Description – PM type 1 (JC-RF) Diamond of dots with many variations such as large diamond, small diamond, thin dots, round dots, diamond dots. 8x8 dots, 11x11 dots etc. Other than black this type is found in scarcer coloured inks, Red (very scarce), Green (scarce), Blue (quite scarce), Brown (quite scarce).

In use from 1854 across the then four postal sub-regions (known as circles) of India entire, its discontinuation already began by May 1855. This type mainly spanned the Lithographic printing period – although in some remoter parts were still in use as late as 1866. Hence, why this PM type is found to overlap in the earlier De La Rue printing period, and therefore encountered to some degree in this collection. These latter examples on DLR covers can be considerably scarcer 

PM subtype 1a – A squarer like shape of 4 rows of heavy dots only known on 1854-55 Lithographs – Very rare.

PM subtype 1b – An approximate square of varying sized dots thin to thick – a little difficult to discern sometimes compared with a normal diamond shape. They are little more encountered on Post 1855 DLR material – Scarce.

PM subtype 1c – An approximate circle of dots mostly small or thin found on both the 1854-55 Lithographs, and early De La Rue issues where they are little more encountered than on the Lithographs – Very rare.

PM subtype 1d – A regular octagon  comprising of 6 central columns with 12 squared dots, flanked by 3 decreasing columns on each side of 10, 8 and 6 square dots respectively. The size is much bigger than depicted by Renouf (and not irregular) with considerably finer square dots – Extremely rare. A few examples thus far have been recorded on lithographic covers between 03/07/55 - 07/09/1855 [Contributed by P Kothari]