Postage Stamp Chat Board & Stamp Bulletin Board Forum
 

Wait a minute ... didn't I once hear the words "boring" or "dull" for this State?

You did ... but at 99p, who could resist?

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'First I'll steal all the money, then I'll kill everybody, and then I'll go away', Père Ubu

Ewen, that's a most interesting observation. I hadn't noticed it before. However, it seems to be a characteristic of the plate. Here are a few more of the Waterlow ¼ anna, and the subsequent Perkins, Bacon ¼ anna pulled at random (they're pretty common stamps):



The Perkins, Bacon plates were larger, but very similar in design. So, were PB simply given specimens of the Waterlow designs, and told to copy, or was there some way PB could have re-worked or re-used the Waterlow plates? And could the mystery stamp fit in somewhere in the changeover?

(Anything to make a silk purse out of this sow's ear )

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'First I'll steal all the money, then I'll kill everybody, and then I'll go away', Père Ubu

They could have had the master die, rather than the plate, to work with.

(Still think that first one's a changeling, though.)

I've just added some really fascinating news - if you care for that sort of thing - about the Charkhari 1931 set (SG45-53) over in the Nice Stamps thread.

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'First I'll steal all the money, then I'll kill everybody, and then I'll go away', Père Ubu

Tony - Here's an ugly I picked up at a stamp show in Toronto this past weekend:




Can you tell me anything about it?

Mike, I can't tell you much more about it than you can glean from the card itself. It's a Jaipur postal stationery card, probably Higgins & Gage 14, sent from Sambhar to Sri Madhopur, and with what looks like a Sawai Jaipur (Jaipur City) transit CDS. They're reasonably common, I'm afraid, but this is in nice condition, except for the spike hole.

The Jaipur postal system was quite extensive, and a reasonable amount has been written about the postmarks. Sad to say, Sambhar and Sri Madhopur aren't scarce. But these ps cards are a great source for postmarks, and the subject is quite an interesting and inexpensive one. If you're interested, I can dig out some articles on it from the India Study Circle archives.

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'First I'll steal all the money, then I'll kill everybody, and then I'll go away', Père Ubu

No special effort necessary for this one, Tony.

I am just in the habit of picking these up whenever I see them for a small enough price, if only to give you something to look at for a change!

Thanks for the info.

Well, well, we'll make an Ugly Man of you yet, Mike

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'First I'll steal all the money, then I'll kill everybody, and then I'll go away', Père Ubu

Just a few questions regarding the upcoming auction --

Are the monetary amounts listed at the far right supposed to be the "estimates" ... and of which you must bid at least 75% of that amount (or the reserve price, whichever is higher)?

Secondly ... I assume the monetary amount is in GBP?

Finally ... how do non-UK residents make payments in GBP, if they don't accept Paypal?

Eric, I can't really provide any very satisfactory answers to your questions, but
1. I'm assuming they're estimates
2. I think it's safe to assume they're £s
3. I don't think anyone knows yet how the problem will be fixed. Maybe try nagging your North American coordinator into agreeing to make a lump sum payment for all the North American members.

But for definitive answers, better email Phill Olds. He's the ultimate authority

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'First I'll steal all the money, then I'll kill everybody, and then I'll go away', Père Ubu

Tony ... since there doesn't appear to be any way in which to view the lots (as opposed to my Philippines group, which posts color photos of all the lots on their website), did you ever win a particular lot from the ISC auctions, and then when it finally arrived you concluded it looks like a dog's breakfast?

Never any serious problems, but I have raised an eyebrow on occasion.

If you're thinking of bidding, though, I'd ask Phill for scans of the specific lots. That should save heartache on both sides.

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'First I'll steal all the money, then I'll kill everybody, and then I'll go away', Père Ubu

For hard-core Uglies lovers, I've just posted up elsewhere (under Share with others your nice looking stamp ...) the results of a collaboration with Bob Stanley on the perforations of the 1931 set of Charkhari.

Only one stand-out, I'm afraid. If you have a copy of the 2 Rupees value perf 11, you have a bit of a rarity ... though I don't think you'll be able to retire on it

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'First I'll steal all the money, then I'll kill everybody, and then I'll go away', Père Ubu

And another reminder for Uglies lovers, and anyone who might be tempted, the latest India Study Circle Indian States auction has just been loaded up onto the ISC Web site (www.indiastudycircle.org/ - and follow the links). It is nominally open to Circle members, but I believe they'll take bids from non-members as well. Some very choice Ugly stuff there

(Thanks for alerting me, Eric!)

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'First I'll steal all the money, then I'll kill everybody, and then I'll go away', Père Ubu

Just make sure everybody backs away from the Dhar State material, and nobody will have to get hurt.

And I have my eye on one particular Barwani lot. Not saying which, but if anyone else gets it, beware going down dark alleys at night if there are balding, bespectacled gents carrying large sticks in the general neighbourhood ...

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'First I'll steal all the money, then I'll kill everybody, and then I'll go away', Père Ubu

Eric,

Canada Post will sell you a postal money order in British Pounds for $5.00 and it can be cashed at a post office in Britain at no cost to the person cashing it. I think the limit for a single money order is 100 pounds - set by Canada Post.

Tony,

Sooo... you were the other balding, bespeckled man with a big stick I saw skulking in that alley!

Thanks Bob.

I am not sure, but I also think the banks will sell me a money order in Sterling Pounds. I will definitely have to check both options to confirm what the limits are, prior to bidding.

Eric,

I tried the banks a few years ago and if I remember correctly the person in receipt of the bank's money order had to redeem it at a British bank that was affiliated with the Canadian bank. Seemed like a lot of work for Phill Olds so I stuck to the Post Office. It was no more expensive and a lot more convenient for Phill.

And for those with an insatiable desire to know more about Idar, I've posted a bit of a survey of in Share with others here your nice stamps ...

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'First I'll steal all the money, then I'll kill everybody, and then I'll go away', Père Ubu

Bob, thanks for pointing that out (about the related bank thing), as I was not aware of it.

Now here is an interesting thing, and perhaps I can get a little bit of feedback from the longer term members of ISC:

I note that the regular India auction (no states), which is closing at 10 A.M. on January 6th, 2009, looks like it is being handled by a "K. G. Adams", rather than Phil, who is handling the India States auction closing on December 24, 2008.

Does anyone know if Phil is "retiring" from doing the auctions after the upcoming one that closes in December ... or is this simply a case of different auctioneers for different material? I do note, this last option seems unlikely, since Phil also handled the auction which ended in early October, and which included both regular India and India States material.

I see also that at the bottom of the list of material for the Adams run auction that it says: "I am experimenting with PAY PAL and it seems to work well for overseas members. If you have any unhappy experience, let me know. KGA."

The "we take paypal" ... "we don't take paypal" ... seems to be a rather confusing stance. Has anyone actually used PAYPAL in relation to the ISC or its auctions?

One other question: Have any of the members received the November 2008 issue of India Post yet? I'm curious because the Americas coordinator seems to have his copy a week or more ago, but I am still waiting for mine.

I'm also interested in seeing a copy of the North American list of available library materials, which I was told was supposed to be coming out this month (November).

Eric, what you're seeing is simply a manifestation of the great divide within the ISC between the India collectors on the one side, and the States collectors on the other. Phill Olds may have included some India material in a general States auction, but I'd guess he'd be as uncomfortable as I would be in describing and pricing it. K.G. Adams (if I've identified him correctly) is much more of an India collector.

('India' is a vast collecting area, after all: it stretches from usage of British India in the Persian Gulf at one extreme, to States stamped papers at the other.)

The PayPal/No PayPal business depends on the individual. As the ISC doesn't have a PayPal account (I think it was Phill who pointed out the complications of a corporate PayPal account), it's down to the individual auctioneers whether to accept it or not.

I'm not sure about a November India Post. It's usually published quarterly, so I'd expect an October-December issue some time in the New Year. There has been some discussion of offering it online, but as always, it comes down to one of the voluntary Committee members finding the time and energy to do it: not always an easy thing for people with their own busy lives to lead.

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'First I'll steal all the money, then I'll kill everybody, and then I'll go away', Père Ubu

Eric: I just received my November 2008 issue of India Post today (Nov.22nd) and I live in California, so you ought to get yours soon. You are on page 170 by the way.

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Jim M.

Thanks to all for their responses.

Makes my eyes water!

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Peter
Hawthorn - AFL Premiers 1961, 1971, 1976, 1978, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 2008.

Tony, it is only being issued 3 times a year since the new editor started a couple of years back.

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AUSTRALIA 2013 EXHIBITION - 10 to 15 MAY 2013 - http://www.australia2013.com

Ah well, I didn't become a translator because I was good at counting

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'First I'll steal all the money, then I'll kill everybody, and then I'll go away', Père Ubu

But not over the Jammu & Kashmir watercolours - please

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'First I'll steal all the money, then I'll kill everybody, and then I'll go away', Père Ubu

Tony,

Read your " Share with others....." posting on Idar and it was very good as is usual for your stuff.

I'm going to have to go after those SG 1s and 2s with a little more enthusiasm.

They don't seem nearly as easy to find as the catalogue prices might suggest.

Bob, I have dozens of SG 1a to 2b, but so far SG 1 is eluding me. I think Gibbons price for it must be pretty unflattering.

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'First I'll steal all the money, then I'll kill everybody, and then I'll go away', Père Ubu

I stand corrected. It seems that it was just me that has found Idar SG 1s and 2s hard to get .

Probably from lack of trying as I went after other states.

Seems as if it's been some time since I was right about anything.

If I make enough mistakes I'm liable to blunder into the correct answer somewhere along the line.

Bob, the answer's simple: I've got all the SG 1as to 2bs

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'First I'll steal all the money, then I'll kill everybody, and then I'll go away', Père Ubu

And I just received my copy today.

Very disappointing: not enough Ugly stuff. Now come on chaps! Ask questions! Write articles! We can't let the British India mob have India Post to themselves!

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'First I'll steal all the money, then I'll kill everybody, and then I'll go away', Père Ubu

You guys are lucky ... I still haven't got mine.

Eric, there's a very interesting article (first in a series, apparently) on the cancellations of Bhopal, but precious little of Ugly interest otherwise - and not a word on Dhar, I'm afraid ...

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'First I'll steal all the money, then I'll kill everybody, and then I'll go away', Père Ubu

Ah .... so they probably figured it would be a waste to send one to me.

That must be it, Eric

Unless, of course, you were to see sense and start collecting early Bhopal ...

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'First I'll steal all the money, then I'll kill everybody, and then I'll go away', Père Ubu

Tony,

If you've got all the early Idar and most of the Barwani, where does that leave the rest of us?

We can't all collect Bijawar!

Go on, Bob: I've left you Travancore, haven't I?

And on a more constructive note, have you considered the possibilities of Morvi?

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'First I'll steal all the money, then I'll kill everybody, and then I'll go away', Père Ubu

Tony,

You thought so little of Travancore that you gave it all away!

Morvi reminds me a bit of Barwani - maybe not so well studied.

And I'm still chuckling at the misfortune of the bloke I unloaded my Travancore onto

But Morvi ... A much more 'legitimate' State than, say, Barwani. Its State PO seems to have been genuinely and quite heavily used, from the ready availability of postal stationery and commercially used. Sheets of the later issues aren't too hard to find either - even if they are inconveniently large (at 16 stamps to the sheet) and they were serial numbered too.

I haven't researched the subject through the India Post archive, but from memory, there hasn't been all that much written - certainly in recent years. Could be quite a fertile little field there for someone to plough.

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'First I'll steal all the money, then I'll kill everybody, and then I'll go away', Père Ubu

I've just added this note to my Barwani survey in Share with others ...

And now a real treat for the hard-core. Gibbons classifies the printings of SG 32-43 made by the Times of India Press, from 1932 to 1948, under 'narrow' and 'wide'. This is quite adequate for the general collector, but it can't do justice to the complexity of these issues.

In the November 1949 issue of the Philatelic Journal of India, P. Congreve published a summary of the various settings (or printings if you prefer) of the Devi Singh and reissued Ranjitsingh types. This was a truly extraordinary effort.

Thirty years later, I included a slightly updated version of Congreve's table in a series of articles on Barwani in the Collectors Club Philatelist.

A lot of work has been done by others in the Barwani archives since then, and it's now time to issue a revised, and more authoritative classification of the settings. This isn't the time or place to reproduce it. I'd likely be lynched by understandably outraged Stampboards members. But if you'd like a copy, just email me.

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'First I'll steal all the money, then I'll kill everybody, and then I'll go away', Père Ubu

Eric,

My India Post finally arrived ( Nov. 28th ) so I guess they left Canada for last.

I could say something trite like saving the best for the last, but I won't.

If anyone has even the slightest interest in Barwani, ask Tony to e-mail you a copy of his tabulation.

He's done an amazing amount of research and you'll find none better on the subject.

Bob ... mine arrived the same day as yours.

I am still looking forward to the new library list, which I believe was supposed to be finished in November ... but patience is a virture.

I found something of intrest for Tony, Eric and others reading this thread:
A dealer (?) in California is offering the following on Ebay, along with others, which I rather think is "strange".
1.) Duttia 1896 4 anna black/rose SG 7 at USD 1,300.00
(item # 220305748661)
2.) Barwani 1923 1/4 anna SG 17a at USD 750.00
(item # 220306141771)
3.) Cochin 2-1/4 anna SG 056c at USD 1,650.00
(item # 370107279137)

These are all "buy it now" with no bids possible. I rather think he is trying to find people who don't know stamps and want to "invest" what with the economy as it is --- but perhaps I am wrong?

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Jim M.

Jim, I think I know the gentleman you're referring to. He has some very nice stock, but his prices have always been a bit too steep for my taste. (He has some interesting Barwani booklets, but he's asking prices that rather cool my ardour )

I recall the Barwani: it's a single, not a pair, so quite useless. It would be all too easy to trim the perforations from a single stamp. He should know better.

The Duttia looked genuine - not one of the pathetic fakes that turn up every so often on eBay. But condition is the key to these early Duttia. They're almost always defective in some way: creased and/or thinned.

The Cochin is probably OK too, but as with all highly priced Uglies, I'd only buy it with a BPA Certificate.

Have you found anything to interest you in the upcoming ISC auction?

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'First I'll steal all the money, then I'll kill everybody, and then I'll go away', Père Ubu