New Rectangulars Part I

The Stamps of Jammu-Kashmir by Alexander Séfi and C.H. Mortimer, pp 109-22.

The introduction of new plates and of new methods in and after May 1878 brought about so many fresh points of philatelic interest that a preliminary survey is needed in order that these may be properly appreciated. Evans, when writing a critical review of Masson’s work, some three years after its publication, included a chapter on the new rectangulars, and this, though admirable in determing many points which Masson had left untouched, still requires much extension and revision.

Plates and Plate-States. With one exception, each of the new rectangular plates underwent one or more marginal alterations that occasionally extended to and affected some of the stamps themselves. These alterations have scarcely been noticed by previous writers, but they nevertheless frequently possess features of exceptional philatelic importance. No such alterations ever occurred with the plates of the old rectangulars.

Relative Printing Positions. At a period when stamps of all denominations were issued in one standard colour, either in red or orange for the public services, or in black for official use, it became the practice to print, in one or other of these colours, from more than one plate at a single operation. The philatelic importance of these relative positions has not, previously, been referred to.

Papers, Watermarks, and Controls. Evans made a wholly admirable classification of the new rectangular papers, but the watermarks and controls have not, hitherto, been noticed. Evan’s analysis proves, as he himself suggested might be the case, to be over-elaborated for practical purposes.

The watermarks found on certain papers possess a high degree of philatelic importance and there can be little doubt but that, were material available, further study would lead to the clearing up of several problems that still await solution. Three types of controls are included in our notes. These took the form of small devices embossed by the manufacturers on the paper in plain relief. We employ the term “controls” for want of a better, but the expression merely denotes the checks exercised by the manufacturer on his paper, and these were sold in the open market for many other purposes than that of stamp production. The controls had no connection with any check on the stamps themselves and appear to be of only slight philatelic importance.

Perforation. This is, again, a philatelic feature new to the native stamps, and much that Masson and Evans wrote has been emended and added to. It need only be added here that two perforating machines (which we shall refer to as the A and B machines, respectively) were provided, and that these broke down so quickly that only few points of importance arise from the perforations found on the stamps.

The Issued Stamps. These are broadly divisible into three groups:

(1) A four-year period (1878-82) during which all denominations, printed for the public services, were in standard shades of red or orange with the exception of some early and, probably, more or less experimental colours.

(2) A further period of eleven years (1883-94) during which red was retained for two denominations only, separate distinctive colours being allotted to each of the other values.

(3) The entire period of fifteen years, during which printings were made from the plates in black for the exclusive use of the official service.

For all of these the old oil and watercolour pigments were discarded in favour of ordinary printers’ ink, with two rare exceptions.

The reissues. The fact that some of the earlier red and orange stamps had reappeared beyond their true period was noted by Masson and others with a tentative suggestion that they might have either been reissues, fresh printings or even reprints. We shall show that, not only were there no fresh printings in either colour, nor any reprinting whatever of the new rectangulars, but that very large quantities of old red and orange stock of all values except one, were reissued and freely used in company with the later stamps in other colours, for many years after they had, at first, become obsolete. We now take these groups in detail:

Plates and Plate-States

The Designs. For the new rectangulars, seven plates in all were engraved: one of ⅛a denomination, two of ¼a, one each of ½a, 1a, and 2a (all of these being single-denomination plates) and one composite plate containing the 4a and 8a. All plates were separately hand-engraved as previously, and give a combined total of 111 distinct types of stamps.

Of these the ⅛a was not issued until some five years after the other denominations; and from one, the second ¼a plate, no stamps were ever put into use. The engraver of the old rectangulars, Rahat Ju, was again employed except for the second (unissued) plate of the ¼a a and the high-value composite plate, these two having been entrusted, for some reason unknown, to a different engraver whose name has never been disclosed.

None of the designs differ very greatly from those of the old rectangulars. The “sun”, which had previously appeared at the tope of the outer oval, is now removed, and repeated in small form at each corner of the four spandrels, while the outer oval is now completely filled in Dogri inscriptions only. The inner ovals contain the Persian inscriptions of which the value now appears in the bottom line. In the plate of the ⅛a this value will be seen to have been engraved as a half-quarter anna.

Two plates (one by each engraver) show lines of imitated perforation between the subjects, the plates being the ½a and the composite plate. These imitated perforation lines were also commenced on the unissued ¼a plate, but were not proceeded with. As the ½a was the first to have been engraved, and as perforation was about to be attempted for the first time, it may be that these imitated perforations were intended as a guide for the use of the perforating machines.

If we may judge from the composite plate, all plates would seem to have been made up in order to fit the perforating machines instead of (as ordinarily) making the perforators fit the plates. The A machine was capable of perforating 15-subject plates with five horizontal rows, each of three subjects, while the B machine could perforate 20-type sheets containing five rows of four. The composite plate, however, contained 16 subjects only, eight each of 4a and 8a, and this was brought up to 20-type size by dividing each group of eight by a central horizontal row of four blank spaces and, thereby, rendered suitable for perforation by the B machine. The unissued ¼a plate was of 12 subjects only, but long before this plate was engraved, perforation had definitely been abandoned. The great importance of the changes of plate-states must be left until a following section. At this point we have only to refer our readers to our illustrations of all the plates in their different states, and to indicate what these changes amounted to. We first give this in tabular form:

It may be stated, broadly, that all plates were, in the first instance, affixed to their beds by small marginal rivets only, some of which gave impressions in printing. This constituted state I. At a later period the plates were disbedded and re-fixed by other rivets or screws, the heads of all of which produced impressions in the printing, such impressions constituting state II. In the case of the ½a only was any subsequent change made from state II. This state lasted, in all other denominations, for some fourteen years but, in the case of the ½a, for about two months only, at the end of which period, further large rivets, constituting state III, were added. We shall now discuss these states more fully, taking the plates in order of their denominations.

The ⅛a plate.1883. This plate was (except for the unissued ¼a) the last plate to be engraved, and is notable for being the only one that suffered no change of plate-state throughout. The ornamental border is narrow, and composed of a flower pattern. The border shows no impression from the heads of any of the rivets used for bedding the plate, from which it may be possible to infer, either that the plate was first bedded, and the border subsequently engraved over the rivet heads, or that the rivets were placed well beyond the border itself, and thus were unreached by the printing ink.

The ¼a plate. Late 1878. Probably engraved rather later than any of the following except for the unissued type. The border closely resembles that of the preceding in its narrow width, leaf-and-flower pattern, and absence of rivet-impressions in state I. In state II, each of the four screws, inserted at the angles of the border, cut away a corner of the stamp impressions in subjects 1, 3, 13, and 15. Whether from the screws working loose or for some other reason, many of the later (but not the latest) printings, give the stamps the appearance of slight double-prints. True double-prints are also known from this plate.

The ¼a unissued plate, 1886? Impressions were first chronicled in Le Timbre-Poste of November 1886, and the slight doubling of impressions from the issued plate, noted above, may perhaps have brought about a decision to provide a new one. In this event the fact that the latest printed ¼a stamps show none of such duplication would suggest that the failing had been corrected, and may thus provide an explanation as to why no use was ever made of the new plate. A more probable explanation will, however, appear later. The design resembles that of the 4a and 8a, rendering it probably that both plates had been the work of the same engraver, a point which, coupled with the fact that the unissued plate was surrendered for official defacement, certainly favours the suggestion that it had been produced for a legitimate purpose. A list of known impressions from this plate is as follows:

(a) On native paper: rose

(b) On thin toned wove: rose-red, vermilion, black

(c) On thin toned laid: vermilion, black

(d) On thin pure white wove: vermilion, black

The laid and wove papers are unquestionably those of issued stamps, and all such impressions should, we think, be properly classified as “stamps prepared for use, but not issued.” Impressions on the native paper were probably proofs, and never intended for issue. Impressions in vermilion on the thin toned wove are known with the control of 1884.

We have seen so-called “used” copies on all papers except native. These include a heavy obliteration composed of a few broad bars forming a rough square. This is certainly bogus, and is also found on another “prepared for issue” stamp, a ½a blue on thin coarse wove. A second type of obliteration, also probably bogus, is known. The stamps have also been found with genuine postmarks of Srinagar. These are of the 3-circle type, showing dates 8th June (no year) and 28th January 1892. There is not the smallest evidence to suggest an actual issue, and the specimens mentioned were, no doubt, “cancelled to order.”

The ½a plate. Early 1878. A 15-type plate suited for perforation by the A machine. This plate was probably the first to have been prepared. It is, at least, certain that ½a stamps were the first to be have been issued. The original number of rivets was about 20 with five (or perhaps six) at each side, three at the top, and five at the bottom, the latter including two small vertical pairs with a large central one between them. The number of rivets is far greater than were employed for any other plate, suggesting a difficulty in fixing from the outset.

State I: In this the top margin was nearly as wide as those at the sides, and was divided almost centrally by a long horizontal incised line passing immediately beneath the three rivets in the upper margin. Of these rivets, the central one only gave a clear impression in print. The plate remained in State I for about two years (1878-80).

State II: Nearly half of the upper margin, including the three rivets was cut away, the line of severance following that of the horizontal line mentioned above. Fresh rivets were driven into the border at each lower corner, and also in the right side of it, opposite subjects 3 and 15. At the outer corner of subjects 1 and 3, larger and irregular shaped holes appear in place of the small circular ones, owing to fresh rivets have been inserted close to the original positions. State II also lasted for about two years (1880-82).

State III: Nine large rivets, impressions from which became surrounded by wide uncoloured rings, increasing in size with the age of the plate, are now added. Five, very large, in the left margin; two, very large to the right of subject 3; a comparatively small one opposite subject 9; and a very large one in the centre of the bottom margin. The plate remained in State III for about twelve years, from late in 1882 or early 1883 until the close of the posts in 1894.

In all states of the plate a crudely engraved Maltese Cross appeared in the left border opposite subject 4. The outlines frequently became clogged with ink and failed to give an impression; and this also applies to a number of small scratches over the cross. The occasional absence of both cross and scratches has been the cause of attempts to prove a still earlier condition than state I, but there can now be no doubt but that the sole reason for no impressions appearing in a print was neglect in cleaning the border.

The 1a and 2a plates, 1878. These plates, having many features in common, may be considered together. They were the only 20-subject plates, and were made up (probably slightly later than that of the ½a) to a size suitable for perforation by the B machine. Both were surrounded with almost identical leaf-and-flower patterned borders that resemble those of the ⅛a and ¼a plates except for being considerably wider.

State I: They are the only flower-patterned plates that show the positions of the original rivets. These were six in number in each plate, two being placed near the ends of the upper and lower borders, respectively, and one, centrally, in each side-border. Those in the upper margins are transverse ovals in shape, each with a central dot; at the side of each dot appear engraved native characters. The remaining four rivets are roughly circular, each with a central dot without engraving at its sides. The two characters engraved on the upper rivet-heads are identical in both plates. A number of different translations can be made of these, but none appear to have any philatelic importance. They are not, apparently, the initials of Rahat Ju, the engraver.

State II: In both plates all six original rivets still remain, but four large screws were added, one near each end of the two side borders. None of these screws cut into the engraved subjects. A comparison of any state II printing from either plate with those taken from the plates after defacement shows that the directions of the slots of the screws never varied. This could not have occurred if, as Evans suggested, the plates had been unscrewed after successive printings.

The two lowest screws of each plate show clearly defined impressions during the earlier printings, but, owing to curvature of the plates at these points, later impressions of one of the other are surrounded with large white rings that often spread over a portion of the subjects (17 and 20) nearest the screws. Some of the later printings show a heavy ring round the left screw, and none round the right, while in others the reverse is the case; from this it follows that the plate-curvature was periodically reduced at one or other of these points. In this connection it is important to realise that the rings are not the result of plate-wear, and do not, therefore, afford more than an occasional clue to the period of any particular printing.

The 4a + 8a composite plate, 1878. Nothing is known as to the reasons that prompted the authorities to entrust the preparation of this plate (together with that of the unissued ¼a) to a different engraver; but the general workmanship and designs of both plates leave no doubt but that this was, in fact, done. This plate is the only one in which there was no cutting away of the spaces between the stamps. The spaces, therefore, were printed in solid colour and were relieved by rows of imitated perforation dots punched on these positions. The upper part of the plate was engraved with eight 4a subjects and the lower part with eight of the 8a, the two denominations being separated by a horizontal line of four blank spaces, added to bring the plate up to 20-subject size suitable for perforation by the B machine.

State I: We have never yet seen a complete impression of the plate in state I, either in red or in the official black, but we have been able to reconstruct it. Six small circular rivets, giving white impressions, were originally inserted, their positions coinciding exactly with the centres of the six screws that were substituted later and which partly constitute state II. There are, however, other features that have not, until now, been noticed. In the original state the borders were of great wide, some 16mm, and contained six further rivets of large size. Of these, four were placed diagonally, far beyond the four small corner-rivets, and the remaining two, centrally, in the top and bottom borders, with their centres about 14 mm from the nearest engraving.

State II: In the second state the entire plate was reduced in size by the removal of nearly two-thirds of all the borders, including the whole of the six large outer rivets. The width of the borders in state II is, therefore, no more than 6 mm. At the same time, screws were substituted for the small rivets, were never, subsequently, interfered with. Each corner-screw cut off an angle of a corner stamp impression, the stamps so affected being subject 1 and subject 4 of the 4a and subjects 5 and 8 of the 8a; single copies of theswe four stamps, if from the rare state I can consequently be identified by their uncut corners. This is the only plate from which (apart, of course, from that of the ⅛a) no black printing in state I is known. Even Masson’s so-called proof-sheet in black was from state II. It may be that no such printing ever took place, but collectors might do well to examine such corner subjects as occur (probably on thin wove paper) among their black impressions of both denominations.

Simultaneous Printings

As we have already indicated, printings occurred both in red, orange, and black from two and perhaps more plates at a single operation. We have shown that the plates once bedded were never removed except at a change of plate-state. Since, however, plates were (at some period) transferable from one position to another, it follows that each must have then have been affixed to a separate bed only slightly larger than the plate itself. A brief reference to our illustrations will show that this must have been so. The point will be proved to be one of great philatelic importance. A few preliminary remarks may be offered.

(1) The plate of the ⅛a is absent from our list, since no simultaneous printing could have occurred, for no printings in black were ever issued, while during the red and orange printings the plate was not in existence.

(2) No simultaneous printing was ever made from plates in state I, reasons for which will appear later.

(3) In the case of the ½a, although only a small proportion of stamps could have been printed from it in its short-lived state II, and the great majority must have been from state III, yet in all positions the plate has been in state II. The fact appears remarkable. We have examined some hundreds of the very common black sheets in state III without finding (until 1931) a trace of marginal evidence of any other plate having been printed with it when in this condition. In that year we discovered a sheet of the ¼a black on thin wove showing, at its right margin, a black printing from the ½a plate in state III. We know of no other example. The rarity of such a printing from the ½a plate in its latest state in combination with a plate of different denomination is probably to be explained by the very great demand, during the concluding years, for the official ½a.

(4) It must be noted that our remarks apply to impressions. Thus, “on the right” would mean the right of the impression, but the left of the plate in its printing position.

Relative plate-positions. The following table shows all the different positions (as yet known) occupied by the plates during simultaneous printing from two at a time.

All the plates noted above but for the last were in state II. In other words, the ½a in its intermediate, and the remainder in their latest, states. All papers were varieties of thin toned wove, the absence of the pure white quality apparently indicating that simultaneous printing had been discontinued by 1889. In several instances two or more slightly different placings of the same combination occur, showing that plates had been separated after use and again re-united for further printings. As many as five of such occurrences have been found in a single combination. All combinations are known in either black or red and several in both.

► Papers and Watermarks.

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