1854, unissued '9½ Arches' ½ a. deep vermillion, horizontal strip of three with right sheet margin with inscription "be cut off", nice vivid colour and good margins, unused without gum as prepared. A very fine and rare multiple. Certificate BPA (2018)

1854/55, Die I, ½ a.  blue, tied by blue diamond of dots to small letter sheet from Vellore to Secunderabad, very fine 

Die I, ½ a.  blue, little touched at base, tied by Bombay series type "36" to small entire letter from Nassick to Ahmednagar

1854/55, Die I, stone A, ½ a.  pale blue, horizontal strip of 6, fresh colour and good to mostly large margins, neatly cancelled by diamond of dots. The left stamp small termite holes, otherwise very fine. A rare multiple. Certificate BPA (2016)

½ a. blue, Die II, marginal block of 12, unused, little toned, one stamp with paper errow

1854/55, Die II, ½ a.  blue, little cut into at left, tied by Bombay series type "76" to small cover from Nagpore to Secunderaba

1 a. red, fresh colour and large margins, at right wide sheet margin with part of marginal inscription "ards the RIGH", neatly cancelled, very fine

1 a. red, Die I, horizontal block of 8, nice colour and ample to large margins, used with diamond of dots, two stamps additionally with arrival or transit mark "BASEL 30 AUG 55". One stamp small hinge thin, otherwise very fine and fresh. A rare multiple.

1 a. red, fresh colour and large margins tied by Bombay type "1" two small envelope from Bombay to Calcutta

1 a. red, fresh colour and large margins tied by Madras type "139" two small envelope from Madura to Madras

1 a. red, fresh colour and large margins, sheet margin at left, tied by Bombay type "1" two small envelope from Bombay to Calcutta

1 a. red, Die II, slightly touched, but mostly ample margins, tied by diamond of dots, to small folded letter 1855 "via Marseille" to London and re-directed to Kent, with red boxed "POSTAGE NOT PAID TO LONDON"; charged upon arrival ("1/10"?)

1 a. dull red, Die 2, horizontal strip of seven, nice colour and good to large margins, used with diamond of dots, two stamps additionally with part of red cds.. The central stamp faint crease, otherwise very fine. A rare multiple.

1 a. red, Die III, slightly touched, but mostly ample margins, tied by clear octagonal "B18" and manuscript "stamped", with adjacent "BARRACKPORE 1856 AUG.." (date inverted), to small envelope to London with boxed "INSUFFICIANT" and charged with "6" pence.

1854, 4a blue and pale red, 1st printing, two copies, cut to shape, together with 1 a. red, tied by diamond of dots to letter sheet with reverse side red boxed "CALCUTTA G.P.O. SHIP LETTER NO 8 1854" and front side re "INDIA PAID" to Hamburg, endorsed "per Oriental via Trieste"; Hamburg arrival mark of 16.12. The entire with small paper fault in the address area, still fine. A rare entire.

Second printing, 4 a. blue and red, good to extremely large margins with full wavy line at left and part at base, nice colour, cancelled by diamond of dots. A very rare stamp in this condition.

Second printing, 4 a. blue and red, slightly touched at top and base, large margin with full wavy line at right, nice colour, cancelled by diamond of dots. Very fine. 

Second printing, 4 a. blue and red, vertical pair, the lower stamp slightly touched at base, otherwise good to large margins, nice colour, cancelled by diamond of dots. A very scarce multiple.

Second printing, 4 a. blue and red, cut to shape, tied by numeral in diamond to small cover from Kohat via Southampton to London and re-directed, additionally franked with GB 1856/59, 1 d. (some short perfs). A fine and scarce combination. Certificate BPA (2017)

Fourth printing 4 a. deep blue and red, good margins, used with diamond of dots, very fine, certificate RPSL (1985)

Fourth printing, 4 a. blue and red, vertical pair, ample margins, nice colour, cancelled by diamond of dots. Very fine.

Fourth printing, 4 a. blue and red, vertical strip of three, the upper stamp cut to shape at top, otherwise good to large margins, nice colour, cancelled by diamond of dots and additional manuscript. A very scarce multiple.

Fourth printing, 4 a. deep blue and red, and 1 a. red, all cut to shape, tied by diamond of dots to small cover from "TEZPORE 23 OCT.1856", endorsed "Per Overland mail via Southampton"to London with frontside arrival mark. The right 4 a. Small scissors cut at base, otherwise fine, certificate BPA (2017)

Fifths printing, 4 a. blue and red, large margins and nice colour, cancelled by diamond "C135" and tied by red PAID-marking to piece. Very fine. Certificate BPA (2018)

Fifth printing 4 a. blue and rose red, just touched at top right, otherwise wide margins, neatly cancelled by central "B1", on small piece, fine and scarce

2 a. green, block of four with bottom sheet margin with inscription "RICE TEN", fresh colour and large even margins, unused, pre-fold between the vertical pairs and the upper pair with faint crease, still fine and very scarce

 2 a. green, horizontal pair with ample to large margins, used with diamond of dots and part of French manuscript tax

2 a. green, horizontal strip of 4, ample to large margins, marginal line at left, used with clear diamond of dots, very fine

2 a. green, horizontal strip of four with traces of frames, ample to large margins, used with diamond of dots and small ink mark, very fine

2 a. green, horizontal strip of four, good to large margins, tied by diamond of dots to small piece, very fine

2 a. green, horizontal strip of 4, tied by diamond of dots, to piece, very fine and extremely rare.

1856/64, De La Rue, ½ a. blue in imperforated marginal pair with part of marginal watermark in selvage, unused with o.g., very fine and scarce, certificate BPA (2022)

1856/64, ½ a. blue, vertical pair, tied by diamond "C111" to cover from Pondicherry to Karikal, very fine, certificate RPSL (2016)

1856/64, 1 a. brown, imperforated marginal strip of 3 (plus part of 4th stamp), unused without gum, one stamp corner fault, otherwise very fine (some minor toning)

4 a. Black, tied by octagonal "B1" to cover from "G.P.O CALCUTTA My 7 1861" to Sydney with arrival mark, little unfresh, very scarce

1856/64, 4 a. gray-black, used on cover from "CALCUTTA JL 22" (1862) to London and re-derected to Brighton, additionally franked with GB 1 d., tied by London duplex

8 a. pale carmine, block of 4, cancelled by the rare hollow "1", top right stamp small faults

1866, fiscal stamp 6 a. with overprint POSTAGE in large capitals, together with 8 p., tied by blue octagonal "B1" to mourning cover via France to England. A very fine and scarce entire. Certificate Robson Lowe expert service (1986)

1866, fiscal stamp 6 a. with overprint POSTAGE in narrow capitals, horizontal pair together with horizontal pair 8 p. (one stamp corner squeezed when applied), tied by duplex cancels to letter sheet via France to England. The entire with light age or transportation marks, otherwise very fine. The largest recorded multiple of this stamp and one of only few recorded multiple frankings . Certificate BPA (2011)

1866, fiscal stamp 6 a. with overprint POSTAGE in narrow capitals, together with 8 p., tied by duplex cancel to letter sheet via France to England. 6 a. very light crease at base, otherwise very fine and scarce. Certificate Robson Lowe expert service (1986)

1868, 8 a. pale rose, 3 copies with 2 a. orange, tied by barred "C" to cover with declared value of 500 rupees from Calcutta to Secunderabad with arrival mark. Very fine and scarce.

1882/90, ½ a. blue-green, 5 copies, tied by cds. "ELGIN-MILLS CAWNPORE MY 1 94" two cover to Wiesbaden, here franked with two copies 1889/1900, 10 pfg. and re-directed to Lamu, East Africa; small faults, part of backflap and envelope front missing, still fine

½ a. blue-green, horizontal pair, tied by cds. "INTALLY CALCUTTA 15 MA 00" to cover to Cairo, re-directed to Alexandria and again to Port Said, with postage due stamps applied in both cities

1882/90, ½ a. blue-green with clearly shifted double print, unused with o.g., some minor toning, still very fine, certificate BPA (2012)

¼ on ½ a. blue-green with clear double surcharge, vertical pair. unused with o.g,, the lower stamp unmounted mint, very fine

¼ on ½ a. blue-green with clear double print, unused with o.g, very fine, certificate BPA 1950

1860 (ca.), FOREIGN BILL  2 a., 4 a. and 8 a. Die Proofs, cut close and mounted on thick card, some minor toning. Fine and very scarce set.

1866, SERVICE POSTAGE ½ a mauve lilac, with "152" in diamond of bars and matching reverse side red "TRANQUEBAR 1869 SE 16" on O.H.M.S. "Money Order Advice" printed form to Madras with arrival mark. Very fine and rare; only few examples recorded on cover. BPA certificate (2011)

Same receipt stamp without overprint, with clear octagonal "B5" and manuscript "stamped" on cover from "AKYAB 19 Oct. 1861" to Calcutta with arrival mark; on reverse manuscript notation "receipt stamp not recognised for postage" with manuscript "2a." alongside. Stamp little damaged at upper right, otherwise fine and fresh. Very rare item. Certificate BPA 2020    

Provenance: Gerald Davis (Robson Lowe, 1990)   

1867/73, 6 a. 8 p. In horizontal marginal pair, fresh colour, unused with full fresh original gum, never hinged. Very fine and rare pair in this condition.