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Asia/Other : Cochin China

 

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Rhinelander
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07 Oct 2015
11:10:07pm
Completing an area is always a happy occasion. Of course the accomplishment is much aided, if the area only has four, or by perhaps other counts 5, 6, or 7 total stamps to begin with, as is the case with Cochin China. How I now completed my Cochin China is not without humor, and somewhat anti-climactic, because, as it turned out, I had the country complete for years. But only now I realized, after re-reading some of my books, that the stamp I was chasing to complete it (Michel #2II, not listed in Scott) actually does not really exist.

Since there has been much complaint about the lack of philatelic topics let me use the happy occasion of this inadvertent completion as an opportunity to let the stamps of this "country" pass in review.

Cochin China never really had stamps of its own. Modern postal service was established and expanded in lock-step with the French conquest of the area since 1860. Initially French stamps were used (identifiable from their cancellations), to be followed by the General Issues for the French Colonies in 1863. When the general French colonial issues were discontinued in 1892, and replaced by specific issues for each colony, Cochin China already had ceased to be an independent entity, because in 1888 it had been thrown in with Cambodia and Annam & Tonkin to form the "Etablissements Francais dans l'Indo-chine." Thus, the general issues for the French colonies where superseded by the issues of French Indochina.

Cochin China exits as a separate stamp issuing entity solely due to several provisional stamps issued in 1886-87 stemming from a temporary shortage of the 5 centimes stamp of the Alphee Dubois issue (French Colonies, general issues, Scott #49). All of these provisional stamps were valid only Cochin China.

When the supply of 5 centimes stamps was running out in 1886, a provisional stamp was issued on May 16, 1886. 1,000 stamps of the 25 centime value of the general issue were surcharged (typography) to make the much needed 5 centimes rate; Scott #1:

Image Not Found

Apparently, this quantity was insufficient, because on June 9, 1886 a second provisional issue was authorized. Using the same 25 centime value, 2,000 stamps were surcharged with a numeral 5, but this time an abbreviation of the country name 'C. CH.' was added below the value, Scott #2:

Image Not Found

It appears needed 5 centimes stamps were received later that year, but quantities appear to have been low, because by the end of the year, the 5 centime value was short again. Using the same printing plate that had been used for the surcharge of #2 an unknown quantity of the 2 centimes value now received the same overprint, Scott #3. The stamp was issued in January 1887:

Image Not Found

In February 1887 then the 25 centime black on rose Dubois stamp (Scott #54), which had replaced the yellow Scott #53 in the preceding year, was surcharged '5' in typography using a new printing plate with a simple large numeral again without indication of the colony (as #1), Scott #4. The quantity printed of this stamp also appears to be unknown (or at least I have not been able to find it):

Image Not Found

This last stamp also is responsible for the greatest rarity of the country, Scott #4a, which is a #4 that received both the prior "5 / C. CH." as well as the large numeral 5 surcharge. The likely explanation is that originally the same "5 / C. CH." overprint was planned to be used on the 25 centimes black stamp as well, but due to the relative small size of the overprint and the black background this did not satisfy. Instead a large numeral 5 was adopted for the final design. No more than one sheet, likely only a partial sheet, that had before received the "5 / C. CH." surcharge then also received the large 5 overprint, thus creating the top rarity for the country.

This concludes the four main catalog numbers stamps that make up Cochin China. Michel has listed a 2II, which is Scott #2, but C. CH appears above, and not below the numeral. I believe now it is at best a printing error, and at worst an EFO (shifted printing plate, i.e., a flaw by chance). However, if it is a variety (or EFO) then the cataloging with a roman numeral (typically indicating a stamp that was actually issued in two forms) probably is incorrect. Michel, as opposed to Scott, is quite consistent and logical with its numerical system, but on this issue I decided today to disagree, hence completing my Cochin China. (Michel values a regular stamp with C. CH. below identical to one with C. CH. above the value, but I have positively never seen one with the value above.)

There are three more additional stamps that one could consider bona fide Cochin China, one is Scott #5 plus two more. I can discuss these three another time, as it has gotten late.

As a final comment, the regions' woes with insufficient quantities of 5 centime stamps did not end in February 1887. However, Cochin China ceased to exist April 12, 1888 upon formation of French Indochina. Therefore, the next necessary 5 centime provisional replacements you will find listed under Indochina, Scott #1 and 2, in 1889.


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cdj1122
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Silence in the face of adversity is the father of complicity and collusion, the first cousins of conspiracy..

08 Oct 2015
06:18:20pm
re: Cochin China

" ... I can discuss these three another time, as it has gotten late. ..."

Please continue this fascinating discourse, Arno, at your convenience and send me a note when it is posted, just in case I am in one of my brain bubbles.

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".... You may think you understood what you thought I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you think you heard is not what I thought I meant. .... "
Rhinelander
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13 Dec 2015
08:58:51pm
re: Cochin China

Ok. Turning to Cochin China Scott #5. The stamp was prepared in 1888 when (for change) quantities of the 15c appeared to be running out. It is one of the mysterious things with Scott why this stamp, prepared but never officially issued, demands a main catalog number.

The 30 centimes of the French Colonies general issue, Scott #55, was overprinted (typography) with a diagonal bar as well as surcharged with the numbers 15 twice readying the stamp for service as cut-in-half 15 centime stamps. This overprinting actually occurred in two runs, so the location of the diagonal bar and numbers as well as the distance between the numbers and the diagonal bar will differ from printing to printing. Here is the stamp:

Image Not Found

Quantities of 15 centimes stamps appear to have arrived in time, because the prepared provisional stamp was never issued. Used copies exist, even on cover, but are either careless clerk errors or favor cancels.

If you believe prepared, but not officially issued stamps, are necessary for completion, this would bring the number of Cochin China stamps up from four to five.

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Rhinelander
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16 Dec 2015
10:47:39pm
re: Cochin China

Depending on how you count, we are at definitely four, perhaps five stamps for Cochin China. Plus there are two more that one could arguably include in the count. These are the 2 centimes and 4 centimes Ceres of the French general colonial issues (Scott #17 and 18), which would also be the two more valuable stamps for Cochin China – if one were to include them. Both denominations were intended to prepay rates on newspaper and circulars.

According to Stone’s (1961) monograph, French Colonies, The General Issues, these two values were printed for use in only one colony, and in fact for use in only one city in that one colony: Saigon, Cochin China. Stone goes on to claim that these two values were never regularly issued, or sold, in any other colony or place. Earliest possible use for both stamps is July 12, 1876. The relative scarcity of these two stamps stems from the fact that they were already superseded in June 1877 by new stamps in type “Sage” (aka “Peace and Commerce”).

The exclusive use of the 4 centimes in Cochin China is confirmed in Michel, whereas (curiously) the exclusive use of the 2 centimes in Cochin China is mentioned in Scott. So, the conflicting information in these two catalogs is both correct for mutual omission. Kohl’s Briefmarken-Handbuch (1928) – Michel’s classic reference source – confirms the exclusive use of the 4 centimes and the “vast majority” of the 2 centimes in Cochin China. A like statement is contained in v. Rudophi & Wolter’s (1966) Cochin China monograph, Vol. 26 of the Neues Handbuch der Briefmarkenkunde, suggesting that a small quantity of the 2 centime may have been used on Reunion.

I am leaning towards exclusive use of both stamps in Saigon, with any use any place else being accidental (cancelling of uncancelled stamps in random places), or philatelic. Private use is also a possibility. Because these stamps where after all valid postage in all colonies, a person may have taken unused stamps along, using them for mailing later – for instance in Reunion, connected to Indochina by major shipping line. None of these instances, in my opinion, would make these two stamps "issued" in other colonies. This is why an argument could be make that these two stamps are really stamps for Cochin China.

In any event, here is the 2 centime. Earliest known use (Kohl) August 10, 1876, latest known use (according to Stone) in 1882. As mentioned before, any cancellation from any other place than Saigon, including any other place in Cochin China, should be highly suspicious, as well as any date outside of this time frame.

Image Not Found


Finally, the 4 centime. Earliest known use July 12, 1876, latest known use August 1877.

Image Not Found


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cdj1122
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Silence in the face of adversity is the father of complicity and collusion, the first cousins of conspiracy..

23 Dec 2015
04:30:28am
re: Cochin China

Very Nice Arno.
Just looking at the stamps evokes a happier time when the trip up, or down the Song Sai Gon to the Paris of the East, and its related links, must have been an exciting adventure.

Image Not Found
My first run to Saigon was before the use of Agent Orange converted a pleasant river ride through a verdant jungle full of life forms into a desolate tour of acres of mud flats.
I know it, or something, had to be done but still it was devastating to the flora and fauna that only now, forty years later, according to a recent NatGeo seems to be recovered.
Somehow Ho Chi Minh City does not have the same effect.

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".... You may think you understood what you thought I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you think you heard is not what I thought I meant. .... "
        

 

Author/Postings
Members Picture
Rhinelander

Support the Hobby -- Join the American Philatelic Society
07 Oct 2015
11:10:07pm

Completing an area is always a happy occasion. Of course the accomplishment is much aided, if the area only has four, or by perhaps other counts 5, 6, or 7 total stamps to begin with, as is the case with Cochin China. How I now completed my Cochin China is not without humor, and somewhat anti-climactic, because, as it turned out, I had the country complete for years. But only now I realized, after re-reading some of my books, that the stamp I was chasing to complete it (Michel #2II, not listed in Scott) actually does not really exist.

Since there has been much complaint about the lack of philatelic topics let me use the happy occasion of this inadvertent completion as an opportunity to let the stamps of this "country" pass in review.

Cochin China never really had stamps of its own. Modern postal service was established and expanded in lock-step with the French conquest of the area since 1860. Initially French stamps were used (identifiable from their cancellations), to be followed by the General Issues for the French Colonies in 1863. When the general French colonial issues were discontinued in 1892, and replaced by specific issues for each colony, Cochin China already had ceased to be an independent entity, because in 1888 it had been thrown in with Cambodia and Annam & Tonkin to form the "Etablissements Francais dans l'Indo-chine." Thus, the general issues for the French colonies where superseded by the issues of French Indochina.

Cochin China exits as a separate stamp issuing entity solely due to several provisional stamps issued in 1886-87 stemming from a temporary shortage of the 5 centimes stamp of the Alphee Dubois issue (French Colonies, general issues, Scott #49). All of these provisional stamps were valid only Cochin China.

When the supply of 5 centimes stamps was running out in 1886, a provisional stamp was issued on May 16, 1886. 1,000 stamps of the 25 centime value of the general issue were surcharged (typography) to make the much needed 5 centimes rate; Scott #1:

Image Not Found

Apparently, this quantity was insufficient, because on June 9, 1886 a second provisional issue was authorized. Using the same 25 centime value, 2,000 stamps were surcharged with a numeral 5, but this time an abbreviation of the country name 'C. CH.' was added below the value, Scott #2:

Image Not Found

It appears needed 5 centimes stamps were received later that year, but quantities appear to have been low, because by the end of the year, the 5 centime value was short again. Using the same printing plate that had been used for the surcharge of #2 an unknown quantity of the 2 centimes value now received the same overprint, Scott #3. The stamp was issued in January 1887:

Image Not Found

In February 1887 then the 25 centime black on rose Dubois stamp (Scott #54), which had replaced the yellow Scott #53 in the preceding year, was surcharged '5' in typography using a new printing plate with a simple large numeral again without indication of the colony (as #1), Scott #4. The quantity printed of this stamp also appears to be unknown (or at least I have not been able to find it):

Image Not Found

This last stamp also is responsible for the greatest rarity of the country, Scott #4a, which is a #4 that received both the prior "5 / C. CH." as well as the large numeral 5 surcharge. The likely explanation is that originally the same "5 / C. CH." overprint was planned to be used on the 25 centimes black stamp as well, but due to the relative small size of the overprint and the black background this did not satisfy. Instead a large numeral 5 was adopted for the final design. No more than one sheet, likely only a partial sheet, that had before received the "5 / C. CH." surcharge then also received the large 5 overprint, thus creating the top rarity for the country.

This concludes the four main catalog numbers stamps that make up Cochin China. Michel has listed a 2II, which is Scott #2, but C. CH appears above, and not below the numeral. I believe now it is at best a printing error, and at worst an EFO (shifted printing plate, i.e., a flaw by chance). However, if it is a variety (or EFO) then the cataloging with a roman numeral (typically indicating a stamp that was actually issued in two forms) probably is incorrect. Michel, as opposed to Scott, is quite consistent and logical with its numerical system, but on this issue I decided today to disagree, hence completing my Cochin China. (Michel values a regular stamp with C. CH. below identical to one with C. CH. above the value, but I have positively never seen one with the value above.)

There are three more additional stamps that one could consider bona fide Cochin China, one is Scott #5 plus two more. I can discuss these three another time, as it has gotten late.

As a final comment, the regions' woes with insufficient quantities of 5 centime stamps did not end in February 1887. However, Cochin China ceased to exist April 12, 1888 upon formation of French Indochina. Therefore, the next necessary 5 centime provisional replacements you will find listed under Indochina, Scott #1 and 2, in 1889.


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Silence in the face of adversity is the father of complicity and collusion, the first cousins of conspiracy..
08 Oct 2015
06:18:20pm

re: Cochin China

" ... I can discuss these three another time, as it has gotten late. ..."

Please continue this fascinating discourse, Arno, at your convenience and send me a note when it is posted, just in case I am in one of my brain bubbles.

Like
Login to Like
this post

".... You may think you understood what you thought I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you think you heard is not what I thought I meant. .... "
Members Picture
Rhinelander

Support the Hobby -- Join the American Philatelic Society
13 Dec 2015
08:58:51pm

re: Cochin China

Ok. Turning to Cochin China Scott #5. The stamp was prepared in 1888 when (for change) quantities of the 15c appeared to be running out. It is one of the mysterious things with Scott why this stamp, prepared but never officially issued, demands a main catalog number.

The 30 centimes of the French Colonies general issue, Scott #55, was overprinted (typography) with a diagonal bar as well as surcharged with the numbers 15 twice readying the stamp for service as cut-in-half 15 centime stamps. This overprinting actually occurred in two runs, so the location of the diagonal bar and numbers as well as the distance between the numbers and the diagonal bar will differ from printing to printing. Here is the stamp:

Image Not Found

Quantities of 15 centimes stamps appear to have arrived in time, because the prepared provisional stamp was never issued. Used copies exist, even on cover, but are either careless clerk errors or favor cancels.

If you believe prepared, but not officially issued stamps, are necessary for completion, this would bring the number of Cochin China stamps up from four to five.

Like 
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.
Members Picture
Rhinelander

Support the Hobby -- Join the American Philatelic Society
16 Dec 2015
10:47:39pm

re: Cochin China

Depending on how you count, we are at definitely four, perhaps five stamps for Cochin China. Plus there are two more that one could arguably include in the count. These are the 2 centimes and 4 centimes Ceres of the French general colonial issues (Scott #17 and 18), which would also be the two more valuable stamps for Cochin China – if one were to include them. Both denominations were intended to prepay rates on newspaper and circulars.

According to Stone’s (1961) monograph, French Colonies, The General Issues, these two values were printed for use in only one colony, and in fact for use in only one city in that one colony: Saigon, Cochin China. Stone goes on to claim that these two values were never regularly issued, or sold, in any other colony or place. Earliest possible use for both stamps is July 12, 1876. The relative scarcity of these two stamps stems from the fact that they were already superseded in June 1877 by new stamps in type “Sage” (aka “Peace and Commerce”).

The exclusive use of the 4 centimes in Cochin China is confirmed in Michel, whereas (curiously) the exclusive use of the 2 centimes in Cochin China is mentioned in Scott. So, the conflicting information in these two catalogs is both correct for mutual omission. Kohl’s Briefmarken-Handbuch (1928) – Michel’s classic reference source – confirms the exclusive use of the 4 centimes and the “vast majority” of the 2 centimes in Cochin China. A like statement is contained in v. Rudophi & Wolter’s (1966) Cochin China monograph, Vol. 26 of the Neues Handbuch der Briefmarkenkunde, suggesting that a small quantity of the 2 centime may have been used on Reunion.

I am leaning towards exclusive use of both stamps in Saigon, with any use any place else being accidental (cancelling of uncancelled stamps in random places), or philatelic. Private use is also a possibility. Because these stamps where after all valid postage in all colonies, a person may have taken unused stamps along, using them for mailing later – for instance in Reunion, connected to Indochina by major shipping line. None of these instances, in my opinion, would make these two stamps "issued" in other colonies. This is why an argument could be make that these two stamps are really stamps for Cochin China.

In any event, here is the 2 centime. Earliest known use (Kohl) August 10, 1876, latest known use (according to Stone) in 1882. As mentioned before, any cancellation from any other place than Saigon, including any other place in Cochin China, should be highly suspicious, as well as any date outside of this time frame.

Image Not Found


Finally, the 4 centime. Earliest known use July 12, 1876, latest known use August 1877.

Image Not Found


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Silence in the face of adversity is the father of complicity and collusion, the first cousins of conspiracy..
23 Dec 2015
04:30:28am

re: Cochin China

Very Nice Arno.
Just looking at the stamps evokes a happier time when the trip up, or down the Song Sai Gon to the Paris of the East, and its related links, must have been an exciting adventure.

Image Not Found
My first run to Saigon was before the use of Agent Orange converted a pleasant river ride through a verdant jungle full of life forms into a desolate tour of acres of mud flats.
I know it, or something, had to be done but still it was devastating to the flora and fauna that only now, forty years later, according to a recent NatGeo seems to be recovered.
Somehow Ho Chi Minh City does not have the same effect.

Like
Login to Like
this post

".... You may think you understood what you thought I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you think you heard is not what I thought I meant. .... "
        

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