The Four Annas Lithographed Stamps of India 1854-55 by D. R. Martin and E. A. Smythies
The Four Annas Lithographed Stamps of India 1854-55 by D. R. Martin and E. A. Smythies
The second work in the series of books pertaining to the 1854-55 first issues of India. Published in 1930, the book covers, in 5 chapters, the method of manufacture and printing of the 4 Anna Stamps, the details of the three different states of the dies and the two states of the frames, plating of the stamps, descriptions of the five different printings, and Errors (Inverted Head, Double Head, and Head Omitted). Further it also reprints, in the Appendix, all letters of 1854-55 referring to the 4 anna stamps. Finally it contains 12 plates and line blocks. The book won the Crawford Medal awarded by the Royal Philatelic Society of London for the most valuable and original contribution to the study and knowledge of philately published in book form in 1932.
This copy is Hard Bound in maroon cloth with gilt lettering on the covers. The pages of the book are bright and clean without any markings or writings; as are the plates (except Plate I which has some spotting). Most importantly there are none of the “worm holes” quite frequently associated with this book (and for that matter, other lithographed stamp books as well). Overall the condition can be described as Very Good for a book of this age. The most indispensable work for anyone collecting the Four Annas and an important book for the library of the Indian philatelic literature library.
