The Indian Posts & Telegraphs Department amalgamated all independence States’ Postal System except Travancore & Cochin State, Anchal office, vide Postal Notice No.59 dated 27th March 1950. This unusual treatment accorded to the Travancore - Cochin Anchal was firstly due to very low rates for internal mail transmission within the State and the Indian Government did want to incur wrath of local citizens by increasing the postal rates. Secondly, time was needed to integrate the Anchal system. Therefore, establishment of Anchal was attached as an “Agency” of the Indian P & T Department, on and from 1st April 1950.

The said Postal Notice No.59 dated 27th March 1950, clearly states that the special postage rates and fees would apply to articles posted and deliverable in the Sates. If any article posted from Anchal office for delivery outside State or vice versa, the postage rates prescribed by Indian P & T Department would apply. It means that any internal mail of Travancore - Cochin State would not be redirected to any post office outside the State.

A printed postcard of 4 pies & posatge stamp of 2 pies - of Travancore - Cochin State being mailed on 28th April 1951 from Kothamangalam to Trichur i.e. within State of Travancore & Cochin.

The said postal notice further states that Anchal postage stamps would be valid for inter-State postal transactions only. India postage stamps should be used invariably on all mail deliverable outside the State. If Anchal stamps were used on mail going outside the State, such article would be treated as unpaid and would be disposed off accordingly. Thus we see that concessional rates were in force within Travancore - Cochin State from 1st April 1950, and Anchal was working as a Local Postal System. Anchal postage stamps including postal stationery, which were valid only in Travancore - Cochin State, were made valid for out-State mail, on and from 5th June 1950, vide DGPO Circular No.18 of the same date. On and from 1st April 1951, the Anchal Postal System of Travancore - Cochin State, merged with Indian Postal System, vide DGPO Circular No.90 dated 31st March 1951. All Anchal offices were placed in accounts jurisdiction with the office of the Superintendent, Trivandrum, on and from 1st April 1951. The Anchal stamps and postal stationery remains valid till 30th June 1951. From 1st July 1951, they became invalid for postal purposes.

The whole State of Travancore - Cochin was declared a Single Delivery Area from 1st April 1951, vide Postal Notice No.21 dated 6th July 1951. The concessional rate of 4 pies postcard under Agency system was withdrawn and local rate 6 pies for postcard was introduced. 1 anna letter rate remained in existence within the State.

The concessional rates of postage in respect of letters were withdrawn with effect from 1st May 1951 simultaneously with the withdrawal of this facility through out India. The public pressure forced the postal authorities to restore this concession on letters as a special case on and from 11th June 1951, in the State of Travancore - Cochin, vide Postal Notice No.21 dated 6th July 1951. While going through very interesting article on the Anchal of the State of Travancore - Cochin by Dr. F. M. Cowen and Mr. J. Devasya on page 189 of India’s Stamp Journal’s - August 1954, I found that the writers mentioned that the concession on letter was withdrawn on 10th June 1951, which is not correct as per Postal Notice No.21 dated 6th July 1951. The rate of local postcards also remained in the State.

1 anna special covers for local delivery were withdrawn from all over India with abolition of the scheme as per DGPO Circular No.11 & 13 dated 10th May 1951 respectively. Then these 1 anna envelopes were introduced in the State of Travancore - Cochin on and from 11th June 1951 without any stationery charges. The DGPO Circular No.25 dated 6th July 1951 further states that this concession on letter and postcards would remain till 31st March 1952. But this concession on letters was again extended till 10th June 1952, vide Postal Notice No.3 dated 28th April 1952. Thus from 11th June 1952, the general inland rate of 2 annas for a letter became effective in the State of Travancore - Cochin. Whether they were intended for delivery within the State or outside it. The entire State of Travancore- Cochin would remain a Single Local Delivery Area upto 31st March 1953, within which local postcards would remain valid.

From 1st April 1953, the declaration of Single Delivery Area was withdrawn from the State of Travancore - Cochin and the rules regarding Local Delivery Area as defined in Postal Notice No.1 dated 1st April 1950, became applicable.

CONCLUSION:
The State of Travancore - Cochin remained Single Delivery Zone from 1st April 1950 till 31st March 1953.
Postcard rate within the State of Travancore - Cochin remained 4 pies from 1st April 1950 to 31st March 1951 and 6 pies from 1st April 1951 to 31st March 1953.
Letter rate within the State of Travancore - Cochin remained 1 anna from 1st April 1950 to 30th April 1951 and from 11th June 1951 to 10th June 1952.

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