The Nepal Tibet PhilatelicsPRICE-LIST for LHASA POLICE
By Edmond WEISSBERG
As part of Tibet’s step by step modernization at his own pace, it was
decided in 1923 to establish a modern Police Force to replace the rather
inefficient existing one.
For this purpose, the well known Tibetan Sikkimese Bsod nams dbang ‘phel legs ldan, aka Laden-la,
Darjeeling Superintendant of Police, was “borrowed” from the Raj by the Tibetan Government to
organize this project. Let’s say it straight away, this scheme was short lived, and ended in 1924, due
to some disagreements between the new constabulary and the new army managed by Tsarong Shape,
and to conspiracy rumors against the monastic establishment and the conservative faction. That’s to
shorten it. (Note 1)
However, to bear witness of this historical period, here is a telegram from 04 October 1923 (on the back,
there is a handwritten note – probably by Laden-La himself- : “OCT 1923” , which is credible), and the date
on the front is “4”. (Note 2)
This telegram reads in clear as follows: [FIG. 1]
ORIGIN: CAWNPORE 4 [OCT. 1923] 17 h. 35 RECD. HERE AT 0 h. 15 + LHASA P.O. arrival
TO: GENERAL LADENLA CHIEF
POLICE LHASA (TIBET)
YOUR TELEGRAM FIRST CONSTABLE
BATON ANNAS TEN FROG
ANNAS EIGHT THONG ANNAS
TWO PIES SIX WRITING = EIQUIPMENT
It is noteworthy that the receiving datestamp (not dated !) is a Hellrigl “T 10 – Lhasa II” in black.
Though not a rare cancel, it is still uncommon on telegrams. [FIG. 2]
So this is a price-list for equipment for the Lhasa Police, seemingly in reply to a previous cable request, and asking for a written order.
It is erroneously signed “Eiquipment” instead of “Equipment”, which is the cable address of Cooper Allen & Co. Ltd in Cawnpore (nowadays Kanpur).
Cooper Allen & Co. Ltd. was established in 1881 and said to be the largest Army Boot and Equipment Factory in the world. (“Cooper Allen” is still a trade mark for safety shoes).
See [FIG. 3] for an advertisement in:
Handbook for East Africa, Uganda & Zanzibar – 1906 “East African Standard” Printing Press – Mombasa. Advertisements section p.XI
(Note 1) See: A Man of the Frontier. S.W. Laden La (1876-1936). His Life and Times in Darjeeling and Tibet, by:Nicholas Rhodes & Deki Rhodes, Library of Numismatic Studies, Kolkata, 2006.
(Note 2) This is an early telegram to Lhasa, as the extension of the line from Gyantse to Lhasa was completed one year before, in October 1922.
TO: GENERAL LADENLA CHIEF
POLICE LHASA (TIBET)
YOUR TELEGRAM FIRST CONSTABLE
BATON ANNAS TEN FROG
ANNAS EIGHT THONG ANNAS
TWO PIES SIX WRITING = EIQUIPMENT
It is noteworthy that the receiving datestamp (not dated !) is a Hellrigl “T 10 – Lhasa II” in black.
Though not a rare cancel, it is still uncommon on telegrams. [FIG. 2]
So this is a price-list for equipment for the Lhasa Police, seemingly in reply to a previous cable request, and asking for a written order.
It is erroneously signed “Eiquipment” instead of “Equipment”, which is the cable address of Cooper Allen & Co. Ltd in Cawnpore (nowadays Kanpur).
Cooper Allen & Co. Ltd. was established in 1881 and said to be the largest Army Boot and Equipment Factory in the world. (“Cooper Allen” is still a trade mark for safety shoes).
See [FIG. 3] for an advertisement in:
Handbook for East Africa, Uganda & Zanzibar – 1906 “East African Standard” Printing Press – Mombasa. Advertisements section p.XI
(Note 1) See: A Man of the Frontier. S.W. Laden La (1876-1936). His Life and Times in Darjeeling and Tibet, by:Nicholas Rhodes & Deki Rhodes, Library of Numismatic Studies, Kolkata, 2006.
(Note 2) This is an early telegram to Lhasa, as the extension of the line from Gyantse to Lhasa was completed one year before, in October 1922.
