Indian Feudatory State of Duttia

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An important and rare set that could be the first stamps ever issued in Duttia in 1893...

As with many of the best stamps the backstory to these items is a controversial one. Academics can’t agree on whether they are essays (for the first stamps) or are the actual first stamps issued in Duttia. This is an impressive set where there are only 3 known making it amongst the rarest of all Feudatory states stamps.

British rule in India was not a clear cut subject and many states ran their own postal service. These states were in one way or another subject to British rule of sorts (through war or diplomacy) but had clearly defined borders and their own political systems.

For postal purposes there were 2 types of states - Convention and Feudatory. In simplified terms the Convention states had an agreement where they could use British stamps (but ‘overprinted’ with the relevant territory and the Feudatory states used their own stamps. These stamps are from the Feudatory state of Duttia (also known as Datia).

Feudatory states were also known as ‘Princely states’ as they were run by local ‘princes’. Initially the lands were awarded to a local ruler who had helped the British East India Company conquer the subcontinent but the company was ultimately taken over by the British State so these areas came under direct British rule. In truth these princes had little control and directions came from a manipulative British Empire who made them feel as though they were important by providing some sense of ‘pomp and ceremony’.

SOLD

1893(?) set of 4 essays (?) on thin wove, comprising the circular state seal in brownish black within an irregular hand-drawn rectangular double-lined frame in red (112a, 2a,4a) or black (1a), with M/S values at foot. The 1l2a on cream, 1a on rose, 2a on orange, 4a on pale yellow. Some small faults (thins, tones) of little significance and not affecting fine appearance.

One of only three recorded sets, and highly important, as the existence of a similarly produced 1/2a postal stationery envelope in USED condition (= Deschl El ) suggests that these may well be the first postage stamps of Duttia.

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Provenance

Harell (SGA 21 51201 3, lol 434)

RL 1 3/1 /1 98'1, lot 445, and Haverbeck

(Harmer NY 26 June 1973, lots 666-669), with signed letter from Haverbeck (718182) stating that they 'were acquired by me in 1937 from the collection of the late Henry Needham'.

We use ‘Guide prices’ for all items but are on hand to negotiate between buyer and seller. If this item is of interest then please contact us to start a conversation. We work with complete discretion for our clients and therefore don’t ever publish realised prices.

Gold British Trade Dollar 1897 - NGC PF61

One of less than 10 that are believed to exist.

Graded by NGC as PF61 - no other examples are graded higher.

This is only the second Gold Trade Dollar to come to the market in recent years. The last publicly traded piece was a 1902 example which made US $214,000 in 2014.

‘Trade Dollars’ were issued in silver from February 1895 as a way of standardising silver coinage in territories in the East.

The story of the ‘Trade Dollar’ can be traced back to the Chinese ‘Opium Wars’. Once China lost the war it was forced to concede various ports to Britain and other powers. Famously this included Hong Kong which remained a British colony until 1997.

Whilst Britain, and other European countries, had conducted a substantial amount of trade with China, their control of Hong Kong opened up a new period of flourishing international trade. Merchants and entrepreneurs flocked from around the world.

With money, and particularly large silver coins, flooding into Hong Kong this presented its own issues as there was no standardisation with these coins. A solution to this was issuing a silver coin specifically for trade in Hong Kong and wider China - the ‘Trade Dollar’ was born as a medium of exchange.

Silver Trade Dollars were issued from 1895 through to 1935 with Bombay, Calcutta and London mint marks (with London coins having no actual mint mark). On rare occasions gold versions were produced - this is one such example.

£140,000

Denomination/metal: Gold

Type: Gold

Condition: NGC PF61 (none graded higher)

Mint mark: Bombay

Obv. Britannia standing, ship sailing past to left, ‘ONE DOLLAR’. Mintmark is a small ‘B’ on the middle prong of the trident.

Rev. Chinese symbol for longevity as main design, with characters in Chinese and Jawi Malay denoting the denomination of this coin

39mm., 34.69gm.

Ref. Pr 2B; KM T5a

We use ‘Guide prices’ for all items but are on hand to negotiate between buyer and seller. If this item is of interest then please contact us to start a conversation. We work with complete discretion for our clients and therefore don’t ever publish realised prices.

India 1854 SG21

1854 4a blue and red.

A unique and celebrated showpiece.

Unquestionably one of the most important and desirable pieces of classic India philately in existence.

This is the only intact unused multiple of the third printing in private hands. It is also the only available example of the all-important March 1855 imprint. 1854-55 4a blue and red, head die III, frame die I, THIRD PRINTING.

A spectacular unused vertical pair (pos. 4/8) from stone ‘F’ (illustrated Jatia plate VI) with record margins which preserve the complete marginal inscriptions and corner ornaments of the entire right half of a sheet (pos. 3-4/7-8/11-12), including ‘March 1855’ imprint at lower right.

Toned by climate, with inconsequential marginal creasing. 

Ex ‘Koh-i-Nor’ (CRL 25/2/86, lot 208).

BPA Cert 2008 included

PRICE. We work with complete discretion for our clients and therefore don’t publish realised prices.

William & Mary Guinea

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Extremely Fine Guinea from the last year of Mary’s rule

Both William and Mary are a rarity in British rule as they reigned jointly as coregents. Amazingly both had claims to the British throne and, as cousins, their marriage was intended to heal the wounds of the Anglo Dutch war (though Mary was a somewhat reluctant bride).

This coin was struck in 1694 which was the year Mary died of Smallpox thus leaving William to rule on his own. William died in 1702 of pneumonia as a result of a fall from his horse - the horse is to have alleged to have stumbled on a mole hill leaving his Jacobite rivals to toast “the little gentleman in the black velvet waistcoat”

SOLD 

Country: England

Monarch: William and Mary (1688 - 1694)

Denomination/metal: Gold Guinea 1694

Type: Gold

Condition: EF - A little soft of strike as usual, light raised die flaws on obverse, some light flecking on reverse, toned, and attractive.

Obv. 4 struck over 3, conjoined busts right.

Rev. Crowned quartered shield of arms, date either side of crown.

Ref. .Schneider 473; M.C.E. 159; S 3426

We use ‘Guide prices’ for all items but are on hand to negotiate between buyer and seller. If this item is of interest then please contact us to start a conversation. We work with complete discretion for our clients and therefore don’t ever publish realised prices.