Hello,  How is everyone?   Very very hot here in Sydney and pretty uncomfortable. even with air con pumping away like mad. :-)

still time for stamps, well no way am I going outside today. So a bit a reading if you are interested and have the time. and another stamp at the end for you to write to me about :-)

First, I thought Ihad  published the material I got about the Cochin stamp but checking the blog I realise I did not   Must have had a glitch there because I am sure I prepared the article. Well done to Ramana from Hyderabad for this interesting information. Mailed something to you today.

H. H. Sir Sri Rama Varma III, Maharaja of Cochin, 1932-1941

Rama Varma III was also known as Chowarayil Theepeta Thampuran. In 1938 Perkins, Bacon & Co. discontinued the contract with the state of Cochin, and an Indian firm began printing the stamps by lithographic process. Thus, two very different printings are found during the reign of Rama Varma III—those beautifully recess printed by Perkins, Bacon & Co., and those of the less-attractive offset printed variety. It's important to learn to distinguish between these printings. The recess printed stamps are brighter, and the design appears slightly raised (looking at the back of the stamp, one can usually see an embossed image of the design). The litho, or offset, stamps are entirely flat, and the general appearance is dull in comparison. All Cochin stamps after 1938 were offset printed.

From 1933 to 1938, 11 values (2p, 4p, 6p, 1a, 1a8p, 2a, 2¼a, 3a, 3a4p, 6a8p, 10a) were recess printed by Perkins, Bacon & Co. The entire set is quite attainable in both used and unused condition. In 1938, five values (2p, 4p, 6p, 1a, 2¼a) were offset printed by The Associated Printers in Madras. The 1a brown-orange [Sc 57A/SG 70] is scarce, and the rest of the set is inexpensive in both mint and used condition.

In 1939, 1a stamps were overprinted "ANCHAL" for postal purposes (those not overprinted were used for revenue purposes). Here an understanding of the two printing types is useful. The recess printed 1a overprinted "ANCHAL" is quite common in used and mint condition, but the litho printed variety [Sc 59/SG 73] is rare in mint state. However, a slightly different "ANCHAL" was also printed on the litho, and it is very common in both used and unused condition. From 1942 to 1944, both recess and offset printed stamps were surcharged. It is difficult to obtain a complete set of the surcharged overprints, as many of them are scarce to rare.

The official overprints of Rama Varma III are complex and beyond the scope of this introductory article. The combinations of overprint types, underlying print types, surcharges, and perforations is enough to keep the advanced collector busy for many years.

and a bit of catalogue details from Jeroen from the Netherlands.   

COCHIN

A Feudatory State in the Madras States Agency in Southern India.

CAPITAL—Ernakulam

Stamp info

1933/38, Sri Rama Varma III, perforation 13*13½

The 6 p is scott number 43

There are also overprints and surcharges 

excellent and thanks to everyone who wrote to me.

Now for a new stamp for you to research, I have trouble with this one and other readers may have more knowledge than I do. Interesting overprint???? and it is pretty old..1919 franking perhaps?

I will find a little gift again for someone with an informative answer.

Have a great weekend..  Michael   

PS I updated the website   www.cddstamps.com