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.