Kussowlee HG 5

3 October 1854

INDIA, 1854, ½a Blue, Die I (2; SG 2). Horizontal strip of six, mostly large margins to just touching outer frameline at bottom, right stamp faulty due to placement on cover, used with 1854, 1a Red, Die I (4; SG 12), margins to touching, affixed to back, all tied by multiple strikes of dotted diamond cancels on registered cover to London, sender's directive "via Marseilles & Bombay, Registered", framed "KUSSOWLEE, OCT 3 1854, PAID" despatch datestamp (Giles 5 var) on back, red "INDIA" oval handstamp, Bombay (Oct. 13) transit and London (Nov. 24) arrival datestamps, manuscript rate markings, strip with minor wrinkling from placement on cover VERY FINE. A REMARKABLE THIRD DAY OF USE OF THE INDIA 1854 LITHOGRAPH ISSUE. THIS EXCEPTIONAL COVER HAS A STRIP OF SIX OF THE HALF-ANNA AND ONE-ANNA WITH THE REGISTRY FEE PAID IN CASH. The issue date of the ½a and 1a 1854 Lithograph stamps was October 1, 1854 (the 4a was issued October 15). This is why the 4a was paid with a combination of ½a and 1a stamps. As production of this issue was completed as early as May 1854, it is thought that post offices throughout India had their supplies ready for sale. Even so, early October Lithograph covers are exceptionally rare, especially so from a small post office such as Kussowlee. We are aware of only three ½a covers used earlier on Oct. 2 (two do not have clearly dated despatch markings). This particular cover was underpaid for the 8a ship fee and was charged 2sh6p due on arrival. This is also a very early registry use—we are unaware of an earlier registered cover bearing the 1854 Lithographs.