1881 Charcter-in-Bars Cancellations of Bhagwanpur, Daneldhura, Dhankuta, Hanumannagar x2, Kadarban, Kalaiya Types I & II, Karnali, Khatmandu, Okhaldunga, Pyuthan, Sarlahi and Taulihawa, all but one (a 2a) on 1a blue from various printings in variable condition but mostly with full margins, the postmarks are generally very fine to superb. Difficult to assemble.
1883 cover with a very fine Imperf 1a ultramarine SG 4 (Cat £200 as a used single) tied to the face by fine to very fine 'swirl' cancel of Kathmandu, the reverse with very fine oval Kathmandu d/s of 29.3.1883 & superb Kalaiya arrival cds of 30.3.1883. A couple of minor defects on the reverse still a fine First Issue cover, with original state of the postmarks. Wolfgang Hellrigl Certificate (1990). Richard Frajola's similar cover of July 1883 to Trisuli sold for US$1180.
1896 cover with a fine Imperf 1a indigo SG 10 tied to the reverse by a fair strike of Dhankuta's character-in-bars cancel with superb intaglio cds to the right with manuscript date of 31.5.1896, a bit stained from the adhesive on the flaps otherwise very fine.
1897 larger-than-usual cover with an Imperf 1a blue (full margins, stained by the adhesive used) tied to the face by a fine strike of Palpa's character-in-bars cancel, on the reverse a light but clear intaglio cds of Palpa with manuscript date of 21.8.1897 & legible Kathmandu arrival cds, minor wrinkling.
1900 larger-than-usual cover with an Imperf 1a blue (full margins, stained by the adhesive used) tied to the face by a largely very fine strike of Gahawa's character-in-bars cancel, on the reverse a largely fine intaglio cds of Gahawa with manuscript date of 2.12.1900, minor wrinkling & a little soiled. [Gahawa was renamed Birganj in 1897. Hellrigl & Hepper don't record a character-in-bars cancel for Gahawa or Birganj. Today, there are towns of both names]
1901 local cover with an Imperf 1a blue with Recut Frames SG 26 (margins good to large) tied to the face by a largely very fine strike of Kathmandu's hexagonal character-in-bars cancel, fine part-strike of Kathmandu cds of -.11.1901 on the reverse, vertical fold & a little aged. The catalogues state the Recut 1a was issued in '1901'. The earliest recorded usage is from -.10.1901, making this one of the earliest covers recorded. [Hellrigl & Hepper state at page 10 "Strikes [of the cancel] are rarely clear. It is often impossible to determine whether the outlines are circular or hexagonal"]
1904 European envelope with Imperf 1a dull blue with Recut Frames SG 26, tied to the face by an almost fine strike of Lyanglyang's character-in-bars cancel with two strikes of the intaglio cds of Lyanglyang with manuscript dates of 7.9.1904 & 8.9.1904, almost fine Kathmandu arrival cds of 10.9.1904 on the reverse, to the Commander-in-Chief Bhim Shamsher, unusually fine.
Sale No: 250
Lot No: 1994
Symbol: C
Cat No: 26 (Stg 26 ?
1905 cover with an Imperf 1a blue with Recut Frames SG 26 (Stg 26 ?, with framelines very clear; margins good to large) tied to the reverse by a fine strike of Dhankuta's character-in-bars cancel with intaglio cds of Dhankuta alongside with manuscript date of 15.6.1905, almost fine Kathmandu arrival cds of -.11.1901 on the reverse, stained from the envelope adhesive. [In the centre is a manuscript notation "// 74 //" in Devanagari numerals. This warns that an unauthorised person who opens the letter would commit a sin equal to the slaughter of 74 sacred cows!]
1905 scarce double-rate cover with an Imperf 2a grey-lilac SG 16 (large even margins) tied to the face by a very fine strike of Kadarban's character-in-bars cancel, on the reverse a largely fine intaglio boxed datestamp of Kadarban with manuscript date of 8.10.1905, attractively stained on the reverse from the adhesive used in making the envelope. Wolfgang Hellrigl Certificate (1985).
1907 registered cover with a 'full set' of Imperfs comprising 1a dull blue with Recut Frames SG 26, 2a bright violet SG 15 & 4a blue-green SG 17 (all with full margins) tied to the face by fair to fine strikes of Taulihawa's character-in-bars cancel, the reverse with superb intaglio cds of Taulihawa with manuscript date of 6.8.1907, and largely superb Kathmandu arrival b/s of 14.8.1907. minor peripheral tears. Wolfgang Hellrigl's two 1907 registered covers, from Taulihawa & Pokhara, sold for SFr2640 & SFr2280 respectively.
