Hi Charlotte,
Quoting from the research of Mr. Max Smith, who is highly regarded in Indian Postal History circles:-
Government Gazette Notices: BOMBAY:
Bombay Postal Advertiser (V/11/2155):
Additional pillar boxes have been placed, for the convenience of the public, at the following places: -
Apollo Bunder , Breach Candy, Church Gate. Byculla Club etc etc.
Bombay PO 16th December 1857
The important word is surely “ additional ”, but of course the first pillar boxes may not have been in cast iron or indeed from G.B. Also concerning timing is that in many matters relating to the post, India copied what had already happened in Great Britain. For example, a squared circle series of cancellations used in India from 1884, seen below, was similar to that in use in G.B. 12 years earlier. I think the arrival of the pillar box in India was also a natural progression and was not connected to events in 1857.
Also of interest is that, although on the 1st November 1858 H.M. Queen Victoria assumed the control of the territories in India “ heretofore administered in trust by the Honourable East India Company”, postage stamps continued to display East India Company until the new definitive stamps of India were put on sale on 1 Jan 1882. Queen Victoria had assumed the title of Empress in 1877 so here too was delay.
More from Max Smith,
P/434/39 Post Office proceedings for 1866
June 1866 No.1 from Riddell (Dir-Gen of POs) to Bayley (Sec to Govt); No.449 31 May: orders 150 cast iron Pillar letter boxes for the use of the Postal Dept in India.
I think that is about all I have to say. Hope it was not too boring and that the whole matter is reasonably coherent.
Toby
