Lot 166a, Auction 4/20/2026: India and Indian State Philatelic Study – 5 Vol.

$3,250.00

In stock

South Asia, India and Indian states, British India and Feudatory States, ca. 1854 to 1964 CE. A remarkable archive of imperial history and regional identity, this substantial five-volume philatelic collection presents what appears to be approximately 3,000 stamps from the celebrated “Golden Age” of Indian philately and beyond. Bound in red leatherette albums with gilt-stamped titles, the volumes open to carefully arranged pages that reflect a disciplined and knowledgeable hand. The collection comprises three volumes dedicated to British India and two to the Indian States, spanning a broad historical range from the earliest issues of 1854 through the mid-20th century. At its core lies the period from circa 1870 to 1920, widely regarded as the golden era of Indian philately, encompassing the mid-Victorian period through the reigns of Edward VII and George V. Size of each book (all about the same): 11.5″ L x 10.5″ W x 1.5″ H (29.2 cm x 26.7 cm x 3.8 cm)

The material reveals a deliberate and scholarly approach rather than casual accumulation. Stamps are methodically mounted and organized, offering insight into the evolution of printing technologies across more than a century. Fine engraved issues produced by Perkins Bacon in London stand alongside the distinctive lithographic stamps of the Feudatory States, whose locally produced designs often display bold character and regional variation.

The Indian States issues are of particular interest, illustrating the diversity of semi-autonomous regions operating within and alongside British colonial systems. Variations in script, iconography, and execution reflect a layered political landscape, preserved here in cohesive and study-worthy form.

Condition varies, with many stamps bearing period cancellations that enhance their historical authenticity. The albums show expected wear from handling and use, consistent with their function as working reference volumes for a dedicated collector.

An impressive and academically engaging group, this collection offers both depth and breadth, appealing to the specialist philatelist, historian, or appraiser seeking a wide-ranging study of Indian postal history across a dynamic and formative century.

Condition: Books have some bending to corners of covers as well as tattering, scuffs, creases, and stains. Some staining and tattering to edges of pages. Stamps, however, appear to be in good to excellent condition.

Provenance: private Sheffield, Massachusetts, USA collection, by inheritance, collected 1970’s

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all purchases.

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