INDIAN STATES: Various States 1700-1900 - Used Pre-stamp Covers Before the introduction of adhesive postage stamps (starting with the Scinde Dawk in 1852 and the General Post Office issues in 1854), the postal history of the Indian States was defined by pre-stamp covers. These "stampless" letters relied on a variety of handstamps, manuscript markings, and wax seals to indicate payment, route, and origin. 1. Types of Pre-Stamp Markings During the 1700s and 1800s, communication in India was handled by two main systems: the Imperial Post (East India Company) and the Native State Posts (often called the Anchal or Brahmani systems). • Handstamps (Postmarks): These were often elaborate and distinctive. In the 18th century, you would see large, circular, or rectangular framed marks. o "Paid" or "Bearing": Covers were marked "Paid" if the sender paid the postage, or "Bearing" if the recipient was to pay. o Octagonal/Unusual Shapes: Many states used unique geometric handstamps (like the octagonal "B/1" or boxed city names) to identify the dispatching office. • Manuscript Markings: In many smaller states or earlier periods (pre-1800), postmasters simply wrote the name of the town, the date, and the postage amount in ink (often in local scripts like Devanagari, Urdu, or Modi). • Wax Seals: High-ranking officials or merchants often used "Official Black Negative Carvings" or red wax seals to close the "entires" (the letter itself folded into an envelope) and signify authority. 2. Notable Examples & States • Jaipur: Known for some of the earliest recorded pre-stamp entires, dating back to the early 1700s. These often feature local script markings and were carried by private messengers or state-run runners (dak runners). • Hyderabad: Before issuing its first stamps in 1869, Hyderabad had an extensive pre-stamp system. Look for covers with "Nizam’s Post" markings or elaborate Urdu calligraphy. • Scinde (Sindh): This region produced the "Scinde Dawk" forerunners. Pre-stamp covers from this area (pre-1852) often show the transition from East India Company administrative marks to more localized postal handstamps. • Convention States (Patiala, Gwalior, etc.): While these states later overprinted British Indian stamps, their early postal history is rich with "Postal Convention" markings and transitionary handstamps. 3. Collector’s Value Indicators When examining these covers, several factors determine their "elaborate" nature and value: • The "Entire": Collectors prefer the whole letter (the "entire") rather than just a cut-out, as it provides context, dates, and full routing information. • Route Markings: Look for "Forwarding Agent" marks (e.g., "Care of Mr. Waghorn") or "Ship Letter" stamps, which indicate the letter traveled via sea or specific overland routes to Europe. • Script Variety: Covers featuring multiple languages (e.g., a mix of English, Persian, and local vernacular) are highly prized for showing the multicultural administrative history of the time. Look carefully at the images to form an opinion SG 2018 The shipment will be from UK Lot TMR1-215