The Stamps of Jammu and Kashmir Parts I and II by D. P. Masson

The Stamps of Jammu and Kashmir Parts I and II by D. P. Masson

The pioneering work on the stamps of this popular state, Masson was one of the founding members of the Philatelic Society of India. He was not short of money being the Managing Director of The Punjab Banking Co. Ltd in Lahore! His two main specialities were the stamps of J&K and those of Afghanistan. This work was published in two parts by the PSI in 1900 and 1901 and sold for the then princely sum of Rs. 4 each. Perhaps only 200-300 copies must have been published; members got copies for free. Part I contains around 60 pages, 4 plates, and 4 samples of native paper bound in. Part II contains around 43 pages and 11 plates bound in. Part I has the following written on the front cover by an unknown hand “The M.S. marks in this part are copied from the volume belonging to Major Evans (new in possession of the Royal Philatelic Society which notes Major Evans had, in turn, copied from Masson’s annotated volume.”

Part I has some writings inside in pencil and pen. Part II also has some writings though less and only in pencil. Both parts are bound in the original thick card covers which are difficult to find; Part II’s covers are partly stained. The binding of Part I is a bit weak though intact and some of the pages look dull. Part II is in pretty good shape with bright insides. An important work for the J&K specialist. Quite Rare and the manuscript makes it unique.