First Issues

Travancore Cochin – On July 1^st, 1949 the united State of Travancore and Cochin was formed by the merger of the two former princely states of Travancore and Cochin (the name was changed in 1951 to the State of Travancore-Cochin). Presently, these former states are part of the new state of Kerala.
At the time of the merger, stamps of Travancore were overprinted with denominations in Indian currency and a stamp of Cochin was overprinted U.S.T.C.
These stamps became obsolete on July 1, 1951.

Click here to see all stamps from Travancore – Cochin in this exhibition.

History

This combined state of India existed between 1949 and 1956, and was called, first, the United State of Travancore and Cochin, and then the State of Travancore-Cochin, and also referred to as Thiru-Kochi.  The ruler of Travancore became governor or “Rajpramukh” of the state; and the Maharaja of Cochin declined all further powers and titles.
A campaign was launched for the merger of Tamil-speaking southern areas of Southern Travancore to join Madras State.  Violence broke out and, in 1956, four southern parts of Travancore did, indeed, join with Madras state to form the new state of Kerala.

Travancore – Cochin
1949
Typographed overprints on stamps of Cochin

Travancore – Cochin
1949
Typographed overprints on stamps of Travancore