East India Company Administration
Queen Victoria First India Lithographs
1854-1855
In 1853, Captain Edward Landor Thuillier, Deputy Surveyor General at the Survey Office, Calcutta was asked to produce postal stamps using the process of lithography. It was agreed that the design should carry the head of the Queen Victoria. The Queen’s head was drawn by Mr. H.M. Smith of the lithographic department and multiple designs were created for different values – half, one, four and eight annas. These are known as Thuillier’s essays. Of these, the eight annas were never printed.
The No. 4 Fiscal papers of the East India Company were used to print the sheets of stamps. Each sheet was watermarked with the arms of the East India Company. This is how the first 9 and a half arches stamps in vermillion ink were born.
Country: India
Series: Queen Victoria
Issued On: 1854-55
Perforation: Imperf
Printing: Lithography
Half Anna
Die 1
Sg:IN 2
½ A . Blue. Imperf.
Sg:IN 3
Sg:IN 4
½ A . Deep blue. Imperf.
Sg:IN 5
½ A . Indigo. Imperf.
Die 2
Sg:IN 6
½ A . Blue. Imperf.
Sg:IN 7
½ A . Indigo. Imperf.
Die 3 (1855)
Sg:IN 8
Sg:IN 8a
½ A . Blue. Imperf.
Sg:IN 9
½ A . Greenish blue. Imperf.
Sg:IN 10
½ A . Deep blue. Imperf.
One Anna
Die 1
Sg:IN 11
1 A . Deep red. Imperf.
Sg:IN 12
1 A . Red. Imperf.
Die 2
With more lines in the Chignon than in Die 1, and with white curved lines where chignon joins the head.
Sg:IN 13
1 A . Deep red. Imperf.
Sg:IN 14
1 A . Dull red. Imperf.
Die 3
With pointed bust. (1855)
Sg:IN 15
1 A . Red. Imperf.
Sg:IN 16
1 A . Dull red. Imperf.
Four Annas
First Printing October 1854
Head: Die – 1 Frame: Die 1
Sg:IN 17
4 A . Indigo & Red. Imperf.
Sg:IN 18
Second Printing December 1854
Head: Die – 2 Frame: Die 1
Sg:IN 19
4 A . Blue & Red. Imperf.
Sg:IN 20
4 A . Indigo & Deep red. Imperf.
Third Printing March – April 1855
Sg:IN 21
Head:3 Frame: 1
Sg:IN 21a
Head:2 Frame: 1
Sg:IN 21b
Head:3a Frame: 1
Sg:IN 10
Head:3 Frame: 2
Fourth Printing April – May 1855
Head: Die 3 Frame: Die 2
Sg:IN 22
4 A. Deep blue & Red. Imperf.
Sg:IN 23
4 A. Blue & Red. Imperf.
Sg:IN 24
4 A. Pale blue & Pale red. Imperf.
Fifth Printing April – October – November 1855
Head: Die 3 Frame: Die 2
Sg:IN 25
4 A . Deep blue & Red. Imperf.
Sg:IN 26
4 A . Blue & Red. Imperf.
Two Annas
Stamps designed at the Calcutta Mint, and printed using the typographic technique.
These come in shades varying from bluish green to yellowish green.
Sg:IN 31
2 A . Green. Imperf.
Sg:IN 34
4 A . Blue & Red. Imperf.
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