From F.E. Wood - "The early stamp obliterators , issued in October 1854, consisted of a diamond of dots and the size varied from 8 dots by 8 to 11 by 12. As similar ones were also used in Indian post offices it is not possible to distinguish stamps used in straits settlements, unless they are on original cover. Mr. R.D. Lockhart has expressed an opinion that one postmark, used in singapore consisted of a diamond of hollow dots 8 by 8, is sufficiently distinctive to identify it as a Singapore mark without extraneous evidence. Mr Jal Cooper ;however, writing in India Stamp Journal of March 1944, states that similar examples of "hollow" dots have been found used on letters from Mian Mir to Delhi." .
Therefore stamps by themselves cannot be claimed to be from Singapore/Straits settlements based on the diamond-of-dots or hollow diamond-of-dots cancel. They have to be on cover and additional information on the cover itself would confirm or deny their usage from the Straits Settlements.
Covers With 4anna Pairs
These are rare. In 1972 Jal Cooper had believed only one such pair existed. However, a few have appeared in auction since then and based on the Robson Lowe(September 1986), David Feldman (1986) , and Spink (Sep 2001) sales, I would estimate around 20/30 such covers to be in existence.
Another cover used in Straits Settlements bearing a pair of the 1854 4 anna pair - fourth printing. Offered for sale in September 1986 (Christie's Robson Lowe) . Note the usage of the diamond of dots cancel (more common than the hollow diamond of dots) and that the stamps seem tied to the cover by the accountancy marks.Ref:
India Used Abroad , Mr Jal Cooper
Straits Settlements Postage Stamps , F.E. Wood
No comments:
Post a Comment