CASH CERTIFICATE : 1940 Khulna Post Office (now in modern-day Bangladesh) Bond

This 1940 Post Office 5-Year Cash Certificate is a silent witness to one of the most volatile decades in human history. Issued on April 2, 1940, in Khulna (now Bangladesh) to Lalmohan Dutta, it represents a sovereign promise made during the height of World War II. As the British Administration sought to stabilize the wartime economy, these "1936 Issue" bonds became essential tools for mobilizing domestic capital, mirroring the global shift toward state-backed security.

The certificate’s reverse side reveals a fascinating financial and geographical journey. While it tracked a steady growth from a purchase price of Rs. 88 to its Rs. 100 maturity, the stamps tell the real story of migration. Notations indicate transfers between Rangamati and Calcutta between 1945 and 1950. These dates bookend the 1947 Partition, showing how this physical asset crossed newly formed borders as the map of the world was being redrawn.

In the realm of Scripophily, the prominent red "X" and "Receipt on Discharge" are marks of historical completion, not ruin. They confirm that the bond fulfilled its purpose, paying out Rs. 135, 10 annas to the holder. For modern collectors, such specimens with clear provenance and legible stamps from the Bengal region are rare, typically valued between ₹1,000 and ₹2,000 due to their scarcity and connection to postal history.

STOCK EXCHANGE RECEIPT -1946 Calcutta Stock Exchange Broker’s Contract

This document is a formal Contract Note dated May 1, 1946, issued by the brokerage firm Radhakishen Sonthalia in Calcutta. It records a significant financial transaction where the broker purchased 500 shares from a client, Mrs. J. Sen. The firm operated out of 7, Lyons Range, which remains the historic hub of the Calcutta Stock Exchange to this day.

The shares traded belonged to The British India Corp. Ltd., a major colonial-era industrial conglomerate. While the shares had a face value of Re. 1, they were sold at a premium price of Rs. 12 and 11 Annas per share. This indicates the company’s strong market standing during the industrial period immediately preceding India’s independence.

The document features a four-anna Government of India revenue stamp, overprinted with "Broker's Note," validating its legality. It also specifies that the trade included all "dividends, privileges, and bonuses," adhering to the strict regulations of the Calcutta Stock Exchange Association. The perforated bottom section served as a confirmation receipt for the client to sign and return.

BILL OF COSTS RECEIPT - Queen vs. Mohesh Chuckerbutty (1870)

This document is an official legal receipt from the High Court of British India, dating to the late 19th century (1869–1870). It serves as a formal bill of costs for services rendered in a criminal case titled "Queen vs. Mohesh Chuckerbutty." The case name signifies a Crown prosecution, as legal proceedings in British India were conducted in the name of Queen Victoria.

The receipt itemizes administrative fees for the Government Prosecutor. The primary charge is for "furnishing a copy of the charge," totaling 4 folios at a rate of 5 Annas per folio. Additionally, a fee is charged for "attending him therewith," essentially a courier or service fee. The total amount, 4 Rupees and 4 Annas, represents the clerical cost of moving legal paperwork through the court system.

Visually, the document features two significant High Court Service stamps (4 Annas and 4 Rupees) used to pay the required judicial fees. These stamps are physically "punched" with circular holes, a common historical practice to prevent them from being reused. Multiple "1870" ink stamps overlay the printed 1869 date, indicating when the transaction was finalized by the Clerk of the Crown.

Historically, this artifact provides a glimpse into the colonial judicial bureaucracy. It illustrates the rigid fee structures and the transition of the Indian legal system into a standardized, paper-heavy administration. The use of the "folio" system and the specific currency of Rupees and Annas highlights the intersection of British legal procedure and Indian fiscal reality during the Raj era.

STOCK EXCHANGE RECEIPT -1946 Calcutta Stock Exchange Broker’s Contract

This document is a formal dividend payment receipt issued by the Official Assignee’s Office in Calcutta on February 17, 1888. It records a transaction regarding the insolvent estate of Lyall Matheson & Co., a prominent merchant house of that era. The receipt tracks a payout to the Delhi Bank (later the Delhi & London Bank Ltd.), illustrating the legal process of debt recovery in colonial India.

The financial breakdown provides a stark look at the reality of 19th-century business failures. The Delhi Bank held a massive claim of 44,942 Rupees, yet this "6th Dividend" payout was calculated at a rate of only 3 Annas and 6 Pies per 100 Rupees. After the Official Assignee deducted a small commission, the bank received a net sum of just 97 Rupees, 5 Annas, and 3 Pies.

Visually, the document is a rich piece of "fiscal ephemera." It features a pink One Anna Queen Victoria revenue stamp, essential for legalizing financial transactions. The bold red ink crossing the center, dated February 22, 1888, serves as a processing mark, while the various handwritten signatures and bank stamps confirm the multi-layered bureaucracy of the High Court of Calcutta.

DIVIDEND PAYMENT RECEIPT - 1888 the estate of Lyall Matheson & Co.

This document is a formal dividend payment receipt issued by the Official Assignee’s Office in Calcutta on February 17, 1888. It records a transaction regarding the insolvent estate of Lyall Matheson & Co., a prominent merchant house of that era. The receipt tracks a payout to the Delhi Bank (later the Delhi & London Bank Ltd.), illustrating the legal process of debt recovery in colonial India.

The financial breakdown provides a stark look at the reality of 19th-century business failures. The Delhi Bank held a massive claim of 44,942 Rupees, yet this "6th Dividend" payout was calculated at a rate of only 3 Annas and 6 Pies per 100 Rupees. After the Official Assignee deducted a small commission, the bank received a net sum of just 97 Rupees, 5 Annas, and 3 Pies.

Visually, the document is a rich piece of "fiscal ephemera." It features a pink One Anna Queen Victoria revenue stamp, essential for legalizing financial transactions. The bold red ink crossing the center, dated February 22, 1888, serves as a processing mark, while the various handwritten signatures and bank stamps confirm the multi-layered bureaucracy of the High Court of Calcutta.

INSURANCE RECEIPT - 1865 Bombay Royal Insurance Receipt

This 1865 insurance receipt from the Bombay Royal Insurance Company serves as a remarkable artifact of maritime trade in colonial India. Issued in Calcutta on February 7th, it documents the insurance of a cargo of sugar and rice valued at 12,600 Rupees. The goods were transported via the steamship S.S. "Mula" to Bombay, highlighting the active coastal trade routes of the era.

The document reveals the sophisticated financial systems of the 19th century, utilizing the Rupee-Anna-Pie currency. After a 1% premium was calculated, a 10% brokerage fee was deducted and stamp duty added, resulting in a final payment of 119 Rupees, 14 Annas, and 3 Pies. Such precision reflects the formalization of insurance practices under British rule.

Visually, the receipt is anchored by a pink Queen Victoria revenue stamp, a requirement for legal validity after the Crown assumed direct control of India. The involvement of H. Nosserwanjee Cama & Co. as agents points to the significant role of Parsi merchant families in brokering major trade deals between Indian traders and British corporations.

A handwritten legal notation at the top adds a layer of mystery, marking the paper as "Exhibit F" for a court affidavit in 1866. This suggests that shortly after the voyage, the document became central to a legal dispute, ensuring its preservation as a bridge between 19th-century commerce and modern history.

Autograph - A.S. Sharvaanica (Chess)

Eight-year-old A.S. Sharvaanica has become the champion in two formats of the Asian Youth Chess Championships held from December 13 to 22, 2023 at Al Ain in the UAE. She secured gold in the U-8 rapid and blitz categories, and silver in the U-8 classical category. She had won bronze by finishing third in the U-8 girl's World Rapid Championship which was held in Batumi, Georgia from June 5 to 12, 2023.

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Autograph - Mike Burton (Swimmer - Olympian)

Mike Burton is an American swimmer, three-time gold medalist in the swimming events of Mexico Olympic 1968 (2 gold) and Munich Olympic 1972 (1 gold) . He was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame as an "Honor Swimmer" in 1977.

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