Here's a section that will be of interest to both Ballabh & Biju.It is about the postal orders of India.The 1st Indian postal orders were issued between 1883 & 1886 in the denominations of 8 Annas (1/2 Rupee),1 Rupee,& 2 Rupees & 8 Annas (2-1/2 Rupees).Despite their short period of issue,there were a number of subtypes.These first Indian postal notes (as these were called) have the British Coat-of-Arms at the top of the notes.At this time,there were 12 Pies = 1 Anna & 16 Annas = 1 Rupee.These have a box in between the datestamp circles.In this box was a postage stamp overprinted 'I P N' to match the vales of the postal notes. It is not yet known when the first issues of postal orders were issued,apart from the fact that they were issued prior to independence,which came in 1947.Interestingly,even after the Republic of India was declared (26th of January 1950),there were still postal orders depicting the King's portrait left over.Instead of destroying the unissued postal orders,it was decided to use them up.These ran out in around 1952,when the first ones depicting the Asokan capital were put into use.Of course,India changed to decimal currency on the 1st of April 1957.Between 1957 & 1963,there were 100 Naye Paise (New Paise) = 1 Rupee.Since 1963,there has been 100 Paise = 1 Rupee. Furthermore to this,there were 4 Indian Princely States that issued their own postal notes; Gwalior,Jhind,& Nabha introduced them in 1885.Patiala had introduced them in 1884.They were also pulled off sale during 1886. These were denominated as follows; 8 Annas (3 Pies commission). 1 Rupee (6 Pies commission). 2 Rupees & 8 Annas (1 Anna commission). These were very similar in design to the British Indian postal notes,but they had the Coats-of-Arms of these 4 Indian Princely States.They had the issuing & paying instructions around the datestamp circles modified,as it was intended that these postal notes were only issued within these Indian Princely States,but could only be paid in a British Indian post office. In 1885,the British had a bit of trouble in the Sudan with the forces of the Mahdi.It was decided to get some assistance from India.Among the things that were provided was some postal orders similar in design to the British Indian ones,but modified with the addition of the inscription,'Head Post Master,Indian Field Force,Egypt'.Like the Indian postal notes,a special postal note stamp was attached in a rectangular box.Unlike the Indian postal notes,the Indian Field Force in Egypt ones were never issued.There have been 5 examples of the 1 Rupee reported with the serial numbers 00092,00094,00210,00235,& 00238,but others may still be extant. The Indian Princely States' postal notes & the Indian Field Force in Egypt postal notes are classified separately. There were British postal orders overprinted for issue in India (& in Burma as well).Here's a link that depicts a 10/- (1-1/2d. poundage) King George V Specimen British postal order overprinted 'INDIA'; http://www.gbos.org.uk/index.php/Overprint_Postal_Orders . These are starting to be popular with collectors in England,who like the ones that are clearly datestamped. Aidan.
RickieB,that information is from some of the various issues of 'Postal Order News',which I get every 3 months,as I am a member of the Postal Order Society (England). I am hoping that Biju will notice this,& use some of this information on his websites. Aidan.
Spock1k,you're welcome.Can you please post some photos of some Indian postal orders,considering that they are so unfamiliar to a lot of collectors here? Aidan.
