British India Stamps can be broadly classified into four groups namely, British India Official, British India Definitive & Commemorative, China Expeditionary Force and Indian Expeditionary Force. Let’s take a look at one example from each of these four categories today.
British India Official
This is one of the Definitive British India stamps featuring Victoria Queen issued in the year 1866. This Purple-coloured stamp had a denomination of 8 Annas and were printed at the Military Orphanage Press in Calcutta using the typography technique. These fiscal stamps were overprinted and/or surcharged in Green on Foreign bill stamps. The top and bottom inscriptions portions were cut out. These definitive stamps of British India had a perforation of Imperf x perf 14. The Watermark on this Vertical Rectangle stamp featured a Crown over the text "INDIA". The term "SERVICE" was at the top while 'POSTAGE' was at the bottom.
British India Definitive & Commemorative
This is one of the definitive old British India stamps featuring a portrait of Queen Victoria issued in the year 1854. This blue coloured square shaped east India company stamp bore the denomination of 1/2 Anna and 30 million such stamps were printed in Calcutta using the Lithography technique. These stamps were imperforated and depicted the Arms of East India Company sideways as the watermark.
China Expeditionary Force
These Definitive stamps of British India featured a portrait of Victoria Queen and were issued from 1900 to 1904. These Purple/Red coloured stamps had a face value of 12 Annas and were overprinted by Government Press in Calcutta. They were basically used by the China Expeditionary force. From 23rd July to 15 August 1900, These British India stamps were issued without an overprint. After that, Victorian, Edwardian & George V stamps were overprinted with the letters "C.E.F". They were used by Indian Army personnel who were deployed to curtain the boxer rebellion in China. These old British India stamps had a perforation of 14 units and featured a star-shaped watermark.
Indian Expeditionary Force
These definitive old British India Stamps were issued in the year 1914 depicting a portrait of King George V. These lovely Olive-Green stamps had a face value of 4 Annas and were overprinted by the Government Press in Calcutta. These amazing British India stamps were overprinted with the letters I.E.F. They were basically used by the Indian Army Forces which were deployed in other countries during 1st World War. They were used for the first time in France in September 1914, and then in East Africa, Mesopotamia & Turkey. They had a perforation of 14 units and featured a star shaped watermark.
There are many more interesting Varieties of British India Stamps within each of these categories which you can pursue collecting.
British India Official
This is one of the Definitive British India stamps featuring Victoria Queen issued in the year 1866. This Purple-coloured stamp had a denomination of 8 Annas and were printed at the Military Orphanage Press in Calcutta using the typography technique. These fiscal stamps were overprinted and/or surcharged in Green on Foreign bill stamps. The top and bottom inscriptions portions were cut out. These definitive stamps of British India had a perforation of Imperf x perf 14. The Watermark on this Vertical Rectangle stamp featured a Crown over the text "INDIA". The term "SERVICE" was at the top while 'POSTAGE' was at the bottom.British India Definitive & Commemorative
This is one of the definitive old British India stamps featuring a portrait of Queen Victoria issued in the year 1854. This blue coloured square shaped east India company stamp bore the denomination of 1/2 Anna and 30 million such stamps were printed in Calcutta using the Lithography technique. These stamps were imperforated and depicted the Arms of East India Company sideways as the watermark.
China Expeditionary Force
These Definitive stamps of British India featured a portrait of Victoria Queen and were issued from 1900 to 1904. These Purple/Red coloured stamps had a face value of 12 Annas and were overprinted by Government Press in Calcutta. They were basically used by the China Expeditionary force. From 23rd July to 15 August 1900, These British India stamps were issued without an overprint. After that, Victorian, Edwardian & George V stamps were overprinted with the letters "C.E.F". They were used by Indian Army personnel who were deployed to curtain the boxer rebellion in China. These old British India stamps had a perforation of 14 units and featured a star-shaped watermark. Indian Expeditionary Force
These definitive old British India Stamps were issued in the year 1914 depicting a portrait of King George V. These lovely Olive-Green stamps had a face value of 4 Annas and were overprinted by the Government Press in Calcutta. These amazing British India stamps were overprinted with the letters I.E.F. They were basically used by the Indian Army Forces which were deployed in other countries during 1st World War. They were used for the first time in France in September 1914, and then in East Africa, Mesopotamia & Turkey. They had a perforation of 14 units and featured a star shaped watermark.
There are many more interesting Varieties of British India Stamps within each of these categories which you can pursue collecting.
