1854 Lithographed ½a. blue horizontal strip of four, used and each cancelled by black diamond of dots, and red pen-stroke at bottom, with wide margins all round, a diagonal cut at top right otherwise fine. (Tax Method: Margin System) (Image)

1856 District Post Manargoody: Entire franked by 1854 ½a. deep blue, Die I, wide margins, tied by oval of 12 bars (Renouf type 2a), large oval handstamp "TANJORE TALOOK TAPPAL/MANARGOODY" in red + date '8-1-56' in m/s on the reverse, remnants of hinges and tape on back and inside. A RARE DISTRICT POST LETTER with a fine stamp and RARE POSTMARKS. (Ex Topaz coll.) (Tax Method: Regular Taxation) (Image)

1855 District Post Manargoody: Entire franked by 1854 ½a. blue pair, Die I, wide margins, tied by indistinct diamond (or oval?) of bars, large oval handstamp "TANJORE TALOOK TAPPAL/MANARGOODY" in red + date '3 12 55' in m/s on the reverse, central vert. fold, fine. A RARE DISTRICT POST LETTER with a fine ½a. pair and RARE POSTMARKS. (Ex Topaz coll.) (Tax Method: Regular Taxation) (Image)

1854 Six different pairs used, with even two pairs of different colour shade of ½a. blue, 1a. red and 2a. green, fine used with various types of cancellations. (Tax Method: Margin System) (Image)

1854-55 Nine different stamps used, with ½a. blue (Dies I-III), 1a. red (Dies I-III) and three 2a. green (different shades, one with almost complete outer framelines), fine. (Tax Method: Margin System) (Image)

1855 District Post Manargoody: Entire franked by 1854 ½a. blue, Die II, wide margins, tied by diamond of dots, on the reverse with large oval handstamp "TANJORE TALOOK TAPPAL/MANARGOODY" in red + date '17 6 55' in m/s and trisected "...JORE/1855 June18/Paid." h/s in red, fine. A RARE DISTRICT POST LETTER with a fine stamp and RARE POSTMARKS. (Ex Topaz coll.) (Tax Method: Regular Taxation) (Image)

1857 Entire from Penguri to Madura franked by lithographed ½a. blue, Die III, cancelled by scarce circle of 11 bars (Jal Cooper type 2c), and with rare and unrecorded large red "POSTOFFICE/PENGURI/PAID" intaglio circular h/s with date '14-9-57' in m/s. The stamp cut at top otherwise fine. A VERY SCARCE CANCELLATION and A VERY RARE PENGURI POSTMARK. (Ex Topaz coll.) (Tax Method: Regular Taxation) (Image)

1854 Lithographed 1a. red, Die I, horizontal strip of four, used in Madras and cancelled by numeral handstamp "C/1", with complete to wide margins all round, fresh and fine. (Tax Method: Margin System) (Image)

1854 Lithographed 1a. red, Die I, horizontal strip of three, used in Madras and cancelled by numeral handstamp "C/1" and part of foreign cds in red, with complete to wide margins all round, piece of cover adhered on back, fresh and fine. (Tax Method: Margin System) (Image)

1855 (27 Jun) Wrapper from Berhampore to Calcutta franked by 1a. dull red, Die I, Stone A, wide to huge margins, tied by scarce circle of dots (Jal Cooper Type 1c), on the reverse with despatch and arrival datestamps both in red, vertical fold at left reinforced from behind. A VERY SCARCE CANCELLATION. (Ex Topaz coll.) (Tax Method: Regular Taxation) (Image)

1857 Cover from Mooltan to England 'Via Southampton' franked by two horizontal pairs of lithographed 1a. red, Die I, tied by numeral handstamp "191", red boxed "INDIA PAID" and red "PAID" arrival cds on face, Bombay transit cds and Exeter arrival cdson the reverse. Cover soiled but with a fine and attractive franking. (Tax Method: Regular Taxation) (Image)

1854 Lithographed 1a. pale red, Die II, left hand marginal single with sheet margin inscription, used and cancelled by circled of dots (Jal Cooper Type 1c, Renouf Type 1d), very fine. A SCARCE MARGINAL STAMP USED and a RARE CANCELLATION. (Ex Topas coll.) (Tax Method: Regular Taxation) (Image)

1854 Lithographed 1a. pale red, Die II, two horizontal pairs on cover to Bushire, tied by diamonds of bars, part boxed ".../PAID" h/s in red alongside. The pairs with close to wide margins all round, fresh and fine. (Tax Method: Regular Taxation) (Image)

1855 District Post Puttoocotah: Wrapper to Calimere franked on the reverse by 1854 1a. pale red, Die II, wide margins, tied by circle of bars (Jal Cooper type 2c), with red semi-circle handstamp "TANJORE/T.T./PUTTOOCOTAH" in red + date '11-10-55' inm/s and unrecorded boxed "CALIMERE/Paid." h/s + '15 10 55' in m/s alongside, slightly creases and tears into back-flap. A RARE DISTRICT POST LETTER with a fine stamp and RARE POSTMARKS. (Ex Topaz coll.) (Tax Method: Regular Taxation) (Image)

1855 (22 July): Native written cover franked on the reverse by superb pair of lithographed 1a. dull red, Die II, cancelled with scarce circle of bars (Jal Cooper type 2c), with unrecorded framed despatch handstamp ".../TALOOK/POST PAID" (P.O. not identified, description of the Topaz collections noted "Streeviegundum") plus date in m/s, small portion of envelope missing. Plus a second similar cover franked by 1a. single (Die II) with the same framed handstamp "STREEVI.../TALOOK/POST PAID" but in red. A very scarce cancellation and an interesting cover pair. (Ex Topas coll.) (Tax Method: Regular Taxation) (Image)

1856 District Post Puttoocotah: Entire franked on the reverse by 1854 1a. pale red, Die II, wide margins, tied by circle of bars (Jal Cooper type 2c), large oval handstamp "TANJORE TALOOK TAPPAL/PUTTOOCOTAH" in red + date '5-1-56' in m/s on the reverse, minor faults. A RARE DISTRICT POST LETTER with a fine stamp and RARE POSTMARKS. (Ex Topaz coll.) (Tax Method: Regular Taxation) (Image)

1858 Mixed franking: Cover from Nowshera to Exeter, England via Marseilles franked by lithographed 1a. red horiz. pair in combination with perforated 4a. black all tied by numeral h/s "259", red boxed "INDIA PAID" and London arrival cds on face, andon reverse with boxed "TOO LATE", "INDIA/PAID" and circled datestamps of Umballa, Bombay and Exeter. Fine stamps on a partial soiled/stained but still attractive cover. (Tax Method: Regular Taxation) (Image)

1854, QV 4 A red, wide margins all around tied by octagonal cancel on folded envelope (left side little reduced) sent "per Essex" to Mauritius with arrival ..J..1856 (Tax Method: Margin System) (Image)

1854 Lithographed 4a. blue & red, 2nd printing, two cut square singles on cover to London 'Via Southampton', tied by diamond of 10 bars, boxed "INDIA PAID" and England '5 June 1855' arrival datestamp on face, Bombay "MY 1" cds and fractions of red arrrival cds on the reverse. The stamps of fresh colours deep blue and pale red with almost complete margins (both slightly touched only one side) and fine. (Tax Method: Regular Taxation) (Image)

1857 Cover from Mundlesir, Indore to England 'Via Marseilles' franked with 1854 4a. blue & red (2nd printing, cut-to-shape) and 2a. green (part outer frameline) both tied by Bombay Circle numeral "44", alongside with framed "MUNDLEISIR/Paid." h/s inred (unrecorded by Giles) with date '23-7-57' in m/s, red boxed "INDIA PAID", charged "8" and English arrival cds in red, and on the reverse with Bombay transit cds and red London transit dater. (Tax Method: Regular Taxation) (Image)

1856 Cover from Ramandroog to England franked with lithographed 4a. blue & red (2nd printing, cut-to-shape, good margins) and 2a. green horizontal pair (fine) all tied by Madras type numeral "C/22", with "INDIA PAID" in crescent and London "PAID" arrival cds both in red on face, unrecorded framed "RAMANDROOP/Paid." h/s in red + '22 May 1856' in m/s as well as Bombay transit cds on the reverse. Cover opened three sides for presentation and with few minor faults. (Tax Method: Regular Taxation) (Image)

1854-55 Lithographed 4a. blue & red, 3rd printing (Head Die III, Frame Die I), sheet pos. 1, Wmk inverted and reversed, used, removed cancellation, cut-to-shape with almost cut outer frameline, slightly soiled and cleaned. B.P.A. certificate ('Not possible to certifyas either Head Die III or IIIa, cannot be certified as unused.') (SG £2250) (Tax Method: Regular Taxation) (Image)

1854 Lithographed 4a. blue & red two singles from 4th printing, used on entire 1857 from Bombay to London 'Via Southampton', tied by numeral "1", with red 'PAID/5 JU 5/1857' arrival d/s alongside, Bombay '1 May 1857' despatch cds in black on the reverse. Few minor faults on back and inside (opened roughly) but still a most attractive letter with stamps of intensive colours. (Tax Method: Regular Taxation) (Image)

1854-55 4a. blue & red from 4th printing (cut square, touched) along with 2a. green (close to wide margins with large part outer framelines) tied by diamond of dots to 1857 cover from Madras to London, also tied by "INDIA PAID" crescent h/s in blackand London '14 Nov 57' arrival cds in red, "MADRAS/1857/OC 13" despatch cds alongside, minor toning. (Ex Topas coll.) (Tax Method: Regular Taxation) (Image)

1858 (19 May): REGISTERED cover from Secunderabad to Edinburgh, Scotland 'via Southampton', franked by lithographed 4a. blue & red, Head Die III, Frame Die II, probably from 5th printing as cut square with huge margins up to 4-5 mm, heavily cancelledby numeral "C/56", with handstamps "REGISTERED.." and "INDIA PAID" in crescent, curved UK "REGISTERED" Crown h/s and arrival cds all in red along with black Madras transit dater on face, despatch cds in red and '7 July 1858' arrival cds in blue on the reverse, minor soiling but still a scarce stamp on an attractive registered cover. (Ex Topas coll.) (Tax Method: Regular Taxation) (Image)