a good reference:
| Up a level | Not my site, but a good reference: |
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| GB | Ceylon | Hong Kong | India | Jamaica | Natal | OFS | Australia and states |
| Up a level | by Dave Elsmore. | ||||||
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| Other Africa | Sarawak | Sudan | Transvaal | Uganda | New South Wales | Western Australia | Other Australia |
A few telegraph receipts have been shown on the main India page, but it is now more sensible to have a specific section for stationery.
The earliest stationery were inscribed "Electric Telegraph". Later (late 1858) becoming "Government Telegraph Department", and then "Indian Telegraphs"
then finally "Indian Posts and Telegraphs". Alongside those there was also the Railway and Army. - I will list by those headings.
A detailed map of the Telegraph lines in India, including Ceylon and Burma, was done in 1894 and is viewable at the (digital) Bodleian Library of Oxford.
Until the end of 1869.
| Electric Telegraph Sections | |||
| "East India". | Sending Forms. | Receipts. | Peon Hire Receipts. |
A Form of the East India Government Electric Telegraphs dated 24 April 1859.
Received at Bombay. Image courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (click image for listing)
An unused form of the Government Electric Telegraph Department.
The date is uncertain, but receipts for them date in the late 1850's. Image courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (click image for listing)
These appear to be for payments of sending early Telegrams without built-in receipts (Click images for listing).
See below for receipts used after the end of Telegraph stamps.
"ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH OFFICE."
Bombay to Indore, dated 20 November 1858, courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay.
A plain and simple style.
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| Two related Bills/Receipts used in Bengal a week apart in September 1859, first to Bombay, second to Indore. Both were used in Calcutta, with numbers 339 apart. Images courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (Click on image for listing) | |
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| Another Bill/Receipt used in Bengal, this 8 October 1860 with "PRIVATE". Courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. | Another used in Bengal, this 27 October 1860 with "PRIVATE". Courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. |
This pair were also used in Calcutta, but 19 days apart with numbers (16345 - 15769 = ) 576 apart. (Click on image for listing)
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| A Bill/Receipt used in Bombay in December 1859, courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. |
Receipts for delivery by "Peon".
The left is dated November 1859, pre-filled as "185_". The right is unused, with the year pre-filled as only "18__".
The 2 annas per mile mentioned on them was brought into effect on 9 March 1859, before which it was 4 annas per mile, so the one on the right must be later than the left.
Images courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. Click on them for eBay listings.
From 1869 until about 1918.
| Shortcuts to different Government Telegraph Sections | ||||||
| Forwarding Forms | Sending Forms / Receipts | Traffic Form B | T.—-5a | Form T | Form F. N. | Check Offices |
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| Two related Forms a couple of months apart in 1869 The left one has " ( 8 ) " at the bottom-right. Images courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (click images for eBay listing) | |
There are a surprising number of similar but different types of these. The backs are not all the same either.
These used the double-head stamps, but with more information on the receipt than the later "Indian Telegraphs" forms.
This is an early example used at Gwalior on 29 April 1869. The 1 Rp stamp is Die I. "RECEIPT" is wide letters, with serifs.
"SPACE FOR STAMPS" in thick seriffed lettering.
The back, has an Extract from Rules, with selected numbers from 6 to 46.
Images courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (Click on image for listing)
A different form, used 16 November 1870 from Bombay to Mundisore
This has thin seriffed letters for "SPACE FOR STAMPS". "RECEIPT" narrow-thick letters, with serifs.
This back, has the Extract from Rules, with number 6 taking only 1 line.
Images courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay.
27 June 1870 from Bombay to Ajmeri
This has thin seriffed letters for "SPACE FOR STAMPS". "RECEIPT" without serifs.
The back, has nothing printed on it.
Images courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay.
15 November 1870 from Bombay (now printed) to Mundisore. "TELEGRPH" (without the "A").
This has thin seriffed letters for "SPACE FOR STAMPS". "RECEIPT" without serifs.
This back, has the Extract from Rules, with number 6 taking up 2 lines.
Images courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay.
12 September 1870 from Bombay (still printed), to Mundisorah. "TELEGRAPH" (correct).
This has thin seriffed letters for "SPACE FOR STAMPS". "RECEIPT" without serifs, as last.
This back, has the Extract from Rules, with number 6 taking only 1 line.
Images courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay.
13 June 1871 from Mundisore to Indore.
"RECEIPT" with wide-squat letters, with serifs.
This back, has the Extract from Rules, with number 6 taking only 1 line.
Images courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay.
11 June 1871 from Bombay to Mundisore
Unusually, "RECEIPT" double-lined with serifs.
The back has an "Extract from Rules" with 13 rules, from 6 to 46, numbered in 'normal' digits
Images courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay.
These were for Foreign Telegrams and later replaced by Form F. B.
Traffic Form B. Receipt inscribed "Indian Government Telegraph", but still without coat of arms and no embossing.
This is marked as being for use to foreign destinations and was sent from Akyab, Burma to Colombo, Ceylon on 16 March 1881.
These could be sent to multiple addresses at the destination, this went to 3. The basic rate for 1 address was 1 Rupee 8annas for every 6 words.
Additional addresses were charged 4 annas each. 13 to 18 words would cost 4 Rupee 8 annas, plus another 8 annas for the two additional addresses.
Image courtesy of Steven Zwillinger.
Another from Akyab, Burma, this to Jaffna, Ceylon dated 12 October 1881.
Similar to last, but only going to 2 addresses. Image courtesy of Steven Zwillinger.
A receipt for Foreign Telegrams with boxed "T.—-5a." at top-left.
This dated 4 December 1896, to Colombo.
Used at Peermaad [Peermade], North Travancore, Kerala. Courtesy of Les Bottomley.
This is part of some "FORM T." of the Government Telegraph Department.
The front is dated "187_" and the back has "MUNDISORE 27-10-77". It is said to be an improvised receipt.
Images courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay.
This is to pay for a reply to a telegram being sent.
The originating telegram was sent from Jeypore on 28-1-1901, paying an extra 2 annas for a reply.
Image courtesy of Steven Zwillinger.
Check Offices.
I presume that these are so named for having the function of checking things.
They also registered the use of abbreviated Telegraph Addresses for 50R each.
A couple of forms for use in Calcutta from the Indica Collection Auction, courtesy of Stanley Gibbons.
Another example from Stanley Gibbons, this of Bombay 1886.
This is very similar to the one above-left. Courtesy of Stanley Gibbons, click image for listing.
| Shortcuts to different Indian Telegraph Forms | ||||||||||||||||
| No Form number | Traffic Code Form A | Form F. A. | Form F.A. 2 | Form F. B. | Form F. S. A. | Form SA1. | Form F. SA1. | Form F. SA2. | Form A. R. | Form A. F. 1 | Form T.—1 | Form C. | Form C. 1. | Form F. C. 2. | Form C. 3. | RATES |
Marked "Receipt for Inland Telegram" or "Receipt for Indian Telegram"
No Form number, but marked "Indian Telegraph" and "Receipt for Inland Telegram".
Marked Class = "State" and sent from Kandahar, Afghanistan on 2 January 1880, to Quetta, British Baluchistan.
This was used during the Second Anglo-Afghan War, hence the red "PASSED" censor mark.
Image courtesy of Stanley Gibbons (Lot 52 of Sale 5938 of 22nd November 2022).
No Form number, but marked "Indian Telegraph" and "Receipt for Inland Telegram". Only 3 months after the last, but a very different form.
Marked Class = "State" and sent from Kandahar, Afghanistan on 14 April 1880, to Nari Gorge, also in British Baluchistan.
This was used during the Second Anglo-Afghan War, hence the red "PASSED" mark.
On the left can be seen part of an imprint, perhaps "...519.—25-2-78,—225000."
Image courtesy of Stanley Gibbons (Lot 53 of Sale 5938 of 22nd November 2022).
Similar to the last, used 17/2/1882 in Peshawar with Reply Prepaid to Bombay.
Image courtesy of Rolf Lamprecht.
Similar to last, but 1880 imprint. Used in Patiala 24 August 1882.
Manuscript "RECEIVED OPEN" upwards.
The imprint is now dated 7 June 1880. It looks like there was something before that, probably the printer name.
Images courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (click image for listing)
Fancy border at top. "Receipt for Indian Telegram" instead of "Receipt for Inland Telegram". Used in Bombay 11 June 1884.
Stamped "RECEIVED OPEN" in circle.
Image courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (click image for listing)
As last, but no Fancy borders and now "Receipt for Inland Telegram". Used in Bombay 11 July 1885.
Image courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (click image for listing)
Similar to the last, but fancy border back and changed "I" in "Indian". From "BY.MOMBADEVIE" (presumably near Mumbadevi, Bombay) 13 November 1886.
Image courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (click image for listing)
Similar to the last, but with a new type of fancy border and perforations at the top.
Marked Class = "Deferred" and sent from on 13 July 1887.
Image courtesy of Rolf Lampbrecht.
Similar to the last, but "Indian Telegraph" now in a simple font. From Indore 14 May 1888.
Image courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (click image for listing)
This has "No." at top-left and "INDIAN TELEGRAPH" in block Capitals. Used in Bombay, 21 March 1873.
No image of back.
Image courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (click image for listing)
This (unusually) has "RECEIPT" at the top. Information reduced at top-right. Used in Gwalior, 1 November 1875.
No image of back.
Image courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (click image for listing)
There is a fancy border on the left. This has "Receipt" moved down. The "I" of "Indian" in a facy font different to later ones. Used in Gwalior 6 October 1877.
The back has an "Abstract of Rules" giving some important ones numbered in Roman Numerals.
Image courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (click image for listing)
The fancy border has changed. The "I" of "Indian" is now a new font. Used in Bhownugger 5 September 1877.
Image courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (click image for listing)
The fancy border has changed again, with doubled loops. Used in Rutlam, Madhya Pradesh, 17 October 1877.
Again, "Abstract of Rules" on the back.
Image courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (click image for listing)
For domestic telegrams.
"Traffic Code Form A" in small letters. Used in Pattialla [sic], 24 March 1877.
Image courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (click image for listing)
These are variously printed in purple, blue or black. I don't know the significance, if any.
F.A. forms were sending forms provided loose for Inland use.
A Form F A (no dots) telegraph receipt, Bombay to Mandsaur, dated 25-3-89.
This is very similar to the ones without form number of the time, but without any fancy border.
Image courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (click image for listing)
A Form F. A (no dot after "A") telegraph receipt, Patiala to Lahore, now in Pakistan, dated 23-10-90 printed in purple.
This has a Class is 'Urgent Press' and cost 9 Rupees 8As. Below "Class" is "Number", that changes later.
Image courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (click image for listing)
A Form F. A. telegraph receipt from Patiala to Atari in the Punjab dated 14-11-88 printed in blue.
It has an attached 'MEMO' with the same datestamps and the words "This telegram being addressed to a place where there is
no Government Telegraph Department Station, is accepted under Inland Rule 20 for transfer to the Railway Telegraph."
I had assumed that, as in most countries, the Railways and Telegraphs were intimately connected, but in India the Government Telegraph
system was organised at a time when the railways were just getting off the ground as a private venture. According to
this infrastructure web-page
the Government bought all the railway tracks at the beginning of the 20th century. Clearly though the Railways had their own Telegraph System independently.
Anyone know anything about that ?
This was sent as Urgent Private class, twice the normal rate. The 7 Rupees would have paid for 72 characters plus 4 words.
Image courtesy of Steven Zwillinger.
Another Form F. A. telegraph receipt for an Ordinary Press telegram sent from Patiala to Lahore dated 24-10-90 printed in blue.
In 1879, rule 152 of the Telegraph Department's Traffic Code allowed Press messages to be sent at reduced rates.
Rules applied. It had to be entirely in English, be for publication in a newspaper in India, Burma or Ceylon, not be Commercial News, and no more than 500 words.
They could only be sent to Newspapers registered in the Office of the Director General of Telegraphs. Rule 153 set the rate at a quarter of the normal rate.
With 7 Rupee 14 annas (126 annas), this would cover 31 x 24 (744) characters plus 8 words. Image courtesy of Steven Zwillinger.
Another Form F. A (without last dot) telegraph receipt of Indore dated 26-7-95, perhaps late use? Again printed in purple.
This is printed in purple on paper thin enough to show the other side quite clearly. The 'F.A' is also written differently.
This has a Class of 'Deferred Private' which would cost half the normal rate. The 27 Rupees would cover 54 x 24 (=1296) characters.
Image courtesy of Steven Zwillinger.
A Form F. A. telegraph receipt, Pydhonie (South Bombay) to Calcutta, dated November 1904 printed in black.
On the left, below "Class" is "Number", that changes soon after this. Also the crown on the Coat of Arms becomes narrower shortly after.
Image courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (click image for listing)
A Form F. A. telegraph receipt, Bahawalpur to Bombay dated 28 April 1906 printed in black.
On the left, below "Class" is still "Number". The Coat of Arms on this is a Large type.
The back has rates for inland telegrams and disclaimers. This Deferred Rate of only 4 words was instituted in 1904. Shortly after it was increased to 10 words.
Images courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (click image for listing)
A Form F. A. telegraph receipt, Benabesoty (?) to Sardarshahr, Rajasthan dated 31 December 1906 printed in black.
On the left, below "Class" is now "Booking Time". Back to the smaller Coat of Arms is with the wide type crown.
The back has rates for inland telegrams and disclaimers. This Deferred Rate of now 10 words.
Images courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (click image for listing)
Here is a Form F.A. Receipt from Amirs Camp. Amir Habibullah Khan of Afghanistan made a state visit to India in 1907 printed in black.
A travelling telegraph office was set up to accompany him while travelling around India. It was sent to "Marine Lines", Bombay, housing the British Marine Battalion.
Below "Class" is "Booking Time". The crown on the Coat of Arms is now the narrow type.
Form F.A with 1 Rupee 7 annas (23 annas, for 29 words at the new rate) for an Inland deferred telegram dated 21-2-07, courtesy of Steven Zwillinger.
A Form F. A. telegraph receipt, Bahawalpur to Bombay dated 31 December 1906 printed in black.
On the left, below "Class" is now "Booking Time". The Coat of Arms is now a new large type.
This has no stamps, but instead has the cost entered and is signed. This is because it was paid for "partly or wholly in Postage Stamps or Reply Passes".
The back has rates for inland telegrams and disclaimers, as the last one shown, but :-
Both the front and back have the separating line as a series of short oblique bars rather than rectangles.
Images courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (click image for listing)
Two examples of receipts using Police Department Telegraphs
These have the new larger Coat of Arms.
These are both official use on F.A. forms printed in black and marked with Class of 'State Defd' (Defd standing for Deferred, low priority) with Postal cancellations of 1907.
They are also both from Chhindwara to Pachmarhi with 33 annas charged for 33 words. The top is dated 2 June 1907, the bottom is dated 14 October 1907.
Chhindwara was in an area called "Central Provinces" at the time.
These images of used examples are all courtesy of Steven Zwillinger.
A later Form F. A. telegraph receipt of Karachi dated 12-3 1908 printed in black.
Front and back (half-size) of a typical Inland receipt cancelled 'KARACHI 12-3 08'. This kind of cancel was normal.
Since only the top half should be on the receipt, the 1890 and 1904 series, used halves were normally indistinguishable.
This was a deferred telegram to Bombay for 7 annas, presumably having 13 words. Telegraph stamps were withdrawn shortly after, on 1st April 1908.
According to The Stamp Forum, the telegraph service in India finally came to an end on 15th July 2013.
KEVII 2 Rp F.A. 2. form of 1908.
Courtesy of Stanley Gibbons from lot 133 of their Revenue auction of 21 November 2023.
Receipt part of F.A. 2. form used at “BOMBAYKALBADEW / G.T.O.” cds, dated “14 NO 08” on 1 Rp embossed stamp.
Courtesy of Stanley Gibbons from lot 136 of their Revenue auction of 21 November 2023.
F. B. forms were sending forms provided loose for Foreign use.
A Form F. B. telegraph receipt of Muzaffarpur, Bihar to Aden via Bombay, dated 10-10 1905 with Class as Urgent Foreign.
Image courtesy of Steven Zwillinger.
A Form F. B. telegraph receipt of Mannady, Tamil Nadu to Colombo, dated 21-12 1906 with Class as Private Foreign.
This form is a bit narrower, the "No." box at top-right has been replaced by a "Booking Time" box.
Image courtesy of Steven Zwillinger.
A Form F. B. telegraph receipt of Kanadukathan, Tamil Nadu to Colombo ???, dated 25-2 1908 with nothing filled in in English.
What is written looks like Tamil. Not sure how they would encode Tamil to send over the telegraph, possibly phonetically ?
Image courtesy of Steven Zwillinger.
F. SA. forms were domestic sending forms provided in books of 100 for Inland use.
Here is a (half size) Receipt for an Inland Telegram of 189? in purple.
Form F.SA with 2½ annas for an Urgent Private telegram from Patiala to Simla dated 25-9-9?, courtesy of Rolf Lamprecht.
Form F.SA In black on white paper, with 'fancy border' at the left. Used in Kalbadevi, Bombay on 17 February 1900.
Image courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (Click on image for listing).
A similar Form F.SA showing that some had perforations that could remove the 'fancy border'. Used in Pydhonie on 8 January 1900.
Image courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (Click on image for listing).
In black on white paper with Cantonment Perfins.
Kohat (Peshawar in the North West Frontier) 11 March 1902 with a boxed perfin of "CAND/ 8"
Here is a (half size) receipt using 1904 provisionals:
Form F.SA with 7 annas for an Inland deferred telegram from Kalbadevi, Bombay with 7 words dated 27-11-04, courtesy of Steven Zwillinger.
A similar Form F.SA showing a different 'fancy border', with perforations running through it. Used in Kalbadevi on 15 January 1905.
Image courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (Click on image for listing).
I presume these are the forerunner to the following Form F. SA1 telegraph forms.All the ones I have seen so far were dated 1890 or 1891.
This form is similar to that above, except printed in blue.
The Class is "Urgent State". Used in Patiala 21-10-1890 to Umballa, near Delhi in the Punjab.
4 Rupees for 16 words. Image courtesy of Steven Zwillinger.
Similar to last, sent the next day.
The Class is again "Urgent State", and used in Patiala 22-10-1890 to Poona, about 100km south-east of Bombay
6 Rupees for 24 words. Image courtesy of Steven Zwillinger.
As last, but used in Dhar on 19 March 1891 with a charge of Rs3 As8, but no stamps, and a signature below. I had thought that the "Cost" not usually being filled in was due to laziness.
However below that is "Above particulars, giving full cost, to be filled up when the Telegram is paid for, PARTLY or WHOLLY, in Postage labels or Reply Passes."
In this case, a Reply Pass may have been used and/or postage stamps (placed below the line), and a signature added.
Image courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (click image for listing)
F. SA1. forms were sending forms provided in books of 100 for Inland use. I have seen them used in the range 13 February 1906 to 14 March 1908. All in the Bombay area.
For sale without counterfoil.
The forms shown above had a space for the telegram number below the Class at the left side. From late 1905 this space was used instead for the Booking time.
This appears to be without perforation on the left side. It is dated 13 February 1906 and was used at Kalbadevi, Bombay
Image courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (click image for listing)
This is perforated on the left side. It is dated 20 November 1906 and was used at Pydhonie, Bombay.
Image courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (click image for listing)
This F.SA1 form was used 14-3-1908, Pydhonie, Bombay to Fatehpur
It appears to be without perforation on the left side.
It has an interesting negative "J" in disk which I have also seen on several F.A. forms of 1908 used at Pydhonie and Kalbadevi, Bombay, but not on the 1906 above.
Image courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (click image for listing)
This is perforated on the left side. It is dated 24 March 1908 and was used at Pydhonie, Bombay.
Image courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (click image for listing)
F. SA2. forms were sending forms provided in books of 100 for Inland use. They had a large counterfoil to the left for record keeping and were primarily used by businesses
All the ones I have seen so far were the same design, with "Booking Time" below "Class", and dated from December 1905 to April 1908.
This F.SA2 shows the perforation way over to the left. Used in Bombay Kalbadevi., sending to Indore City.
Images courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (Click on image for listing).
This F.SA2 form has the perforations running through the fancy border.
Used in Bombay Kalbadevi. Image courtesy of Steven Zwillinger.
Used in Jammu & Kashmir State,
Used 28/3/1908 with stamps of 4As, 1A and 8As on 5Rs for a total of 13As. Image courtesy of David Wild
Used 10/4/1908 with stamps of 8As on 5Rs, 4As and 2As for a total of 14As. Image courtesy of David Wild
These were in use before the end of stamps, but apparently without the use of the normal forms.
"Receipt for Inland or Foreign Telegram". Other "A. R. Receipts" are shown in the Bikaner Railway (Form L. T. 5.) section.
This was used in Bahawalpur on 2 September 1908. It has a really strange Coat of Arms in the center.
The imprint reads "P.P., A. 4-3-1908.—Regr. No. 257 of 1907-08." Image courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay.
Another example from the following year.
This was used in Bahawalpur on 29 June 1909 with a different style of cancel including "TELE". The Coat of Arms looks better, though blurry.
The imprint is the same, though also blurry Image courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay.
Very similar to the last, but later.
This was used in Bahawalpur on 21 May 1910. The Coat of Arms has improved slightly.
The imprint now reads "P.P.,A.—1.9.1909.—Regr. No. 258 of 1909-10." Image courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay.
Telegram sent from Calcutta to Venice on 18 May 1915 for 18Rp 12As.
A medium sized Coat of Arms. No visible imprint.
"Receipt for Inland Telegram" used at Bikaneer on 27 February 1887.
Image courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (Click on image for listing)
This Receiving form was used in Rangoon, Burma in 1914.
This was used on 30 December 1914. Image courtesy of Rolf Lamprecht.
Used in Rangoon 16 August 1916. Short Coat of Arms. Censor-mark. Nothing on the back.
No printers imprint.
Image courtesy of Itforbiz - (click image for eBay listing)
Used 22 April 1896 at Rangoon, Burma for a telegram from Prome, Burma (a little north up the railway line).
About two thirds of the way down it has "64 Word Form" on the left and "F. C. 2" which I am taking to mean Form C. 2.
The Imprint at the bottom is rather unclear. Images courtesy of Simran Mulani of Alphaomegaohilately2 (click image above for eBay listing).
Used in Rangoon 25 May 1915. Short Coat of Arms. Censor-mark. Nothing on the back.
No printers imprint, though one may have been cut off the bottom.
Image courtesy of FahLagoon - (click image for eBay listing)
| Note. These are Inland rates. The backs of some telegrams give an "Abstract of Rules" with information pertaining to Foreign rates. See below for details |
Rates were subject to change. Steven Zwillinger provides this helpful table for Inland rates:
It is taken from a book by Ilyas Patel & Dhananjay Desai. There is also a pdf doc downloadable with this and more information.
Later (1906?) the deferred rate was changed to 10 words for the first 4 annas.
| Normal | Length of message | Rate | Extra words | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Later Rates | Rs. | As. | As. | |
| Deferred | 10 words | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| Ordinary | 16 words | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Urgent | 16 words | 2 | 0 | 4 |
A Notice of a change of Rates as of 1st of January 1904.
This is lot 307 of the Indica Collection Auction, courtesy of Stanley Gibbons
The backs of some telegrams give an "Abstract of Rules" with information pertaining to Foreign rates.
For ease of access and to make them searchable,
I will list what I have seen here. Information on telegrams around 1870 gave 13 rules out of at least 46, and telegrams around 1877 gave 16 rules out of at least 47.
Numbers 20 and 22 appear in both, but they are not the same rules, so there must have been re-numbering. Also the later rules were numbered with Roman Numerals.
I have highlighted those that affect charges beyond number of words.
1870 Abstract of Rules :
| 6 | The charge for a message in ordinary English language between any two stations in India or Burmah, will be One Rupee For Every Ten Words. |
|---|---|
| 7 | The charge for a message in cypher, in words of concealed meaning, or in a foreign language, will be Two Rupees For Every Ten Words. These messages are always repeated back by the receiving Office, to ensure the greatest possible accuracy. |
| 8 | A double charge will be levied upon all messages tendered for transmission between the hours of 18 (6 P.M.) and 6 A.M., also on Sundays, and the following holidays :— Christmas Day, New Year's Day, Good Friday, and the Queen's Birthday. |
| 11 | All that the sender writes in his message to be transmitted, is included in the cost. The name of the telegraph Station from whence it is despatched is added free by the Department, and need not be written by the sender. |
| 13 | Words joined by a hyphen are counted as so many separate words. |
| 14 | Words separted by an apostrophe are counted as so many separate words. |
| 15 | Proper names of towns and persons, names of places and streets, count as one word. Titles, Christian names, particles, and qualifications are counted for the number of words employed to express them. |
| 16 | Every separate character, whether letter or figure, is counted as a word. The same applies to an underline. |
| 17 | Signs which the instruments express by a single signal (signs of punctuation, hyphens, apostrophes, inverted commas, parenthesis, fresh paragraph, are not counted. But decimal points, commas, and bars of division used with figures are each counted as a figure. |
| 18 | Numbers expressed in Figures are counted at the rate of five figures to a word, plus one word for any excess. |
| 20 | Peons will deliver messages free of charge at any place within 5 miles of the Telegraph Station. Beyond this distance, messages will be sent either by post registered (the fee being prepaid), or by such other means as the sender may arrange, and pay for at the Booking Station. |
| 22 | Senders of messages are advised to write their messages in an unmistakeable and distinct hand, and use the shortest and most familiar words they can select. The more intelligible the message, the greater is the probability of its being correctly transmitted. |
| 46 | All Offices will be closed to the public between the hours of 8 and 16 on Sunday, Christmas Day, New Year's Day, Good Friday, and the Queen's Birthday. |
1877 Abstract of Rules :
| 1 | The accuracy of messages is not guaranteed, and the Sender and Receiver must accept all risks arising from non-delivery, errors, or delays. |
|---|---|
| 3 | All Offices will be closed to the public between the hours of 8 A.M. and 4 P.M. (local time) on Sunday, Christmas Day, New Year's Day, Good Friday, and the Queen's Birthday. |
| 5 | Senders of messages are advised to write their messages in an unmistakeable and distinct hand, and to use the shortest and most familiar words they can select. |
| 20 | No charge is made for the transmission of the address. (Names of stations from and to which the message is to be despatched bona fide names or designations of Sender and Addressee, and the latter's address.) |
| 21 | The following are the rates of charge for a message in ordinary language :— a. Between any two stations in India, or between any two stations in British Burmah, one Rupee for every six words or less. b. Between any station in India and any station in British Burmah, or between any station in India and any station in Ceylon, one Rupee eight annas for every six words or less. c. Between ant station in Ceylon and any station in British Burmah, two Rupees for every six words or less. |
| 22 | A double charge is levied on all messages tendered for transmission between the hours of 6 P.M. and 6 A.M. (local time) on Sunday, Christmas Day, New Year's Day, Good Friday, and the Queen's Birthday. |
| 23 | The charge for a message in CIPHER is double the charge for a message in ordinary language. |
| 24 | A message can be sent from any station of the Government Telegraph Department to any Railway Telegraph Station, or vice versa, without additional charge. |
| 35 | The day, hour, and minute of receipt of a message into a Telegraph Office for despatch are added by the department and telegraphed free of charge. |
| 38 | Messages can be collated or repeated back from Station to Station to ensure correctness. |
| 39 | The charge for collation is equal to half the charge for the message. A collated message is indicated by the word "collationnée," which, to ensure the greatest accuracy is telegraphed (free) both in the official instructions and as the first word of the text of the message. |
| 40 | The Sender of a message can prepay an Advice of Delivery. In this case the terminal station immediately after the delivery of the message, despatches a telegram to the Sender announcing the exact time at which it reached its destination. |
| 42 | The charge for an Advice of Delivery is that for a single message at ordinary or day rate. |
| 43 | The sender of a message can prepay a reply, He must add the words "reply paid" or "answer paid." These must form concluding words of the message, but will not be charged for. On depositing the corresponding sum, the Sender can add (free) to the words "reply paid" or "answer paid" the amount to which he wishes the reply to be limited. |
| 44 | Messages will be delivered free of charge at any place within five miles of a Telegraph Station. Beyond this distance, messages will be sent by Post or by such other means as the Sender may arrange and pay for. |
| 47 | No refund will be made for a message delivered wholly or partially in an unintelligible state unless the extra charge for collation (see Rule XXXIX) has been paid on it, Applications for refunds, as also all complaints respecting messages, should be addresses to the Telegraph Check Office, Calcutta. Every claim should be made, under penalty of rejection within two months from the date of the message. |
From about 1918.
Form A. central Coat of Arms. "POSTS TELEGRAPHS / Inland Telegrams". Advertising front and back.
The advertising is mostly through "Indian States and Eastern Agency" with offices at 70, Apollo Street, Bombay and 5, Temple Chambers, Calcutta.
Printed by Karim Bux Brothers of Calcutta.
Front and back images are shown in this section at 60% size for ease of viewing. Open in new tab or copy them for full size viewing.
September 1924
Imprint front, bottom-left of 6 September 1924 indicating three million printed. Images courtesy of Steven Zwillinger.
January 1925
The Agent adress for Bombay has changed to P. O. Box 371.
Imprint front, bottom-left of 18 January 1925 indicating one million printed. Images courtesy of Steven Zwillinger.
December 1925
Imprint front, bottom-left of 5 December 1925 indicating one million printed. Images courtesy of Steven Zwillinger.
1931 - No form number, central Coat of Arms. "INDIAN POSTS AND TELEGRAPHS DEPARTMENT"
"Receipt for Inland Telegram"
This was used in Moulmein, South Burma on 6 June 1931. Image courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay.
A series of similar receipts for Inland Telegrams with Coat of Arms on the left, by the "INDIAN POSTS AND TELEGRAPHS DEPARTMENT"
These were mostly used in 1933 at "Mansukhlal, 48 Marwadi Bazar, Bombay No. 2" - click images for eBay listing.
Used 3 April, advertising fire bricks. Image courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay.
Used 2 May 1933, advertising teeth whitener. Image courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay.
Used 4 May 1933, advertising Ford cars. Front and back images courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay.
Used 5 May 1933, advertising the Eastern Chemical Co.. Image courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay.
Maiden's Hotel, Delhi.
Used 22 November 1933, advertising advertising space. Images courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay.
A similar receipt of 1934 used at Himatnagar, Gujarat.
Used 4 October 1934, advertising Gillette Razors. Front and back image courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay.
The back has the terms and conditions with space for additional advertising.
A similar receipt of 1937 used at Marwadi Bazar in Bombay again.
Used 4 January 1937, advertising Dunlop. Front and back image courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay.
The back has the terms and conditions with space advertised for use.
The following forms are similar, but with different imprints. the order of printing is uncertain, so the following table of links may help.
| 6/9/1948 | 
 |
| 1950 | 
 |
| 21/8/1948 | 
 |
| 1949 | 
 |
| 19/8/1949 | 
 |
| 30/11/1949 | 
 |
| 18/2/1950 | 
 |
| 14/2/1953 | 
 |
| 20/3/1957 |  |
Printed by Eden Press of Calcutta, 9 April 1947. Used sending forms are scarce since they should have been destroyed.
This is dated in 6 September 1948
The large "X" appears to be a flag that it is being sent to Pakistan (Hajiganj).
The back has the required stamps, cancelled in Calcutta.
The Eden Press imprint suggests that these were printed 9 April 1947.
Images courtesy of IndiaPhil2 (click image for eBay listing).
Printed by Eden Press of Calcutta in 1948. Used sending form (probably, I have no image of the front, but similar to above.)
This was used in dated in Gauhati, northeastern India, in 1950.
The large "X" appears to be a flag that it was being sent to Pakistan.
The back has the required stamps and a printers imprint at the bottom.
The Eden Press imprint suggests that these were printed in June or July 1948.
Images courtesy of Rolf Lamprecht.
This is dated in 1948. It looks like it could be the same type as the last two, but I have no image of the back.
This is from the Bombay GPO to Pakistan (despite this Indian Posts and Telegraph Department telegram apparently being for Inland Telegrams).
The "Office of Origin" (not "Service" as it looks) is interesting, it is an inverted "BY-Ɔ"? The cancel is hard to read, but is "Bombay H. P. O."
Image courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay (click image for eBay listing).
This was used 21 August 1948 and the back looks about the same as the last, but I have no image of the front.
Used in Bombay for a telegram to Karachi, Pakistan. Stamped with a large "X".
The bottom imprints are hard to read, but different from the usual ones.
Images courtesy of IndiaPhil2 (click image for eBay listing).
Printed Dutt Printing Works, Calcutta in 1948. Used in Howrah near Calcutta
I don't have an image of the front.
Dutt Printing Works, Calcutta imprint suggests that these were printed between March and July 1948.
Images courtesy of IndiaPhil2 (click image for eBay listing).
Printed by Dutt Printing Works, Calcutta in 1948. Used in Shillong, northeastern India, 19 August 1949.
I don't have an image of the front.
This Dutt Printing Works, Calcutta imprint is similar, but different to the last. They both indicate printing between March and July 1948.
Images courtesy of IndiaPhil2 (click image for eBay listing).
Poor print quality. This is dated 30 November 1949 and was used in Calcutta on Official business.
It has "Service" stamps to the value of 9Rp,14As, and imprints at the bottom.
The imprints are not easy to read.
Images courtesy of IndiaPhil2 (click image for eBay listing).
Poor print quality. This is dated 18 February 1950 and was used at Ludhiana, central Punjab, sending to Bombay.
The British Coat of Arms has been replaced with the "Lion Capital" Coat of Arms.
The back has the required stamps, and imprints at the bottom.
The imprints are not easy to read.
Images courtesy of IndiaPhil2 (click image for eBay listing).
A used sending form of the 1851-1951 Anniversary. This is dated 15 August 1952, used in Calcutta. (click image for eBay listing)
The British Coat of Arms has been replaced with the "Lion Capital" Coat of Arms.
No stamps used - Image courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay.
Printed rather blurred. Used sending form (probably, I have no image of the front, but similar.)
This was used on Valentines day 14 February 1953 in Shillong, northeastern India.
The additional manuscript "X" on the stamps could be a flag that it was being sent to Pakistan.
The imprint is badly blurred but probably 1952 and perhaps starting with HPW for H? Printing Works.
Images courtesy of Rolf Lamprecht.
This appears to have been used 20 March 1957 in Chandhichora, sending to Chaman in Balochistan.
There are similar imprints on front and back, both rather unclear. This is the front.
This appears to have a date of 15 October 1955. Images courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (Click on image for listing)
Form A Swarga, Delhi.
Used 11 November 1972. Images courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay.
Sending Form B. central Coat of Arms. "Indian POSTS AND TELEGRAPHS".
Sending Form B. Central Coat of Arms. "Indian POSTS AND TELEGRAPHS". Used in Shillong, North India, 22 June 1949, sending to Sylhet, then Pakistan (now Bangladesh).
The back has the required stamps, and also imprints.
The imprint seems to be for U. P. B. W. with printings of 1947 and 1948.
Images courtesy of IndiaPhil2 (click image for eBay listing).
Used at Indore City. on 15 April 1952.
MGIFPAb imprint at bottom-left suggests a printing date of May 1950.
Images courtesy of AsianStamp - (click image for listing).
Delivery Form. central Coat of Arms. "POSTS TELEGRAPHS". No visible form number.
Used in Rangoon, Burma on 15 February 1920.
This has an imprint of Lal Chand & Sons of 5-9-18 indicating 85,000 (Edition II) books printed.
The image includes the T. I. 56 delivery envelope, courtesy of Rolf Lamprecht.
No form number, nothing on the back. Used in Rangoon, Burma on 24 February 1930.
This has an imprint of of 4-9-26, but printer unknown.
Delivery Form C. central Coat of Arms. "POSTS TELEGRAPHS".
Used in Rangoon 28 November 1919. Nothing on the back.
Similar to the one above, but with "C" and a different printer.
The printer name is Chand & Sons, and dated 13-10-19 and for 200,000 books (Vedic numbering).
Used in Rangoon 12 August 1923. Nothing on the back.
Similar to the one above, but with a different printer.
The printer name is unreadable, but dated 27-2-22 and for 200,000 books.
1923 - Advertising front and back, mostly through "Indian States and Eastern Agency" with offices at 70, Apollo Street, Bombay and 5, Temple Chambers, Calcutta.
Some printed by Lal Chand & Sons, and some printed by Karim Bux Brothers of Calcutta.
Front and back images are shown in this section at 60% size for ease of viewing. Open in new tab or copy them for full size viewing.
Printed November 1923 by Lal Chand & Sons.
Imprint front, bottom-left of 5 November 1923 indicating 60,000 Books of them printed. Images courtesy of Steven Zwillinger.
Printed September 1924 by Karim Bux Brothers.
Imprint front, bottom-left of 2 September 1924 indicating 40,000 Books of them printed. Images courtesy of Steven Zwillinger.
Printed January 1925 by Karim Bux Brothers.
The Agent adress for Bombay has changed to P. O. Box 371.
Imprint front, bottom-left of 13 January 1925 indicating 20,000 Books of them printed. Images courtesy of Steven Zwillinger.
Printed June 1925 by Karim Bux Brothers.
Imprint front, bottom-left of 9 June 1925 indicating 40,000 Books of them printed. Images courtesy of Steven Zwillinger.
Printed December 1925 by Karim Bux Brothers.
Imprint front, bottom-left of 5 December 1925 indicating 60,000 Books of them printed. Images courtesy of Steven Zwillinger.
Printed April 1926 by Karim Bux Brothers.
Imprint front, bottom-left of 30 April 1926 indicating 40,000 Books of them printed. Images courtesy of Steven Zwillinger.
Printed May 1927 by Karim Bux Brothers. Used at Ajmer, Rajasthan.
Imprint front, bottom-left of 25 May 1927 indicating 40,000 Books of them printed. Images courtesy of Steven Zwillinger.
Printed again by Karim Bros. 21 July 1928 but without any advertisements. Nothing on the back. Used 6 December 1929.
Imprint at the bottom of 21 July 1928 with 100,000 books printed.
Printed 2 July 1935 by Lal Chand & Sons, Calcutta. Used 10 March 1937 at Ngathaingyaung, Burma.
Imprint at the bottom of 2 July 1935. Images courtesy of Simran Mulani of Alphaomegaohilately2 (click image above for eBay listing).
Printed March 1938 by Lal Chand & Sons, Calcutta. Used 8 August 1940 at Attangudi, Tamil Nadu.
Imprint at the bottom of 10 March 1938. Images courtesy of Rolf Lamprecht.
A used form of 17 April 1950 This is dated 26 July 1951, used in Calcutta.
The British Coat of Arms has been replaced with the "Lion Capital" Coat of Arms. The "C." is now lower and over on the right.
Dut Printing Works, Calcutta. 4 lakha pads printed (1 lakha = 100,000).
Used at Gautampura, Holkar State. on 27 September 1947.
Rather cryptic imprint at bottom-left of C.I.P. & L.W. Ltd. N.
Images courtesy of AsianStamp - (click for listing).
A used form of 1952 This is dated 21 November 1955, used in Puduvayal, Tamil Nadu for a message from Mandalay, Burma.
7 lakha printed (1 lakha = 100,000) - Image courtesy of Rolf Lamprecht.
Delivery Form C3. Central Coat of Arms. "POSTS TELEGRAPHS".
C3 forms have reduced information on them compared to C forms.
Used in Rangoon 26 April 1917. Short Coat of Arms. Censor-mark. Nothing on the back.
No printers imprint, though one may have been cut off the bottom.
Image courtesy of FahLagoon - (click image for eBay listing)
Used in Rangoon 14 April 1919. Tall Coat of Arms. Censor-mark. Nothing on the back.
The printer name is Lal Chand & Sons, and dated 14 March 1918, for 48,000 books.
Image courtesy of FahLagoon - (click image for eBay listing)
Used in Rangoon 25 February 1922. Nothing on the back.
The printer name is Lal Chand & Sons, and dated 21 May 1920, for 100,000 books.
Used in Rangoon 5 May 1922. Nothing on the back.
The printer name is Lal Chand & Sons, and dated 18 May 1921, for 150,000 books (Edition IV).
Advertising front and back. The coat of arms is now a short, squat version.
Comparing C3 imprint S-4 with C imprint S-4, C3 has thinner paper,
but only half as many books printed, with perhaps twice as many pages?
The advertising is mostly through "Indian States and Eastern Agency" with offices at 70, Apollo Street, Bombay and 5, Temple Chambers, Calcutta.
Some printed by Lal Chand & Sons, and some by Karim Bux Brothers of Calcutta.
Front and back images are shown in this section at 60% size for ease of viewing. Open in new tab or copy them for full size viewing.
Printed June 1923 by Lal Chand & Sons.
Imprint front, bottom-left of 29 June 1923 indicating 29,000 Books of them printed. Unusually, this imprint is also repeated (larger) on the back.
Images courtesy of Steven Zwillinger.
Printed August 1924 by Karim Bux Brothers.
I only have an image of the front of this. The back can partially be seen from the front.
It is probably the same as the Form.C3 of 2 September 1924.
Imprint front, bottom-left of 29 August 1924 indicating 10,000 Books of them printed.
Images courtesy of Steven Zwillinger.
Printed January 1925 by Karim Bux Brothers.
Imprint front, bottom-left of 13 January 1925 indicating 10,000 Books of them printed.
Images courtesy of Steven Zwillinger.
Used 21 January 1927 in Rangoon. No advertising, plain back.
Imprint bottom-left of 20 May 1926 indicating 50,000 Books of them printed.
Poorly printed by Eden Press of Calcutta, 1947. C.3 Delivery form used as an Express sending form
This is dated in 22 June 1949 and used in Shillong in the North East Frontier, sending to Karachi, Pakistan for 21Rs.
The Eden Press, Calcutta imprint suggests that these were printed in 1947.
The back has been stamped "TELEGRAM" and makes interesting reading.
Images courtesy of IndiaPhil2 (click image for eBay listing).
A used form of 22 March 1954 used in Calcutta for a message from Beanibazar, East Pakistan (Now Bangladesh). Note "PAK" at the top.
There is a "T.B." at top-left and part may have been torn off.
I can see no imprints and there is nothing on the back. It does have a new Logo though, reading "Service before Self".
A used form said to be of 1960 marked "Form for Press Telegrams only" from Kanpur southwest-central Uttar Pradesh. It has the same "Service before Self" logo as the last.
This appears to have been sent to "Associated Karachi" and was 3 pages long. Karachi is now in Pakistan.
Traces of what may have been a printers imprint at bottom-right. Image courtesy of IndiaPhil2 on eBay (click image for listing).
Receipt for payment of 15Rp for a year of use of an abbreviated telegraph address (See Check Offices).
Stamped 24 May 1927 in Indore. Image courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay.
There is an imprint bottom-left that looks like "Lal Chand & Sons—3228—7-12-20 —3,000 Bks"
For a license to establish a Wireless Receiving Station, 16Rp 4As, valid for 1 year. This in Calcutta.
Stamped 5 December 1950 in Hatkhola, Calcutta. Image courtesy of Rolf Lamprecht.
Used 24 Uugust 1933
Imprint of Karim Bux Brothers, Calcutta.
Dated 24 August 1933. Images courtesy of AsianStamp - (click for listing).
A used form of 20 December 1943, used in Calcutta
The top-left has an imprint of "C. S. Ca. 23]"
Images courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (Click on image for listing)
An unused card marked "Corr.-1", with imprint of 1 February 1966
The imprint at the bottom reads "MGIPAh.—1308—1-2-66—2,06,000." Image courtesy of Susmita Chakraborty of Collectgenie on eBay. Click image for listing.
A used form of 10 December 1954, used in Burma. (click image for eBay listing)
It was to Akyab, Burma (now Sittwe, or Sittway, Myanmar), a port on the Bay of Bengal at the mouth of the Kaladan River, from Poona.
This is marked "B.I. Cable India Post and Telegraphs Department"
The message consists of seven groups of 5-digit numbers (presumably not all such numbers were valid).
Normally when numbers represent characters in a non-alphabetic language (such as Chinese) a translation is shown next to each number, this does not so it may be a private code.
An imprint at the bottom says "Dut Printing Works, Cal.—1303/5166/B44—29-7-50—30000 Bks." which I take to mean that 30,000 books of these were printed on 29 July 1950.
Image courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay.
Bhutan is a bit of a special case. Historically it had been very much "off the grid", but political pressure to change prompted the king to modernise the country.
10th October 1962 brought the opening of the Postal Service in Bhutan, with the Department of Posts and Telegraphs being placed under the Ministry of Communications.
Telegraph forms of India were used. Due to the terain, similarly to Tibet much of the telegraphy was actually via telephone, presumably over a radio link.
A sending form A, sent from Phuntsholing to Calcutta, 16 May 1969. The charge in local currency (not Rupees) was 6Nu90 written at top-left, for 23 words.
The front has a 4Nu postage stamp, the rest is on the back, shown below.
The back refers to "... provisions of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 and the Indian Telegraph Rules, 1951".
Images courtesy of vgstamps2015 on eBay (click an image for listing).
A couple more telegraph forms used in Bhutan are shown on the Miscellaneous page.
Some Railway systems were run by states, others by private companies. They did not all use the same guage. Some would take payment using stamps.
Many display the word "licensed", though it is unclear what was licensed or who did the licensing. Receipts were issued regardless.
For the history of some of these companies, I have found social village to be quite helpful.
| Shortcuts to different Government Telegraph Sections | ||||||||||||||
| A.-B. Ry Co | Bikaner | Bombay, Baroda & Central India | B.-G. Railway | D. H. Railway | East Indian Ry | Gondal Ry | Gondal-Porbandar | Jodhpore-Bikaner | Jodhpore | Jaipur | Junagadh | N. W. R. | Saurashtra Ry | Western |
List of Railway Companies in India.
 The form above is (rather cryptically) inscribed "A.-B. Ry. Co., Ld. / (Incorporated in Great Britain.)". It also has a form number of "T. 22." at top-right. It was used at Jamunamukh (Nagaon, Assam) in 1881, so there is a fair chance that A. B. implied "Assam-Bengal", as on the receipt to the right with form number "L. T. 16." That form is dated 1 May 1907 and indicates that they accepted Postage or Telegraph stamps in payment. Images courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. Click on one for its' listing. |
 |
| L. T. 1. | L. T. 5. | L. T. 6. | B. 8. |
Form L. T. 1.
The earliest forms appear to be 1923 forms of the Jodhpore-Bikaner railway with just the heading changed. Subsequent revisions were made without changing the 1923 date or adding imprints.
Differences can be found in the fonts, but since the year is rarely put on the forms, it makes it difficult to know the sequence, but there are at least 4 similar but different types with "L.T.I. / 1923" at top-right.
I will start with this because I have an image of the back. - I will call this "1923-Type A"
(Despite ahaving a space for "Office Stamp and date", both are usually missing.)
Images courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (Click on image for listing)
The same as last but perforated on the left side. - I will call this "1923-Type B"
The "N.B." spacing is the same as last. Image courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (Click on image for listing)
This has different "N.B." spacing. - I will call this "1923-Type C"
The "N.B." spacing is different. Image courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (Click on image for listing)
This has "N.B." spacing the same as the last, but the heading is in Capitals. - I will call this "1923-Type D"
Much of the text is larger.
The "N.B." itself is different, but the text spacing is as the last. This clearly does have something printed on the back.
Image courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (Click on image for listing)
Form L. T. 5.
Bikaner State Railway - imprint top-left with "GPB 2530—0-41—200 Bks.", with "L. T. 5." below. Image courtesy of
AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay.
Click on image for listing.
Form L. T. 5. - Now marked "A.R. Receipt for Inland of Foreign Telegram." (click for eBay listing)
Bikaner State Railway - 1946?, April 1945? - imprint top-left with "GPB 1946—4-45—500 Bks.", with "L. T. 5." at top-right. Image courtesy of
AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay.
A reference at the bottom to stamps "affixed by the sender to the message form to which this Receipt relates."
Form L. T. 6.
Form L. T. 6. an envelope, possibly 1928.
Bikaner State Railway - imprint top-left with "GPB 1009—1-28—15000", suggesting January 1928, with "L. T. Form 6." at top-right.
Image courtesy of
AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (click for eBay listing)
L. T. Form 6. an undated envelope.
Bikaner State Railway - This looks like it has been hand-stamped rather than printed.
Image courtesy of
AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (click for eBay listing)
Form B. 8.
Receiving Form B. 8.
Bikaner State Railway - Receiving Form with "B. 8." at top-right.
Image courtesy of
AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (click for eBay listing)
Incorporated in England by Special Act of Parliament.
 |
| Consecutive receipts of the Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway "(Including the Holkar State and the Seindia Neemuch State Railways)". No mention of payment by stamps. An imprint top-left that looks like "B. I. P. 408-5-21-2,500 1 ks. x 200 lvs.", with A / 4 central and "L. T. 5 B." at top-right. They also say "(Including the Holkar State and the Scindia Neemuch State Railways.)" - Images courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay (Click on one for its' listing). |
 |
| "L. T. 6." is the form number for an envelope. This has an imprint at top-left that looks like "S. I. P. 551-11-19-230,000." suggesting that 230,000 were printed November 1919. Nothing printed on the back. Courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (Click on image for listing). |
 |
| "L. T. 8. I. " is the form number for this. This has no imprint. It can be used as a Form. A. to send a telegram, in which case the back can be used for additional postage stamps. In this case though, the back has been used for its' other function. The back is marked "Inland Reply Voucher" and was used for that purpose. Images courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (Click on image for listing). |
This form "L. T. 16 B." is a receipt and has an imprint at top-left reading "T. of I. — 2,000 Bks. / 200 Lvs — 11-7-17—41" which I take to mean that it was printed 11 July 1917.
Image courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (Click on image for listing).
This is as cryptic as the "A.-B. Ry. Co., Ld". This appears to have been used in Gondal, so their is a fair chance the "G" is for Gondal.
According to social village, "Before the independence of India, several princely states owned their own railways like Bhavnagar, Kathiawad, Dwarka, Gondal, Morbi and Jamnagar merged to BB&CI in 1948" ...
So it seems likely that "B" could stand for "Bhavnagar".
"L. T. Form 16" used 9 January 1886. Images courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (Click on image for listing).
Another fairly cryptic one, form "L T. 1 A.". This undated form was used in Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan, near the border of the state of Punjab with Pakistan. Bikaner is a little to the south.
The back provides more space for this sending form. Images courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (Click on image for listing).
Delivery Form "L T. 1 A.".
A small imprint at the bottom has "Rev.--2-5-09".
This was in the "L. T. Form 2." envelope shown below.
Images courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (Click on image for listing).
Receipt - Form "L T. 16."
The imprint at the bottom reads "Rev.—22-2-10", which I take to be the date of printing.
Image courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (Click on image for listing).
A form used 24 October 1926 at Gondal.
The imprint at top-right now reads "L. T. 1. / B.P Press-40-1000Pads-2-25." Which I take to indicate form number, now prined by B.P Press, and the date of February 1925.
Images courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (Click on image for listing).
The above eBay lot includes a couple of other supposedly related items. However they are not written in English or any Devanagari script. This is the oldest :
Top-front has written, what looks like a date of 24-10-29
I have looked at various scripts that I thought possible, with the closest appearing to be Gujarati
The back has four numbered lines of script and perhaps a form reference below-right of those.
This is the other :
This has an additional imprint at bottom-left on the back. Images courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (Click on image for listing).
Can anyone read these ?
From Fibis.org, I learn that this was formed in 1911 from
‘Gondal Railway’ working jointly with the ‘Porbandar State Railway’(PSR), using a metre guage.
In 1919, ‘Gondal Railway’ took over the sole working of the ‘Porbandar State Railway’.
Undated form.
This is a telegram that is 8 pages long. First and last are shown (there were 2 pages marked as page 3). It is to the Maharaja at Gondal from Simla regarding military matters
The imprint at top-right reads "L. T. 1. / R. B. W . Camp-1000 Pads-21-3-15." Which I take to indicate form number, printer and the date of 21 March 1915.
Images courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (Click on image for listing).
A similar, but later and clearer telegram used 23 January 1918.
This is a telegram that is 4 pages long. First and last are shown. It is again to the Maharaja at Gondal, but from the Maharaja of Nabha regarding political matters
The imprint at top-right now reads "L. T. 1. / G. P. Ry. Press 299-40-1000 Pads-30-11-15." Which I take to indicate form number, now prined by the Railway's printer, and the date of 30 November 1916.
Images courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (Click on image for listing).
A couple of "G. 7. B." forms, 1937 and 1944, with different imprints.
 |
 |
| Used 1937, with "250 Books. April 37." at top-left. Image courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (Click on image for listing). |
Used 1944, with "J.E.P.W . Jaipur. " at top-left. Image courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (Click on image for listing). |
An undated L. T. Form No. 1. Marked as "Message Form". Nothing on the back.
Sent from Jodhpore. Image courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (Click on image for listing).
Spelling changed from Jodhpore to Jodhpur
An L. T. Form No. 1. Marked as "Message Form". Dated 29/8/07. Very similar to last, but imprint at bottom-left.
Sent from Jaiper(?). Nothing on the back.
Imprint reads "J.-B. Ry. No. 32-B. 1520--10-2-04" which I take to imply that it was printed 10 February 1904.
Image courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (Click on image for listing).
An L. T. Form No. 1. Marked as "Message Form". Dated 13/12/08. Very similar to last, but different imprint at bottom-left.
Sent from Jaiper(?). Nothing on the back.
Imprint reads "M. S. P. No. 1.185-06—1000—Bks. ½ S. Royal 20 11.s." which I take to imply that it was printed in 1906 by "M. S. P."
Image courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (Click on image for listing).
An undated form L. T. 1 / Revised. Marked top-left with "Handa-Sialkot."
Sent from Delhi. Image courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (Click on image for listing).
A form L. T. 1 / 1918. Imprint top-left with "M S P NO. 79—18—250 bks."
Sent from Calcutta. Image courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (Click on image for listing).
A form L. T. 1 / 1918. Different imprint top-left with "M S P NO. 2426—22—3000 bks."
Sent from Bundi, Rajasthan. Image courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (Click on image for listing).
A form L. T. 1 / 1923. Different imprint top-left with "Steam Press, Lucknow. 3,000 bks. 1923."
Sent from Calcutta. Image courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (Click on image for listing).
Judging by the spelling("BICKANEER"), this is the earliest image I have. Nothing on the back.
Image courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay (click image for listing).
This has an imprint suggesting 1906. Nothing on the back. It contained a telegram used in December 1908.
The imprint reads "M. S. P. No. 61—06—50,000.". Image courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay (click image for listing).
This has an imprint suggesting 1911. Nothing on the back.
The imprint reads "M S P No. 2096—11—10,000—20 No S vo.". Image courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay (click image for listing).
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| Jodhpore Railway - 1888, J. T. Form No. 16. Courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. |
Jodhpur Railway - Form L. T. 1. / 1923. This has an imprint at top-left reading "F G P 941-43-1000 Bks." Courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay (click images for listing). |
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| Junagadh State Railway - 1893? Could be paid with stamps. Courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. |
Undated form L.T. 1. with nothing on the back.
Telegram sent from Ladnum, Rajasthan. Image courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (click for eBay listing)
Undated form "L.T. 1 & 2 Combined" with nothing printed on the back.
This has an imprint up the left side which has been damaged by removal of the form from a booklet. It looks like it may have been printed in 1950
There is also what looks like a date written on the back that could be 20 May 1951.
Images courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (click for eBay listing)
Unused form "T. 76 B. / R. 3." with nothing printed on the back.
This has an imprint at top-left reading "C. Rly. Press,BY—No.318ν—1,15.000—6-52." possibly meaning "Calcutta Railway Press" printed June 1952 ?
Image courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (click for eBay listing)
Envelope "L. T 11 F. " used 13 February 1954.
This has an imprint at top-left reading "Bhave Ltd, 53/P—76-100000 91-300000" possibly printed 1953 ?
Image courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (click for eBay listing)
An AT/S Form of the Army Telegraphs & Signals "Modified for India", dated 19 February 1911. (click images for eBay listing)
There are imprints top and bottom.
Image courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay (click image for listing).
| Envelopes | |||||||||
| G.T.P. Envelope | Form F. X. | Form F. X. B. | Form F. X. C. | T-8 | T.I.56 | ??? | Economy | Active Service | Indo-European |
This is marked "S. P. No. 4106- G. T. P. ,- No. 262,—27-6-82,—1800000" (yes, 5 zeroes), which I take to be a form number, date of 27/6/1882 and 1.8 million printed.
It was for an O.H.M.S. Deferred telegram received at Bombay sent by Registered mail, with sixteen half Anna O.H.M.S. stamps to Shrewsbury, England where it received a backstamp of 22 September 1884.
Images courtesy of Les Bottomley.
Another example of the last, same type of stamp, but only one. Used on Valentines day in Calcutta. I wonder what year ?
No other signs of O.H.M.S. apart from the stamp. Image courtesy of Steven Zwillinger.
F. X. Telegram delivery envelope marked "On Telegraph Service". No clue as to date. The back has an imprint, and a couple of intaglio seals on a strip of paper.
(Click image above for eBay listing) - Images courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay.
F. X. B. Telegram delivery envelope stamped "On Her Majesty's Service" and "DEFERRED". Dated 14 December 1889 from "Bombay Govt. Telegraph Office" to Mandvi for 1st delivery.
From RL.
F. X. C. Telegram delivery envelope. Undated, but 30,000 printed 15 August 1905. From "Calcutta Govt. Telegraph Office".
Image courtesy of Steven Zwillinger.
This has a boxed T—8, without any imprint. There is a back-stamp dated 21 June 1909.
"It is particularly requested that the accompanying receipt may be signed and returned to the messenger without delay."
Images courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (Click on image for listing)
As last, this has a boxed T—8, but now with an imprint "Gulab Singh & Sons, Printers, Calcutta— No. 333 P. O.—10.1.10—2800000" (I think)
indicating the date of 10 January 1910 and 2.8 million printed. No stamps appear to have been required.
Image courtesy of Steven Zwillinger.
A TI56 envelope without imprint, dated 7th, 8th and 9th August 1915, used in Jamalpur (now in Bangladesh).
Images courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (Click on image for listing)
An envelope used 28 November 1919 to deliver a Form C in Rangoon, Burma.
This has the imprint on the back of Lal Chand & Sons for 5 September 1918.
An envelope used 25 February 1922 to deliver a Form C3 in Rangoon, Burma.
The "T. I. 56." has been moved to the bottom, where the imprint now is.
This has the imprint of Lal Chand & Sons for 21 February 1921 (Edition II).
These later ones (by unknown printers) incorporated various forms of advertising, with an imprint indicating the date and contract printed under.
(click images for eBay listing.)
An envelope used in Rangoon (by matching contents), but year uncertain
It looks like these were printed 2/2/1924 by SGPI. Images courtesy of AsianStamp - (click for listing).
A badly damaged item that serves only to show that there is at least one more type of advertisement, if not dozens.
An undated envelope with an imprint on the flap.
Flap detail.
A Karim Bux Brothers (Calcutta) envelope used in Rangoon on 21 January 1927.
7,500,000 printed on 5 May 1925 (Vedic numbering).
A Karim Bux Brothers (Calcutta) envelope with 1932 imprint.
2,500,000 printed on 11 March 1932 (Vedic numbering).
Images courtesy of AlphaOmegaPhilately on eBay. (Click on image for listing)
An envelope used at Gautampura, Holkar State. on 27 September 1947.
Flap on the left.
Images courtesy of AsianStamp - (click for listing).
An envelope with contents used at Indore City. on 15 April 1952.
Imprints front and back, but both are hard to read. The back appears to have "MGIFPA", as did the contents.
Images courtesy of AsianStamp - (click for listing).
Not an envelope, but a label intended to save envelopes by re-using used ones as an economy measure during war-time.
This label is on an O.H.M.S. Envelope received at Alipore (to the south of Calcutta), and is used by the Divisional Engineer, Eastern Wireless Division (Alipore & Calcutta)
to send a letter to the B. B. C. in London.
The top-left form number is a bit unclear. "S. F./Lab.—1." is clear enough.
Printers Lal Chand & Sons in Calcutta with a date of 25 September 1936. Images courtesy of Les Bottomley.
The form itself, an envelope, A. F. W. 3078 (Gurmukhi) is not telegraphic, but the Army Signals cancel/cachet on it is worth recording.
KT - 3.III.19.A- is presumably somewhere in the Punjab. It was sent to E. S. C. at Port Said ("Egyptian Signals Corps" ?)
This was shortly before the 'The Punjab “disorders”'.
A similar envelope with a more normal usage of a FPO to South Australia., written in English.
Still marked A. F. W. 3078, but with additional W 299/M 1950. 4/17. / J. D. & Co. I take the 4/17 to be the date printed.
The English version has at the top "This envelope must not be used for coin or valuables. It cannot be accepted for registration."
This one is signed, unlike the one above.
Image courtesy of Mike White. Specialist in worldwide postal history, military or censored mail.
This is marked "Indo-European Telegraph Department" and "Telegraphic Despatch".
It was mailed from Kurachee to Bombay on 9 June 1865.
For more on the Indo-European Telegraph Department, see inder Iran. Image courtesy of Les Bottomley.
Time moved on, 1942.
The Indian Radio and Cable Communications Co. Ltd.
Form number G.C.C.—F 4093-1-40 used to receive a telegram at Bombay from Birmingham on 27 July 1942. Still with a very traditional date stamp. Courtesy of Les Bottomley.
Hiscocks added the following note and illustration:
| Note. From the examination of those copies as have come my way it would seem that about 20% were not cancelled in any way in use, about 40% were cancelled by crayon — usually blue — and about 40% were cancelled with hand-stamps of various types. Specifically 'TELEPHONE' cancellations are found for several towns including Patiala and Bhatinda. That shown has no date, as is quite common, but even where the date tablet is filled in the date is often meaningless. |
An example with a pair of H24 stamps.
Form B.S.P.P—No.65—28-6-05—32,000. - (local calendar for 28 June 1948)
The Patiala system was later extended to the East Punjab. This half-size example for a 3 minute private call with a mix of Edward VII and George VI stamps,
was used at the Sangrur Telephone Exchange in Jind State. It is dated 5.9.06 (using the local calendar) which equates to 5 September 1949.
It is headed "Post and Telephones Department Patiala & East Punjab States Union."
Image courtesy of Steven Zwillinger.
I don't have an image of the other side, but this has no Service stamps.
This was used at Mansa, on the Bathinda-Jind-Delhi railway of then in Bhatinda of Patiala.
It has a mix of Edward and KGVI stamps and has the Western date of 30 November 1949.
It is on paper with part of an imprint :
This suggests a printing of 500,000 on 6 February 1948.
Image courtesy of Steven Zwillinger, who says "Fewer than 5% of telephone receipts known with Edward stamps".
Last updated 2nd. July 2024
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