Some questions about British India stamps

maalgard · **Posted:** Mon Oct 13, 2008 21:43:27 pm

Hi,

I'm sorting a British India stamp accumulation and I've found these interresting cancels :

- the first one have been cancelled in France ! In the Var deparment, in "?somewhere? sur mer", on the Mediterranean sea.

- the second one is an official, with a "secret ?something?" cancel.

- finally, the last one bear a totally unknown marking to me.

My questions to the Stampboarders are :

- why the first stamp have been cancelled in France ? sea post or by favor use ?
- is the second cancel a secret service cancel ?
- what is the third one ?

thanks, Matt

gavin-h · **Posted:** Mon Oct 13, 2008 22:40:46 pm

Matt,

First one may be Paquebot, or Postage Due, hence cancelled on arrival.

Second one: could the word be "Secretary" or "Secretarial", as this is an "Official" stamp

Third one: Looks like a USA "duplex" type cancel - how did it get there? Possibly the same way as the French cancel on the first one.

tonymacg · **Posted:** Tue Oct 14, 2008 00:20:43 am

I agree with Gavin.

The second would certainly be 'Secretariat', given that it's a Service stamp.

OttawaMike · **Posted:** Tue Oct 14, 2008 02:31:01 am

The first one is "La Seyne-sur-mer / Var".

Var is a department (province) on the southern coast France. La Seine-sur-mer is a port town near Toulon.

maalgard · **Posted:** Tue Oct 14, 2008 05:49:20 am

I also agree with la Seyne sur mer, it is the biggest "something sur mer" town in the Var department.

Secretariat is much less exciting than secret service ! You must be right

thanks all

birder · **Posted:** Mon Jul 11, 2011 05:07:52 am

Hi,

There is a slim possibility of it being a Barmer-Marvar postmark...

The top of the "B" is also visible in the lower stamp.

Thanks and regards..

doug2222usa · **Posted:** Mon Jul 11, 2011 06:04:30 am

The third cancel, with its Washington duplex, may be an example of consular mail, recently discussed, my post of May 31, 2011.

http://www.stampboards.com/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=28098

birder · **Posted:** Mon Jul 11, 2011 12:55:44 pm

There were many post offices called "Secretariat" in India in Hyderabad, Goa, Delhi etc. The second stamp copuld be from one of these..I think the "a" after "secret" is also partly decipherable..

The first cancel increasingly looks like Barmer.

Thanks and regards..

maalgard · **Posted:** Mon Jul 11, 2011 18:35:15 pm

The first stamp has definitely a french cancellation like this one :

probably Bormes sur mer.

birder · **Posted:** Mon Jul 11, 2011 18:52:11 pm

Maalgard,

You are probably right...

Thanks and regards

bsward · **Posted:** Mon Jul 11, 2011 21:07:45 pm

I'm sure I have seen a 'Secret Service' cancellation which would fit with your second but agree that secretariat cds are much more common.

Ben

Edit: Just noticed the age of this thread!

tonymacg · **Posted:** Mon Jul 11, 2011 21:37:49 pm

There was and is a 'Bengal Secretariat' building in Calcutta/Kolkata. I'd say the SECRETA... CDS was used there.


*Click For Our Newest Issues*	*Click for our Current Auction*	Internet Auctions-Buy & Sell Stamps	Melbourne 2013 - May 10-15

Postage Stamp Chat Board & Stamp Bulletin Board Forum

Some questions about British India stamps

Who is online