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Coll 20/36 'Muscat: Proposal (by a Mr C. S. J. Collier) to institute a State Post Office in Muscat' [‎10r] (21/62)

The record is made up of 1 file (29 folios). It was created in 4 Mar 1940-13 Mar 1941. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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COP'*'
At Deans Hotel, Peshawar
Tuesday 11th June 1940
Prom C.S.Collier
To His Excellency The Viceroy,
Simla.
Sir,
I had the honour to address Your Excellency from the Cecil Hotel,
Simile, on the 1st inst. in a letter on the subject of the creation of
postage stamps for the Sultanate of Muscat.
No reply or acknowledgment has reached me, and I venture in the
present to supplement a littl^ what I have already written.
It is pertinent to state that business in postage stamps for col
lectors has assumed very considerable proportions, and collecting
emerged many years ago from being a mere schoolboy pastime. For many
it has become a business of important and profitable investment, and
collectors number millions, spread throughout the world. Numerous
journals are devoted to philately and stamp shops abound in most towns.
The trade has advantages beyond the ordinary, as stamps can be
freely sent to and from all countries. There are no quotas or restric
tions and no customs imposts. The trade can in fact be described as
almost unique in having no frontiers. Periods of stress and depres
sion in general trade appear to stimulate the stamp trade and during the
stagnation of about ten years ago the stamp trade flourished exceeding
ly. Newspapers reports go to show that demand is very active at pre
sent,with high prices.
There is no doubt as to the immediate success of an issue for
such a country as Muscat. For the very obvious reason, no collection
contains a stamp of Muscat, and a powerful "vacuum" demand would be
created. Moreover the mere name and remoteness of the State would
attract, even without the expert advertising that would be undertaken.
I sm aware that the issue of stamps by Aden Colony produced an extra
accretion of postal revenue of no more 1than about a lakh One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees and a half of
rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. , but Aden is a British Colony amongst many, and in the eyes of
foreign collectors the issue was no more than a new Empire issue". As
against the experience of Aden can be set that of British Somaliland
which derives an appreciable revenue from sales to the stamp trade. A
Muscat Issue, a true "virgin" issue, effectively advertised and on tap
in London and India at face value would have an eager reception and be
a new and unusually convenient export. Apart from the first onrush,
steady demand would persist, though at a slower tempo, even as it per
sists to my knowledge for the stamps of Afghanistan.
As regards stamps for ordinary pdstal use in Muscat, the in
tention w ould be, assuming the local post office to continue to function :
under the present regime, for supplies of stamps to be sent direct from
the printers to the Postal Administration in India. The estimated
requirements for say one year in advance would be laid down, and pro
gressively maintained.
If the practical asuects of the project, commercial, financial,
foreign exchange and the like, ps set forth in this and ®y preceding
letter are subservient to considerations of policy, it is not within my
prerogative to attempt to question or discuss these, of whatever nature
they happen to be. I remark however that certain Indian States (e.g.
Soruth) do issue their own stamps, and although I confess to ignorance
as to the availability for international postage, these stamps are taken

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Content

Correspondence between Charles Saint John Collier and various offices and departments of the British and Indian governments, including the Political Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. , and the Treasury. The correspondence is regarding Collier's attempts to institute a State Post Office and new coinage in Muscat, with himself as agent. Also contained within the file is correspondence between the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. and Political Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. in which Collier's proposals, motives, and movements are discussed.

Folios 24-29 are draft agreements for Muscat's membership of the Postal Union and appointment of Collier as agent to the Muscat state, presumably written by Collier himself.

Extent and format
1 file (29 folios)
Arrangement

The file is arranged in chronological order from the back to the front.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 29; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.

The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers.

Written in
English in Latin script
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Coll 20/36 'Muscat: Proposal (by a Mr C. S. J. Collier) to institute a State Post Office in Muscat' [‎10r] (21/62), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2996, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100047240844.0x000016> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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