French India

1916 semi-postal 10c + 5c rose & black "Brahma"

Quick History
French India refers to the French possessions in India. They include Pondichéry ( Puducherry), Karikal and Yanaon (Yanam) on the Coromandel Coast, Mahé on the Malar Coast, and Chandernagor in Bengal.

Largest extent of French influence 1741-54

The French had much greater influence in the mid-eighteen century, but after losing conflicts first with the Dutch, then with the British, their influence shrank by the twentieth century to just the settlements listed. By 1941, the area for French India was 196 square miles, the population was 320,000, and the administrative Capital was Pondichéry. By 1954, all of the French holdings were de facto part of the Indian Union. But the French influence (language, architecture, churches, culture) today remains strong in Pondicherry and Yanam.

1909 map outlining British India holdings

A careful look will reveal Pondichéry labeled as French

Into the Deep Blue

The 2011 Scott Classic Specialized catalogue, beginning in 1892, has 141 descriptions for regular, semi-postal and postage due categories. 74 are valued at <$1-$1+.

A closer look at the stamps and issues

1892-1907 French India 2c brown/buff "Navigation and Commerce"

French India issues begin with the 19 stamp "Navigation and Commerce" colony design generic to many French colonies. "ÉTABLISSEMENTS" means settlements. Catalogue value ranges from $1-$45+.

1914-22 10c deep rose & black "Brahma"

The first design intended specifically for French India features Brahma, the Hindu God (Deva) of creation. This design and series, from 1914-22, was found on 15 stamps, with another 10 stamps illustrating the "Kali Temple near Pondichéry". This issue is inexpensive, with 18 stamps <$1+.

1923-28 4ca on 4c orange & black "Brahma"

In 1923, there was a change in currency. The 100 Centimes = 1 Franc equation was changed to 24 Caches = 1 Fanon; 8 Fanons = 1 Rupie. This necessitated surcharging/overprinting the previous issue as shown. 

1923-28 6ca on 45c blue green & black with red surcharge

"Kali Temple near Pondichéry"

The 1923-38 surcharged issue ( with two designs) had 26 stamps. Twenty stamps are <$2.

1929 20ca dark blue & green /bluish "Brahma"

A non surcharged series with the new monetary denominations was issued in 1929 with the same design themes as the previous issues.

1929 1fa6ca red orange & black "Kali Temple near Pondichéry"

The 1929 two design issue had 20 stamps, ranging in value from <$1-$2+.

Deep Blue

Deep Blue has 11 pages for French India, all laid out in logical Scott number format.

Deep Blue page for the 1914-22 "Brahma" design 

Deep Blue has two pages for the the 1914-22 issue; note all the color combinations used by the French on these stamps.

1929 Brahma, Kali Temple issue

Clearly an advantage of a long stamp issue is an aesthetic presentation in an album. Here Deep Blue presents the 1929 issue very nice indeed.

1922 5c on 15c violet & black with red surcharge

Big Blue

Big Blue,'69, on three pages, has 84 spaces. Coverage is 60%. It appears BB provides for a representative collection; perhaps only faulted for not providing quite enough spaces for these mostly inexpensive issues.

Simple Checklist

1892-1900

1,2,3,4,5,6,7,

1914

25,26,28,29,30,32,34,

40,41,42,(43),

1922

27,31,33,37,(39)

50,51,53,

1923

54,55,56,57,

Next Page

1923

58,61,59,62,64,

67,68,

1928

65,71,63,60,66,73,

1929

80,81,82,83,84,85,87,

88,86,90,91,89,

Next Page

1931

100,101,102,103,

1937

105,106,108,109,

104,107,

1939

111,112,

Semi-postal

1915-16

B1,B3,B4,B5,

1938

B6,

Postage due

1923

J1,J2,J3,J4,

1928

J8,J9,

1929

J12,J13,J14,J15,J16,(J17),

Comments

A) ( ) around a number indicates a suggested blank space choice.

B) Expensive stamps ($10 threshold):

None

1929 postage due 1fa brown

Out of the Blue

If it wasn't for these postage issues, one wonders how many people would even be aware there was a French presence in India?

Maps appear to be in the public domain.

Links
French India - Bud's Big Blue

Comments appreciated!