Postage Telegraph Stamps British India Hausberg Title
Postage Telegraph Stamps British India Hausberg Index scaled
Postage Telegraph Stamps British India Hausberg Plate IV
Postage Telegraph Stamps British India Hausberg Plate III
Postage Telegraph Stamps British India Hausberg Feldman1
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Handbooks

The Postage and Telegraph Stamps of British India by L.L.R. Hausburg, C. Stewart-Wilson & C.F.S. Crofton

The Postage and Telegraph Stamps of British India by L.L.R. Hausburg, C. Stewart-Wilson & C.F.S. Crofton

The Crown Jewel of Indian Philatelic Literature. Originally published in 1907, this book set standards for later philatelic researchers and writers like D.N. Martin, E.A. Smythies, and L.E. Dawson. Hausburg was one of the pioneers in plating lithographs having plated not just the lithographs of India but also of Victoria, Peru, Mexico etc. He also served on the expert committee of the Royal Philatelic Society, London.

Apart from its standing as an exceptional piece of philatelic literature, the book is famous for its plates III and IV. These plates were printed directly from the copper plates (used for printing the 1854-55 classics) with the consent of the Indian Government. They have their own Spence Numbers (for example the Half Anna illustrated on Plate IV is Spence 133). Hence it is an important collectable for those collecting Indian 1854-55 issues and its reprints. These plates are highly sought for. In Spink’s Jul 2011 auction, they sold for £650 and £900 respectively + buyer’s premium. Further in  David Feldman’s Sep 2013 auction, they realised EUR 1,000 and EUR 2,200 respectively + buyer’s premium. See the photos of the plates above.

The book was printed on machine-made acidic paper and most copies are in a bad shape with the pages chipping and fragmenting even on touch. This copy is in the most outstanding shape that you can find it in. Not a single page is torn or brittle. All the 23 plates are ORIGINAL and in fantastic condition.

Privately hardbound in green cloth with gilt lettering on spine; originally issued in Paper Covers. Part I covers Postage Stamps and is by Hausburg and Part II covers Telegraph Stamps and is by Stewart-Wilson and Crofton. Crawford Nos. 179 and 195. First Edition of Supplement No. 2 to The Postage and Telegraph Stamps of British India by Edward Denny Bacon dated 1922 bound in.

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