British East India Company the sum of 75 lakhs of rupees plus an annual tribute of six shawls spun from the wool of Kashmiri goats. The British aim in this transfer had been to create a border buffer state ruled by a strong ally, and to be relieved of the expense and responsibility of administering a vast and difficult area.

Maharaja Gulab Singh laid the foundation of the Jammu and Kashmir State. He conquered and incorporated different regions, such as Jammu, Poonch, Skardu, Gilgit and Hunza, ruling an area of more than eighty thousand square miles.

He was succeeded by Maharaja Ranbir Singh who ruled from 1857 to 1885. Almost all the laws, civil and criminal, which the British had introduced in India, were with some modifications made applicable to the State. The various State departments were organised on the pattern of departments as these existed in British India. Ranbir Singh improved the internal postal system established by his father, and introduced the first postage stamps.

The mail was carried by a relay system of 75 postal runners (harkara), on the principal route from Srinagar, via the Banihal Pass, to Jammu. Over one hundred runner stations (chauki) were established along the route.

 

Initially, the mail consisted mainly of official correspondence, but merchants' letters soon became an important factor, prompting the Maharaja to create an efficient system based on postal rates for private correspondence.

Jammu and Kashmir was considered as the crown jewel of India's Princely States. Its position between British India and the Empires of Russia and China - embedded between the Indian plains and the snow-covered ranges of the Himalayas and the Karakorum, and protruding far north into Central Asia - was of great strategic importance.

Jammu and Kashmir's introduction of regular adhesive postage stamps in 1866 precedes the introduction of stamps in most other Asian Kingdoms and Empires (Persia followed in 1868, Afghanistan and Japan in 1871, China in 1878, Nepal in 1881, Siam in 1883, etc.).

The stamp issues of Jammu and Kashmir stand out because of their design and brilliant colours. They were particularly popular during the 19th century. In a traditional collection of Jammu and Kashmir, it is fundamental to distinguish between the types of colour (watercolours or oil colours) and paper (native or European papers). Considering the many combinations of these elements, the number of stamps issued during the first twelve years (1866-1878) is exceptionally high indeed, with over one hundred basic stamps catalogued.

1. The Pre-Stamp Period

The Octagonal Franks (1861-1866)

Following the establishment of a regular postal service between Srinagar and Jammu, and preceding the issue of the postage stamps, two octagonal intaglio seals were introduced and used as "Franks." One seal was used by the Jammu P.O., the other by the Srinagar P.O.

Some twenty covers are known bearing such Franks.

Most covers of Jammu and Kashmir are dated, usually according the Muslim Hijra calendar, which is roughly 583 years behind the Gregorian calendar (AD). Another calendar used on covers is the Hindu Samvat, which is roughly 57 years ahead of AD. Occasionally, mail bears the date expressed in both these calendars.

2. The Jammu and Kashmir Express Stamp

The "Dak Zaruri" (c. 1860)

Presumably around 1860 a special Express Stamp, the so-called Dak Zaruri, was issued. It was hand-stamped in red watercolour on native paper. The trilingual inscriptions, in Devanagari, Dogri and Persian, respectively, read "Urgent Letter" (Khat Zaruri). The central design of the stamp shows the sun emblem of the Dogra dynasty (the Dogra considered themselves as a sun-born race).

Mail bearing the Dak Zaruri stamp was forwarded urgently, by night and day, passing from the hands of one post runner to the next. Some sources claim that the stamp was only used on the Maharaja's, or on State Service. The fact that there is no denomination seems to support this claim.

Two unused copies are known, both were pasted down in the sample book of the Srinagar engraver, Rahat Ju. Since all true "proofs" of stamps and seals contained in this sample book are struck in black, it is believed that the two red copies are actually the issued stamps, not proofs.

Except for the Devanagari inscription, there are great affinities with the first regular issue of 1866. This stamp was most probably in use before the Circulars of 1866, which could make it the earliest issue of all Indian States.

Contemporary sources in Srinagar (Rev. Knowles) claimed that they had seen used copies of this stamp. However, no used copies have survived.

The two Dak Zaruri stamps were discovered by Capt. Godfrey, who obtained them directly from Rahat Ju, then sold one copy to Masson.

In the write-up of his copy, Godfrey mentions that this stamp "was used on postal despatches on His Highness the Maharaja's mails, in the form of a seal on the fastening and therefore would have been destroyed in opening the bags and packages."

3. The Circular Stamps Issued for Jammu and Kashmir

The Inscriptions:

The circular stamps bear the inscription "Dak Jammu" (= Jammu Post) in Dogri script, reading inwards from left to right:

The remaining inscriptions are in Persian, reading outwards from right to left: "Dominions of the State Government of Jammu

and Kashmir."

The date "1923" refers to the Hindu Samvat calendar (= AD 1866); it is in Persian and reads inwards from left to right.

The three denominations - ½ anna, 1 anna, 4 annas - expressed in the Indian traders' notation, are shown in the centre. The denomination of the 1 anna stamp had long been taken to read 4 annas and vice versa. It was only in 1985 that the Gibbons catalogue finally recognised the correct situation and reversed the two types.

The denominations of the circular stamps

3.1. 1866-1867 -Issue for Jammu and Kashmir - Watercolours

The circular stamps were hand-printed from single dies engraved in brass, at the Printing Works of Jammu City. Except for some of the later printings in oil colours, native papers of Kashmir were used throughout.
The first issue of the circulars, which was intended for use in both the Province of Jammu and the Province of Kashmir, was printed in watercolours and comprised the following stamps:

½a. 1a. 4a. Grey Black (March 1866-September 1867)
- 1a. - Royal Blue (March 1866-April 1866)
½a. 1a. 4a. Ultramarine (April 1866-May 1867)
- - 4a. Indigo (December 1867-January 1868)

The earliest known use of the first issue dates back to 23 March 1866 (½ anna Grey Black) and 24 March 1866 (1 anna Royal Blue), respectively:

The Double-Postage System:

Mail carried by the "Maharaja's Dak" between Srinagar and the extra-territorial Kashmiri Post Office at Amritsar required only the State's postage stamps.

On the other hand, mail to India carried by the "Resident's Dak," via the British-Indian postal lines, had to bear "double postage" (i.e., stamps of Kashmir and British-India of identical face value). Although this system was more expensive, its advantages were a faster as well as a safer service.

The Postal Routes to India:

The Maharaja's Dak travelled southward from Srinagar, via the Banihal Pass, to Jammu and hence to India.

The British-Indian mail was carried along the "Western Route" into India, then south, via Murree and Rawalpindi, to Sialkot and Amritsar.

The Postal Rates:

In 1866, the following postal rates were introduced in Jammu and Kashmir:

Letters weighing up to ¼ tola: ½ anna;
from ¼ to 1 tola: 1 anna;
over 1 tola, for every tola: 1 anna. (1 tola = 12 g).

Registration fee: 4 annas.

Left: 1866 (25 June), Srinagar to Amritsar. Pair of 1 anna Ultramarine. Almost all early covers bear cut-to-shape stamps, an obvious attempt to reduce the weight to an absolute minimum.

4. The Circular Stamps Issued for Jammu

4.1. 1869-1877 - Issue for Jammu - Watercolours

Following the first issue, distinct rectangular issues were made for the Provinces of Jammu and Kashmir, respectively, although the stamps had validity in both Provinces. Red (and related shades, notably orange) became the standard colour for Jammu from 1869 until the introduction of the oil colour printings in 1877.

Since the rectangular issues comprised the denominations of ½a. and 1a., it might be expected that the circular issues would now have been restricted to the 4a. only. However, Jammu continued to produce also circular ½a. and 1a., which, however, were printed only as required to supplement the standard rectangulars. They were used sparingly and, consequently, are scarce.

This issue comprised the following stamps:

½a. 1a. 4a. Red (January 1869-August 1877)
½a. 1a. 4a. Orange-Red (October 1872-September 1875)
- 1a. 4a. Orange (November 1872)
½a. - 4a. Carmine-Red (c 1876)

The use of circular ½ anna and 1 anna stamps is quite exceptional, since - from 1867 onwards - rectangular issues were almost invariably used to make up these two denominations.

Orange-Red and Orange in particular are amongst the rarest shades of the Circular issues.

Left: c. 1877 (16 March), Jammu to Lun Miani. ½ anna Red on the reverse of a ½ a. British-Indian postal stationery envelope.

Less than ten covers with the ½ anna Red are known.

Right: c. 1870 (January), Jammu. This is the only known franking with a Circular 1 anna Red. It is also the only known used multiple of this stamp.

4.2. 1874-1876 - Special Printings for Jammu - Watercolours

Stamps from the so-called "Special Printings," in brilliant, bright colours, were issued in far lower numbers than the contemporary Jammu Old Rectangulars. They were presumably experimental printings and only few stamps were used to meet occasional shortages. Some students believe that these issues may include printings that were prompted by the demand arriving from European philatelists and dealers. At any rate, all printings are known to have been commercially used.

The Black and Blue printings are much brighter than the Grey-Blacks and Ultramarines of the 1866 issue.

This issue comprised the following stamps:

½a. 1a. 4a. Deep Black (1874-1876)
½a. 1a. 4a. Bright Blue (November 1875-July 1876)
- - 4a. Deep Blue-Black (1876)
½a. 1a. 4a. Bright Emerald (February 1876-December 1876)
½a. 1a. 4a. Yellow (July 1876)

4.3. 1877-1878 - Issue for Jammu - Oil Colours - Native P.

Since Jammu, unlike the Kashmir Valley, experiences the heavy monsoons of the Indian plains, the watercolours of the Jammu stamps showed a tendency to drip in the wet climate. In an attempt to solve this problem, Jammu abandoned the watercolours in July 1877, in favour of more permanent pigments, the oil colours.

The issue on native papers comprised the following stamps in oil colours:

½a. 1a. 4a. Red (July 1877-May 1878)
½a. 1a. - Brown-Red (1877-May 1878)
½a. - - Black (May 1877-April 1878)
½a. 1a. 4a. Slate Blue/Slate Grey (August 1877-April 1878)

½a. 1a. 4a. Sage Green (July 1877-August 1877)

The stamps were often irregularly handstamped on sheets and pieces of paper of varying sizes. Overlapping impressions do occur, while wide spacing is rather unusual.

4.4. 1877-1878 - Issue for Jammu - Oil Colours - European Paper

Jammu started in April 1877 to experiment with various European papers, both laid and wove, in addition to continuing with the customary local paper. This issue is generally rare, and was little used.

The issue on European papers comprised the following stamps:

On European Laid paper:

½a. 1a. 4a. Red (April 1877-April 1878)
½a. - - Black/Grey-Black (July 1877-April 1878)
½a. 1a. 4a. Slate Blue / Slate Grey (August 1877-April 1878)
- - 4a. Sage Green (February 1878)
½a. - - Yellow (1878)
On thick brownish Wove paper:

½a. - - Red (April 1878)

The Sage Greens on European laid paper are extremely rare. Less than a dozen copies are known. Only the 4 annas stamp exists in this shade.

 

5. The Jammu Provisionals

5.1. The Jammu Seal Struck on Cover (1873)

Due to a momentary shortage of stamps, the square Jammu postal seal, struck in red, was used as a "handstruck postage stamp." This remarkable and singular case of provisional use precedes by four years the well-documented adhesive Jammu Provisionals (struck on pieces of paper, instead
of being impressed directly on the cover).

5.2. The Jammu Seal Used as an Adhesive Stamp (1877)

In 1877, the Jammu postal seal, struck in rose-red watercolour on pieces of native paper, was used as a ½ anna stamp in lieu of the regular issues. The adhesives were invariably cancelled with the same seal in black. In all, less than a dozen covers with this "provisional" are known.

The traditional theory maintained that these provisional stamps were used during a shortage of regular stamps, but this is highly unlikely in view of the numerous circular and rectangular issues available in 1877. Recent research does not exclude the possibility of a postal fraud by Post Office officials.

The Defaced Dies of the Circular Stamps

The original dies of the circular stamps were officially defaced in February 1898, in the presence of Masson, Godfrey and Stewart-Wilson. The twofold purpose of the defacement was the prevention of further reprints, and the verification of which dies were actually used for the printing of the original stamps. The imitations printed from the so-called "missing dies" were subsequently recognised as forgeries. The identification of the original dies also settled the question of the forged "Type 1," long believed to be rare originals.

Only ten "proofs of defacement" in black were made of each die. Today, the defaced dies are preserved at the Shri Pratap Singh Museum of Srinagar.

Forgeries

The Early Postal Seals of Jammu and Kashmir

6. The Old Rectangular Stamps Issued for Jammu

In August 1867 Jammu issued stamps printed from a "Composite Plate" in the form of a block of four. The Plate contained three ½ anna stamps and, at bottom left, one 1 anna stamp. The inscriptions of the Old Rectangulars, which were printed at the Printing Works of Jammu City, resemble those of the Circulars.

6.1. 1867-1868 - Issue for Jammu - Watercolours

The initial issue comprised the following colours:

Grey-Black (August 1867-September 1867)

Ultramarine (September 1867-May 1868)

Indigo (February 1868)

Deep Violet Blue (January 1868-April 1868)

The printings in Grey-Black are particularly rare, as they were replaced with the various shades of Blue after only two weeks of use. Used copies can be separated from the Jet Blacks of 1874 by way of the seal cancellation: circular magenta seal (1867 issue) and square black seal (1874), respectively.

6.2. 1868-1877 - Issue for Jammu - Standard Orange/Red Watercolours

This issue represents the standard colours for Jammu, varying from different shades of Orange to Orange-Red and Red.

Orange, Red-Orange (May 1868-September 1874)

Red (June 1868-July 1877)

Carmine/Carmine-Red (April 1874-June 1876)

Cherry Red (March 1876-June 1876)

6.3. 1874-1876 - Special Printings for Jammu - Watercolours

At the same time as the Jammu Circulars, the Old Rectangulars were also subject to the so-called "Special Printings," in bright colours. The previously issued Blacks and Blues now have brilliant shades, and a new colour, Bright Emerald, was introduced. The Jammu Special Printings are generally rare, particularly the Jet Blacks and the Emeralds.

 

Jet Black (c. 1874)

Bright Blue (April 1876-August 1876)

Bright Emerald (April 1876-May 1876)

6.4. 1877-1878 - Issue for Jammu - Oil Colours - Native Paper

The printings in oil colours are generally smudged, due to clogged plates and the varying thickness of papers. Obviously, the Jammu Composite Plate was less suitable for the oil pigments than the single dies of the Circulars.

Red (June 1877-April 1878)

Brown-Red (June 1877-April 1878)

 

Black (January 1878)

Black-Blue (January 1878)

6.5. 1877 - Issue for Jammu - Oil Colours - European Paper

In October 1877, experimental printings on various European papers were made. These stamps were in use for three weeks only. Thereafter, the regular printings on native paper were resumed.

Red on Wove Paper (October 1877)

Red on Laid Paper (October 1877)

The Defaced Jammu Composite Plate

7. The Old Rectangular Stamps Issued for Kashmir

The Old Rectangular Issues for the Kashmir Province were printed on watercolours, on native paper. Due to the dry climate of the higher regions, there was no need to use oil colours in order to prevent the "running" of the watercolours that was experienced in the humidity of Jammu.

7.1. 1866-1867 - Issue for Kashmir - ½ Anna, Single Die

This stamp was issued around June 1866, shortly after the first issue of the Circulars, and was replaced later that year with the black ½ anna from the 1st Composite Plate of Kashmir.

½ anna Black (June 1866-April 1867)

Covers franked with the ½ anna single die are considerably rarer than those with the subsequent ½ anna black from the composite plate. Only a dozen covers are known with this stamp.

7.2. 1866-1879 - Kashmir - The 1st Composite Plate

The 1st Kashmir Composite Plate comprises 25 individually engraved types, whereby the top four rows consist of ½ anna stamps, and the fifth row of 1 anna stamps. Initially, the whole plate was printed in black.

Plate Proof:

½ a. & 1a. Ultramarine (April 1867-June 1867)

In April 1867, the Black colour was substituted with Ultramarine. The intention was to print the two sections of the Composite Plate in two colours: Ultramarine for the ½ anna and Red for the 1 anna. However, for a very brief period, the whole Composite Plate - including the five 1 anna stamps - was printed in Ultramarine. This is generally believed to have been an unintentional error of colour.

The Kashmir Error of Colour

1867 (20 June), Srinagar to Amritsar. 1 anna Ultramarine and 1 anna Venetian Red (ex Yardley).

The unique Twin-Values Cover, showing the 1 anna Ultra-marine error-of-colour in combination with a normal 1 anna Venetian Red, subse­quently printed from the bicoloured Plate. Less than a dozen copies of the error are known.

Stamps Printed from the two Panes of the Composite Plate:

½ a. Ultramarine (June 1867-April 1878)

1 a. Red/Orange (Shades) (June 1867-April 1878)

The 1 anna shows the widest variety of shades: Chestnut and Venetian Red were in use 1867-1868, Yellow-Orange 1871-1875, Orange-Red 1875-1878.

7.3. 1867-1878 - Kashmir - The 2nd Composite Plate

¼ anna & 2 annas The second Kashmir Composite Plate is composed of a strip of five ¼ anna stamps above a strip of five 2 annas stamps. In the originals, the two portions of this Composite Plate were always printed separately, in two distinct colours (Black and shades of Yellow). Both denominations were specifically introduced for the prepayment of visitors' letters (¼ anna) or registered letters (2 annas).

¼ anna Black, Grey-Black (July 1867-April 1878).

Although the ¼ anna stamp is quite common, covers are very rare. Their specific use as "half-rate" stamps was rather limited, and multiples were rarely used to make up the standard postage.

2 annas: Buff (July 1867-May 1871)

Yellow (May 1872-April 1878)

Covers bearing 2 annas are very rare. They were normally used on visitors' registered letters to India - the concessionary registration rate being half the standard registration fee of 4 annas. From the evidence of several registered covers of this period, it appears that the 2 annas registration actually included the State's postage.

7.4. 1867-1879 - Issue for Kashmir - The High Values

The 4 annas and 8 annas were handstamped from single dies.

4 annas: Myrtle, Sage Green (September 1867-1868)

Emerald (1868-August 1879)

The Early British-Indian Postal Markings of Srinagar

8. The New Rectangular Stamps for Jammu and Kashmir

8.1. 1878 - The Perforated Issues

In May 1878 a common issue in a new design was released that replaced the previously separate issues for each Province. The plates consist of individually engraved types. Plate proofs in black were made.

While the Plate Proofs were printed in watercolours, printer's ink was used for the issued stamps. The printings of the 1 and 2 anna plates show wide ornamental sheet borders. The unique plate proofs shown on this and the preceding page were harrow-perforated in a single operation.

8.1. 1878 - The Perforated Issues

The primitive Circular and Old Rectangular issues were followed, in May 1878, by a modern, well-executed issue, the so-called New Rectangulars. They were no longer printed in watercolours or cloggy oil colours, but in printer's ink, which resulted in much clearer impressions. The native paper was replaced with European papers of good quality.

 

The various denominations were printed in sheets of individually engraved clichés. The initial printings were in Red - the standard colour for Jammu - followed by Slate Violet, Blue and similar shades, for use in Kashmir. The New Rectangular issues contain printings in black, intended for official use. The old seal cancellations were soon replaced with more modern devices.

Another new feature was perforation. However, the perforating machines appear to have had a very short life, and were subsequently abandoned. Very few perforated sheets have survived, and the only perforated stamp known on cover is the ½ anna.

All perforated issues (and all imperforates issued prior to April 1881) were printed in Jammu City. They are from the first State of the printing plates.

Pin-Perforated issues:

½ anna Brown-Red (May 1878-July 1878)
1 anna Red (1878?)
½ anna Slate Violet (August 1878)

8.2. 1878-1879 - The Imperforate Printings in Violet

In August 1878 the ½, 1 and 2 anna plates were printed in Jammu, in shades of Violet, Slate Violet, Bright Violet, Purple, Mauve, Violet-Blue and Blue.

½ anna: Violet, Slate Violet (August 1878-February 1879)
1 anna: Dull Purple (February 1879-December 1879)
2 annas: Violet-Blue (August 1878-March 1879)
Bright Violet (December 1879-July 1880)

8.3. 1878-1881 - The Jammu Printings in Red

Between July 1878 and March 1881, numerous printings of all denominations in red were made in Jammu. All printings are from State I of the respective plates. The papers used range from horizontally or vertically laid (occasionally with sheet watermarks) to thin, medium or thick wove papers. With these printings, red became the standard colour for both Provinces.

¼ anna Red (July 1878-October 1881)
½ anna Red (September 1878-March 1881)
1 anna Red (November 1878-June 1882)
2 annas Red (September 1879-November 1881)
4 annas Red (November 1879-April 1881)
8 annas Red (November 1879-March 1881)

8.4. 1881-1883 - The Srinagar Printings in Orange

Around April 1881, the printing plates of all denominations were sent from Jammu to Srinagar. There, new printings were made in orange, whereby the re-bedding of the plates required the fixing of additional screws through the plate borders, giving rise to State II of all plates. Orange now became the standard colours for both Provinces.

The orange printings come in two distinct main varieties:
a) blurred impressions in dull brown-orange: ¼, ½, 1, 2, 4, 8 annas;
b) clear printings in bright orange: ¼, ½, 1, 2 annas only.

¼ anna Orange (April 1881-March 1883)
½ anna Orange (April 1881-April 1883)
1 anna Orange (April 1881-August 1884)
2 annas Orange (April 1881-March 1884)
4 and 8 annas Orange (April 1881-March 1883)

The Leh-Provisionals of 1883

Due to a shortage of ½ anna stamps at the Leh Post Office, bisections were tolerated. Between April and July 1883, diagonal bisects of the 1 anna (red or orange), and, on rare occasions, of the ½ anna (red or orange) were used from Leh. In all, only a dozen covers have been recorded.

 

The rarest use of the bisects is that of the ½ anna orange. Curiously, the ½ anna stamps were 'doubly used', whereby each half was deemed to represent full ½ anna rate and not a ¼ anna!

After July 1883, the use of bisects was prohibited. However, the postmaster of Leh found another way of coping with the shortage of stamps: he collected the postage in cash and duly acknowledged the payment on the cover.

The early British-Indian Postmarks of Leh

8.6. 1878-1894 - The Black Official Stamps

All stamps intended for official use were printed in black. They were printed from the same plates and on the same papers as the postage stamps for public use.

Commercial use on cover is rare, particularly during the early period, 1878-1883.

The Jammu Printings in Black (September 1878-March 1881)

Only three denominations (½, 1, 2 annas) were printed in Jammu, showing State I of the Plate. Sheets of State I are very rare.

The Srinagar Printings in Black (April 1881-October 1894)

 

All denominations (¼, ½, 1, 2, 4 and 8 annas), except the ⅛ anna, were printed in Srinagar, showing State II of the Plate. Of the ½ anna, State III was also printed in Srinagar.

Initially, the high values were little used. No Jammu-printed copies (State I) exist, and early usages from State II are very rare. After 1890, both values were regularly used on letters, packets and receipt forms. It is believed that the stamps used up after 1890 were actually re-issues of earlier printings.

The Convention Essays:

A set of essays, consisting in British-Indian stamps overprinted in several colours of ink, was prepared in 1883/84, following a proposal that Jammu and Kashmir should join the Indian Convention States. The essays were never adopted, as Jammu and Kashmir declined to join the Convention.

The overprint shows the word KASHMIR in a curve to the left, and the name in Devanagari at the top. The State’s coat of arms is shown on the right. Only one set of essays is known, consisting of 13 stamps, differing either in the denomination or the colour of the overprint.

The 1883-1894 Issues:

From April 1883 to November 1894, the New Rectangular stamps of Jam-mu and Kashmir were newly issued in a wide range of new colours, in various printings. Furthermore, remainders of earlier printings were re-issued between 1886 and 1894, whenever the multicoloured issues were temporarily out of stock.

During the final period, from 1890 to 1894, the volume of mail increased enormously, requiring the printing of large quantities of stamps. As a result, there are only few scarce varieties among the numerous stamps issued. The unified postmarks, with three concentric circles, are typical of this era. In fact, the vast majority of all Jammu and Kashmir covers bear these postmarks which were adopted by some seventy Post Offices throughout the State.

Together with the multicoloured definitives of 1883, a ¼ anna postcard was issued, followed in 1884 by a set of nine telegraph stamps.

On 1 November 1894 the State’s postal system was closed down and its Post Offices were transferred to the British-Indian postal system.

It is regretted that, due to space limitations, the 1883-1894 range of issues could not be shown in the display.

Selected Bibliography, in chronological order:

Masson D.P., The Stamps of Jammu and Kashmir. Philatelic Society of India, Part 1: Calcutta 1900; Part 2: Lahore 1901.

Evans E.B., "The Stamps of some of the Native States of India. Jammu and Kashmir". Stanley Gibbons Monthly Journal, Vol. 12 (1901/02), pp. 110-115, 163-164, 210-212; Vol. 13 (1902/03), pp. 33-35, 75-78, 96-98, 120-122, 194-198.

Kohl P., Die Marken von Kaschmir. P. Kohl, Chemnitz 1912.

Lasbax E. and J. Sanciaume, Les Timbres de Jummo-Cachemire, Yvert & Cie., Amiens 1933.

Sefi A.J. and C.H. Mortimer, The Stamps of Jammu-Kashmir, Sefi Pemberton & Co., London 1937.

Dawson L.E. and E.A. Smythies, The Postage Stamps of Jammu & Kashmir Simplified, The Philatelic Society of India, Lahore 1937.

{Mortimer C.H.] Auction sale catalogue. Harmer, Rooke, 16 February 1939.

Rudolphi H. v. (ed.), "Kaschmir," Handbuch der Briefmarkenkunde, Part 11, pp. 381-384; Part 12, pp. 385-437, Verein Handbuch der Briefmarkenkunde, Berlin 1942/43.

[Dawson L.E.] Auction sale catalogue. Robson Lowe, London, 10 January 1967.

[Haverbeck H.D.S.] Auction sale catalogue. Harmers of New York, 28 June 1973.

"The Maharaja Collection" auction sale catalogue. Edgar Mohrmann, Hamburg, 14 April 1982.

Bard A.S., "Visitors’ Letters from Kashmir, 1860-1866". Gibbons Stamp Monthly, Vol. 12 (March 1982), pp. 51-54.

Bard A.S., "The Resident’s Dak. 1867-1870". Gibbons Stamp Monthly, Vol. 13 (November 1982), pp. 85-88; (December 1982), pp. 70-72.

Staal F., The Stamps of Jammu & Kashmir, The Collectors Club, New York 1983.

[Sturton C.T.] "The Kashmir Blue" auction sale catalogue. Harmers of London, 29 June 2004.

Homepage for specialists, "Collecting Kashmir":
http//www.kashmirstamps.ca

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