1860 Die Proof of the head with uncleared surround, sunk-mounted on thick card (92 x 60mm) with mica covering. This was the original head die from which the master double-head die was prepared; ex De La Rue archives Note: This head was based on William Theed's sculpture and engraved by Daniel Pound (Image)

1860 Head Die Proof in black on glazed card (92 x 59mm), with oval surround uncleared, annotated '4th proof' and dated 'Decr 9th 1856'. Reverse thinned on removal from archival source Note: This proof is referred to in the DLR Invoice Book AA, page 70; 'Taking master die for ½a duty', June 1857 (Image)

1860 Head Die Proof in black on glazed card (93 x 60mm), with inner oval and outer circular surround uncleared, dated 11/2/57. Ex Koh-i-Nor (CRL 25/2/1986, lot 399) Note: This head, with a circular surround, was used for the 1861 Foreign Bills issue (Image)

1860 Head Die proof in black on glazed card (93 x 60mm, top left corner removed), with double oval and surround uncleared, marked in pencil 'Before Hardening March 7/57' (Image)

1860 Head Die proof, stamp-sized in black on glazed card, sunk-mounted on piece of card ex the De La Rue day book, with uncleared oval frame and surround. Endorsed 'India' in ink and 'duplicate in use' in pencil. A few small foxed areas affect the card, but not the proof. Unique Note: Ex Spink, 16.10.2003, lot 499, where the engraving was misattributed to Pound. The head was prepared for the Electric Telegraph issue, and was subsequently used as the basis for later postage issues, the 1860 8p and the 1868 8a Die II (Image)

1860 Electric Telegraph set of three cut-down Die Proofs in black on glazed card; a lovely and very rare set, ex Jal Cooper, Malin and Christie's Robson Lowe (13.3.1985) Note: We record four sets of cut-down Die Proofs, one of which is in the Royal Collection (Image)

1860 Electric Telegraph 4r Die Proof in black on glazed card (92 x 60mm), dated 'April 29th' in pencil. Some minor marks around the edge, the proof impression very fine, and unique in private hands. Note: There is a set of Die Proofs overprinted SPECIMEN in the Inland Revenue Stamping Archive in the British Library; apart from these we have no record of other full-size Die Proofs for any value, overprinted or otherwise (Image)

1860 Electric Telegraph 4a on blue glazed paper, an imperforate vertical pair from the imprimatur sheet, with clear to excellent margins. A minor crease to the upper stamp does not affect the surface, or the splendid appearance of this very rare and important multiple. Ex Desai and Sturton Note: Five singles (of which two are in the Royal Collection) and two vertical pairs are known. This is much the superior of the two pairs, which are the only multiples known from the Electric Telegraph issue - in any condition (Image)

1860 Electric Telegraph 1r on blue glazed paper, an imperforate right-marginal Plate Proof. Good colour and impression, one very light crease and a little smudge on the 'CT' of ELECTRIC, very rare Note: Six single examples are recorded, of which two are in the Royal Collection (Image)

1860 Electric Telegraph 4r on blue glazed paper, a spectacular imperforate Plate Proof from the bottom right of the sheet, displaying 'H' of marginal inscription TELEGRAPH and marginal watermark (inverted) GOVER of GOVERNMENT. Some marginal creasing and soiling, still most attractive and an item of the highest rarity and importance, unique in private hands. Note: Two further single examples of the 4r Plate Proof are known, both of which are in the Royal Collection (Image)

1860 Electric Telegraph set of three Plate Proofs imperforate on blued paper, each vertically overprinted 'IMEN' of SPECIMEN Type 2, with four margins and good colour, minor staining on the reverse of each. A very rare set Note: Five sets are recorded of which one is in the Royal Collection, with another in the Inland Revenue Stamping Archive at the British Library (Image)

1860 Electric Telegraph 4a reddish purple, right marginal example with large part o.g., marginal inscription LONDON. A few shorter perfs but with good gum, expertised Roumet on reverse, lovely colour and with just a few tiny surface scuffs. SG T1, £3250 Note: Sixteen unused examples are recorded, of which two are in the Royal Collection, with a number in poor condition. This appears to be the only known marginal example (Image)

1860 Electric Telegraph set of three, part to large part o.g., some minor blemishes; very small foxed spots on the reverse and a few short perfs, the 4r with a bend. Very fine colour and appearance, each with pencilled Alberto Diena initials on reverse. An exceptionally rare set. SG T1-3, £40750 Note: Ex Koh-i-Nor (CRL 25/2/1986, lots 402-404), where it became the only set of the Electric Telegraphs to be offered by auction. Just four unused examples of the 4r are recorded. There is no example in the Royal Collection (Image)

1860 4a reddish purple on blued paper, used, uncancelled but with Check Office punches. Heavily creased and with a small thin. Ex Sturton. SG T1, £2000 Note: Use of the Electric Telegraph issue was barely publicised and severe restrictions were placed upon their use, to the extent that we have recorded just five examples of the 4a used (one in the Tapling collection), four of the 1r (three used in Ceylon) and two whole stamps and a left half of the 4r. Col. Robinson states - "The extent to which they have been used may be stated as practically nil...." (Image)

1860 4a reddish purple on blued paper, used, with nine small Check Office punches and two neat Bangalore CDSs of 15.11.91 (year slugs inverted). Creased, still above average and an attractive example of this rare stamp. SG T1, £2000 (Image)

1860 1r reddish purple on blued paper, used, cancelled by the distinctive CEYLON TELEGRAPH OFFICE/ PRIVATE oval. A very rare stamp, seemingly the finest example extant. SG T2, £5000 (Image)

1860 Electric Telegraph 1r reddish purple on blued paper handstamped 'ON H M S S ONLY' in blue, uncancelled. Faulty at right, unique in private hands, ex Ferrary (Sale 5, 15/11/1922, lot 274) SG T2 var Note: Hausburg et al state on page 159 that 'Copies of the one rupee stamp are known bearing a black handstamped overprint reading "ON H.M.S.S. ONLY". This appears to be of the same nature as the local surcharges which preceded the official issue of service postage stamps.' Reference to the overprint in black suggests that Stewart-Wilson and Crofton had only seen illustrations of the issue. The other example is in the Tapling collection at the British Library (Image)

1860 Electric Telegraph 4r left half, used with partial Jacobabad cancellation of 23.12.71, with evidence of the printed form on the reverse. Some colour suffusion at right, a little soiled but an exceptionally rare stamp. SG T3, £8000 Note: This appears to be the example referred to on page 159 of Hausburg et al. Ex Jal Cooper (who removed it from its form) and Sturton (Image)

Electric Telegraph design precursors. GB Revenues (3) being Chancery Court 14/- o.g., overprinted SPECIMEN; Probate Court 6d imperforate Plate Proof in black and perforated 1/- issued stamp, o.g. with slight buckling; and India 1860 8p purple on white paper, fair o.g. Note: Each has elements that were incorporated in the Electric Telegraph issue design (Image)

1860 Electric Telegraph set of three overprinted COURT FEES in red, each punched but otherwise uncancelled, as are all these. Some small faults and the 4r with the lower right corner added; good appearance. Note: Unsold remainders of the Electric Telegraph issue were either destroyed (Madras and Calcutta) or overprinted COURT FEES (Bombay) (Image)

1866 preliminary essay. Hand-illustrated design for the Telegraph form from the De La Rue archives, showing how the Receipt portion (including the top half of the adhesive) would be separated and given to the sender. This concept necessitated the 'Double Head' design, since it would have been considered disrespectful to have required the Queen's Head to be cut in half. An important document (Image)

1866 preliminary material. Five 'rough notions' sketched by Col. Robinson, each for the 50r value and numbered 1-5, with the portrait clearly based on the head by William Theed. #2 was evidently considered the most suitable; #5 has the De La Rue Museum mark on the reverse. Offered together with two items of correspondence from Col. Robinson to Warren De La Rue, the first to accompany the sketches, the second apologising for the timing of the first, which would have arrived the day after the death of Warren's father, Thomas (Image)

1866 preliminary sketch and essays. Sketch, apparently by Col. Robinson, a rudimentary depiction of a stamp with two discrete compartments to facilitate accurate separation. Annotated 'a splendid idea'! This is accompanied by De La Rue's earliest mock-up of the 'Double Head' concept, two hand-painted essays executed on card in watercolour and Chinese white, denominated 8a and 50r. Together with a letter from Col. Robinson to Warren De La Rue, who was evidently not entirely happy with the essays, looking to decide 'the stamp question'. A beautiful pair of essays, of considerable importance as the earliest surviving essays of any Indian telegraph issue. Note: The artist responsible for the essays is not known for certain, but is likely to have been the Royal Academician Owen Jones. The Joubert head was utilised as a temporary expedient. There are some very faint 'knot-lines' on the face of the 8a, probably done by Col Robinson who was still considering how he wished the stamps to appear (Image)

1866 preliminary material. Letter from Col Robinson (received by De La Rue on 7th September) outlining his wish for the issue to be accelerated, and containing rough sketches of complicated 'knots', to be included in the designs between the head impressions. The sketches, now mounted on card, are included Note: The purpose of the 'knots' was to make it more difficult to rejoin or reuse the stamps (Image)

1866 preliminary document. Original manuscript from the De La Rue archives, an indent for supply of stamps for the 'Indian Telegraph Department', for supplies of the previous design i.e. the Electric Telegraph issue in new colours. The order was never fulfilled and was countermanded in favour of the 1869 issue; an interesting part of the background story Note: The indent is quoted in Patel & Desai p.128, extract 'D' (Image)