postage stamps and postal history of india.pdf

Postage stamps and postal history of India 1

Postage stamps and postal history of India

The first stamp of independent India shows the newIndian Flag. It was meant for foreign

correspondence.[1][2]

The second stamp depicts theAokan lions capital, the

National Emblem of India, andwas for domestic use.

This is a survey of the postage stamps and postal history ofIndia.

Indian postal systems for efficient military and governmentalcommunications had developed long before the arrival ofEuropeans. When the Portuguese, Dutch, French, Danish andBritish displaced the Mughals, their postal systems existedalongside those of many somewhat independent states. The BritishEast India Company gradually displaced other powers and broughtinto existence a British administrative system over most of India,with a need to establish and maintain both official and commercialmail systems.

Although the Indian Post Office was established in 1837, Asia'sfirst adhesive stamp, the Scinde Dawk, was introduced in 1852 bySir Bartle Frere, the British East India Company's administrator ofthe province of Sind. The Indian postal system developed into anextensive, dependable and robust network providing connectivityto almost all parts of India, Burma, the Straits Settlements andother areas controlled by the British East India Company (EIC).Based on the model postal system introduced in England by thereformer, Rowland Hill, efficient postal services were provided ata low cost and enabled the smooth commercial, military andadministrative functioning of the EIC and its successor, the BritishRaj. The Imperial Posts co-existed with the several postal systemsmaintained by various Indian states, some of which producedstamps for use within their respective dominions, while BritishIndian postage stamps were required for sending mail beyond theboundaries of these states. Telegraphy and telephony made theirappearance as part of the Posts before becoming separatedepartments. After the Independence of India in 1947, the Indian postal service continues to function on acountrywide basis and provides many valuable, low cost services to the public of India.

Postal history of India

The Post in ancient and medieval India

The history of India's postal system begins long before the introduction of postage stamps. The antecedents havebeen traced to the systems of the Persian Empire instituted by Cyrus the Great and Darius I for communicatingimportant military and political information. The Atharvaveda records a messenger service. Systems for collectinginformation and revenue data from the provinces are mentioned in Chanakya's Arthashastra (ca. 3rd century BC).

In ancient times the kings, emperors, rulers, zamindars or the feudal lords protected their land through the intelligence services of specially trained police or military agencies and courier services to convey and obtain information through runners, messengers and even through pigeons. The chief of the secret service, known as the postmaster, maintained the lines of communication ... The people used to send


letters to [their] distant relatives through their friends or neighbors.[3]

For centuries it was rare for messages to be carried by any means other than a relay of runners on foot. A runner ranfrom one village or relay post to the next, carrying the letters on a pole with a sharp point. His was a dangerousoccupation: the relay of postal runners worked throughout the day and night, vulnerable to attacks by bandits andwild animals. These mail runners were used chiefly by the rulers, for purposes of gathering information and wartimenews. They were subsequently used by merchants for trade purpose. It was much later that mail runners came to bein use for the carriage of private mail.The postal history of India primarily began with the overland routes, stretching from Persia to India. What began asmere foot-tracks that more than often included fords across the mountainous streams, gradually evolved over thecenturies as highways, used by traders and military envoys on foot and horses, for carriage of missives.The Arab influence of the Caliphate came about with the conquest of Sind by Muhammad bin Qasim in 712 A.D.Thereupon, the Diwan-i-Barid or Department of Posts established official communication across the far-flungempire. The swiftness of the horse messengers finds mention in many of the chronicles of that period.The first Sultan of Delhi, Qutb-ud-din Aybak (Persian: ) was Sultan for only four years, 12061210, buthe founded the Mamluk Dynasty and created a messenger post system. This was expanded into the dak chowkis, ahorse and foot runner service, by Alauddin Khilji in 1296. Sher Shah Suri (15411545) replaced runners with horsesfor conveyance of messages along the northern high road, today known as the Grand Trunk Road, which heconstructed between Bengal and Sindh over an ancient trade route at the base of the Himalayas, the Uttarapatha. Healso built 1700 'serais' where two horses were always kept for the despatch of the Royal Mail[4] Akbar introducedcamels in addition to the horses and runners.In the South of India, in 1672 Raja Chuk Deo of Mysore began an efficient postal service which was furtherimproved upon by Haider Ali.

Posts and the East India Company

Thomas Waghorn, ca. 1847by Sir George Hayter

The East India Company took constructive steps to improve the existing systemsin India when, in 1688, they opened a post office in Bombay followed by similarones in Calcutta and Madras. Lord Clive further expanded the services in 1766and in 1774 Warren Hastings made the services available to the general public.The fee charged was two annas per 100 miles. The postmarks applied on theseletters are very rare and are named 'Indian Bishop Marks' after Colonel HenryBishop, the Postmaster General of the United Kingdom who introduced thispractice in Britain. The Post Office Department of the East India Company wasfirst established on 31 March 1774 at Calcutta,[5] followed in 1778 at Madras andin 1792 at Bombay.[6] After 1793, when Cornwallis introduced the Regulation ofthe Permanent Settlement, the financial responsibility for maintaining the officialposts rested with the zamindars. Alongside these, private dawk mail systemssprang up for the commercial conveyance of messages using hired runners. Also,the East India Company created its own infrastructure for the expansion and administration of military andcommercial power. The runners were paid according to the distance they travelled and the weight of their letters.

The Post Office Act XVII of 1837 provided that the Governor-General of India in Council had the exclusive right ofconveying letters by post for hire within the territories of the East India Company. The mails were available tocertain officials without charge, which became a controversial privilege as the years passed. On this basis the IndianPost Office was established on 1 October 1837.[7]

The urgent European mails were carried overland via Egypt at the isthmus of Suez. This route, pioneered by Thomas Waghorn,[8] linked the Red Sea with the Mediterranean, and thence by steamer via Marseilles, Brindisi or Trieste to


European destinations. The Suez Canal did not open until much later (17 November 1869). The time in transit forletters using the Overland Mail[9] route was dramatically reduced. Waghorn's route reduced the journey from16,000 miles via the Cape of Good Hope to 6,000 miles; and reduced the time in transit from three months tobetween 35 and 45 days.

The Scinde District Dawk

1852 red sealing wafer Scinde Dawk,Asia's first adhesive stamp.

The use of the Scinde Dawk adhesive stamps to signify the prepayment ofpostage began on 1 July 1852 in the Scinde/Sindh district,[10] as part of acomprehensive reform of the district's postal system. A year earlier Sir BartleFrere had replaced the postal runners with a network of horses and camels,improving communications in the Indus river valley to serve the military andcommercial needs of the British East India Company.[11]

The new stamps were embossed individually onto paper or a wax wafer. Theshape was circular, with "SCINDE DISTRICT DAWK" around the rim and theBritish East India Company's Merchant's Mark as the central emblem. The paperwas either white or greyish white. The blue stamp was printed onto the paper bythe die during the embossing, while the wax version was embossed on a redsealing wax wafer on paper; but all had the same value of 1/2 anna. They were

used until October 1854, and then officially suppressed. These are quite scarce today, with valuations from US$700to $10,000 for postally used examples. The unused red stamp was previously valued at 65,000.00 by StanleyGibbons (basis 2006); however, it now appears that no unused examples have survived.

The Reforms of 1854 and the First Issues

4 annas, 1854.

The first stamps valid for postage throughout India were placed on sale inOctober 1854 with four values: 1/2 anna, 1 anna, 2 annas, and 4 annas.[12]

Featuring a youthful profile [13] of Queen Victoria aet. 15 years, all four valueswere designed and printed in Calcutta, and issued without perforations or gum.All were lithographed except for the 2 annas green, which was produced bytypography from copper clichs or from electrotyped plates. The 4 annas value(illustrated) was one of the world's first bicolored stamps, preceded only by theBasel Dove, a beautiful local issue.

These stamps were issued following a Commission of Inquiry which hadcarefully studied the postal systems of Europe and America. In the opinion ofGeoffrey Clarke, the reformed system was to be maintained "for the benefit ofthe people of India and not for the purpose of swelling the revenue."[14] The Commissioners voted to abolish theearlier practice of conveying official letters free of postage ("franking"). The new system was recommended by theGovernor-General, Lord Dalhousie and adopted by the East India Company's Court of Directors. It introduced "lowand uniform" rates for sending mail efficiently throughout the country within the jurisdiction of the East IndiaCompany. The basic rate was 1/2 anna on letters not more than 1/4 tola in weight. The stamps were needed to showthe postage was prepaid, a basic principle of the new system, like the fundamental changes of the British systemadvocated by Rowland Hill and the Scinde reforms of Bartle Frere. These reforms transformed mail services withinIndia.


The De La Rue design for the RecessPrinted issues:

an 1856 color imprimatur,2 annas "bottle green"

The East India Company already had attempted a 1/2 anna vermilion stamp inApril 1854, known as the "9 arches essay". This could not be produced inquantity because it required an expensive vermilion pigment not readily availablefrom England, and the substituted Indian pigment destroyed the printing stones.

A new design for stamps, with Queen Victoria in an oval vignette inside arectangular frame, was inscribed "EAST INDIA POSTAGE". These stamps wererecess printed by De La Rue in England (who produced all the subsequent issuesof British India until 1925).[15] The first of these became available in 1855. Theycontinued in use well after the British government took over the administrationof India in 1858, following the 1857 Rebellion against the East India Company'srule. From 1865 the Indian stamps were printed on paper watermarked with anelephant's head.

The Reforms of 1866 and the Provisionals

An envelope with Half, One and Two Annastamps.

The volume of mail moved by the postal system increased relentlessly,doubling between 1854 and 1866, then doubling again by 1871. ThePost Office Act XIV introduced reforms by 1 May 1866 to correctsome of the more apparent postal system deficiencies and abuses.Postal service efficiencies also were introduced. In 1863 new lowerrates were set for "steamer" mail to Europe at 6 annas 8 pies for a 1/2ounce letter. Lower rates were introduced for inland mail, as well.

New regulations removed the special postal privileges which had been enjoyed by officials of the East IndiaCompany. Stamps for official use were prepared and carefully accounted for to combat the abuse of privileges byofficials. In 1854 Spain had printed special stamps for official communications, but in 1866 India was the firstcountry to adopt the simple expedient of overprinting 'Service' on postage stamps and 'Service Postage' on revenuestamps. This innovation became widely adopted by other countries in later years.[16][17]

6 annas provisional, 1866Bombay to London

by steamer, 29 days.[18]

Shortages developed, so these stamps also had to be improvised. Someof the "Service Postage" overprinted rarities of this year resulted fromthe sudden changes in postal regulations. New designs for the 4 annasand "6 annas 8 pies" stamps were issued in 1866. Nevertheless, therewas a shortage of stamps to meet the new rates. Provisional[19] sixannas stamps were improvised by cutting the tops and bottoms from acurrent Foreign Bill revenue stamp, and overprinting "POSTAGE".

Another four new designs appeared, one at a time, between 1874 and1876.A complete new set of stamps was issued in 1882 for the Empire ofIndia that had been proclaimed five years earlier, in 1877. The designs

consisted of the usual Victoria profile, in a variety of frames, inscribed "INDIA POSTAGE". The watermark alsochanged to a star shape. These stamps were heavily used and are still quite common today.

Three stamps, featuring a detail from Heinrich von Angeli's 1885 portrait of Queen Victoria,[20] in 2, 3 and 5 rupeedenominations, were introduced in 1895. Other existing designs were reprinted in new colours in 1900.


Postal history of Indian states

Anchal Petty (Post box)of Travancore

British India had hundreds of Princely States, some 652 in all,[21] but most ofthem did not issue postage stamps. The stamp-issuing States were of twokinds: the Convention States and the Feudatory States. The postage stampsand postal histories of these States provide great challenges and manyrewards to the patient philatelist. Many rarities are to be found here. Althoughhandbooks are available, much remains to be discovered.

The Convention States are those which had postal conventions (oragreements) with the Post Office of India to provide postal services withintheir territories. The adhesive stamps and postal stationery of British Indiawere overprinted for use within each Convention State. The first ConventionState was Patiala, in 1884, followed by others in 1885. The stamps of theConvention States all became invalid on 1 Jan 1951 when they were replacedwith stamps of the Republic of India valid from 1 Jan 1950.

The Feudatory States maintained their own postal services within theirterritories and issued stamps with their own designs. Many of the stamps wereimperforate and without gum, as issued. Many varieties of type, paper, inks

and dies are not listed in the standard catalogues. The stamps of each Feudatory State were valid only within thatState, so letters sent outside that State needed additional British India postage.

1916 red-brown2 anna of Orchha,a feudatory state

Below is a list of the Convention states and Feudatory Indian states

Convention states Feudatory states (starting ending years)

Chamba Alwar (18771899) Faridkot (18791900) Morvi (19311935) Faridkot

(formerly feudatory;convention from 1887)

Bamra (18881893) Hyderabad (18691949) Nandgaon (18921893)

Gwalior Barwani (19211938) Idar (19391944) Nowanuggur (18771893) Jind

(formerly feudatory;convention from 1885)

Bhopal (18761932) Indore (18861941) Orchha (19131939)

Nabha Bhor (18791901) Jaipur (19001947) Poonch (18761884) Patiala Bijawar (19351937) Jammu and Kashmir (18781886) Rajasthan (19491949)

Bundi (18941941) Jammu (18661877) Rajpipla (1880) Bussahir (18951900) Jind (18741885) Sirmur (18791899) Bahawalpur (19471949) Kashmir (18661867) Soruth (18641937)


Charkhari (18941943) Jasdan (19421942) Travancore (18881946) Cochin (18921933) Jhalawar (18871887) Travancore-Cochin (19491950) Dhar (18971898) Kishangarh (18991928) Wadhwan (18881889) Duttia (18931916) Las Bela (18971904)

Both Faridkot and Jind, as feudatory states, issued their own stamps before they joined the Postal Convention.Faridkot joined on 1 January 1887. Jind joined in July 1885; its stamps from the feudatory period became invalid forpostage, but they continued to be used for revenue purposes.

The early 20th century

Edward VIIOne rupee (1902)

In 1902 a new series depicting King Edward VII generally reused the frames ofthe Victoria stamps, with some color changes, and included values up to 25rupees. The higher values were often used for the payment of telegraph andparcel fees. Generally, such usage will lower a collector's estimation of a stamp'svalue; except those from remote or "used abroad" offices.[22]

The 1911 stamps of King George V were more florid in their design. It isreported that George V, a philatelist, personally approved these designs. In 1919a 1 anna stamp was introduced, inscribed "ONE AND HALF ANNA", but in1921 this changed to "ONE AND A HALF ANNAS". In 1926 the watermarkchanged to a pattern of multiple stars.

The first pictorial stamps appeared in 1931. The set of six, showing the fortressof Purana Qila, Delhi and government edifices, was issued to mark thegovernment's move from Calcutta to New Delhi. Another pictorial set, also showing buildings, commemoratedGeorge V's Silver Jubilee in 1935.

The stamps issued in 1937 depicted various forms of mail transports, with King George VI's effigy appearing on thehigher values. A new issue in 1941, constrained by the austerity of World War II, consisted of rather plain designsusing minimal amounts of ink and paper. As Indian Post Offices annually required some billions of stamps forpostage, as a measure of economy the large pictorial stamps were immediately withdrawn and smaller stamps wereissued. Even this did not ease the paper situation and it was thought desirable to reduce the size even more.A victory issue in 1946 was followed in November 1947 by a first Dominion issue, whose three stamps were the firstto depict the Ashoka Pillar and the new flag of India (the third showed an aeroplane).Postage stamps were generally issued separately from the revenue stamps. However in 1906, the set of King EdwardVII stamps were issued in two values, half anna and one anna with the caption "INDIA POSTAGE & REVENUE".The George V Series (1911 to 1933) added two more values, two annas and four annas to the Postage & Revenuestamps. These dual-purpose issues were an exception and generally the two types were issued separately.


India Security Press

The 1931 series celebrated the inauguration ofNew Delhi as the seat of government. The one

rupee stamp shows the Secretariat and DominionColumns.

From 1 January 1926 all printing and overprinting of India' postagestamps was conducted at India Security Press, Nasik. The possibility ofprinting postage stamps and other security items in India had beenenquired into before the First World War but could not be pursued atthat time. In 1922, the feasibility of this issue was explored in Englandby Lt Col C.H. Willis, C.I.E., then master of the Bombay Mint, and MrF.D. Ascoti, I.C.S., Controller of Printing, Stationery and Stamps.Their favourable report, followed by a successful demonstration ofproduction techniques in Delhi in 1923, led to the decision of theGovernment to establish a security press at Nashik. The responsibilityof setting up the Press was entrusted to none other than the Londonfirm of Thomas De La Rue which already had a six-decade longassociation with Indian stamps. The construction began in 1924 at an original estimate of Rs 27 lakhs and wascompleted in 1925 with additional costs of Rs 67 and 1/400,000.[15]

The printing of stamps at Nasik began in 1925. The first stamps produced were the definitive series of George V,printed using typography from the same plates used earlier in England by De La Rue, which were now transferred toIndia. The watermark was changed by the Press to multiple stars. Lithography was now re-introduced and the firststamps printed with this technique were the first Air Mail series of 1929. The Security Press continued to usetypography for most stamps, reserving the lithographic process for the most important commemorative issues, thenext being the 1931 series commemorating the inauguration of New Delhi as the seat of government in 1931. Theone rupee stamp shows the Secretariat and Dominion Columns. This practice continued after independence. The firstdefinitive series to be issued was the misnamed "Archaeological" series of 16 values; the top four values wereproduced by lithography and the remaining values by typography.

The new technique of photogravure printing was installed in 1952. The October 1952 series of six values on thetheme of Saints and Poets was the first to be so produced. However, these were not the first photogravure stamps ofIndia, having been preceded by the first Gandhi series of 1948, which were printed by Courvoisier of Geneva usingthe photogravure technique. Since then, photogravure has been used to produce all Indian stamps; typography andlithography being reserved for service labels only.[23]

Independent India


The Rs 10 stamp showingMahatma Gandhi, released 15

August 1948

Satrunjaya, Jain temple complex near Palitana, 15August 1949. Indian stamps reflect the country's

old and rich cultural heritage.

The First Stamp of Independent India was issued on 21 November1947. It depicts the Indian Flag with the patriots' slogan, Jai Hind(Long Live India), on the top right hand corner. It was valued at threeand one-half annas.

A memorial to Mahatma Gandhi was issued 15 August 1948 on thefirst anniversary of Independence. Exactly one year later a definitiveseries appeared, depicting India's broad cultural heritage, mostlyHindu, Buddhist, Muslim, Sikh and Jain temples, sculptures,monuments and fortresses.[24] A subsequent issue commemorated theinauguration of the Republic of India on 26 January 1950.

Definitives included a technology and development theme in 1955, aseries all showing the map of India in 1957, denominated in naye paisa(decimal currency), and a series with a broad variety of images in1965.

The old inscription of "INDIA POSTAGE" was replaced in 1962 with" INDIA", though three stamps issued between December1962/January 1963 carried the earlier inscription.[15]

India has printed stamps and postal stationery for other countries,mostly neighbours. Countries which have had stamps printed in Indiainclude Burma (before independence), Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan,Portugal, and Ethiopia.

The Indian Postal Service today

The Department of Posts, operating as India Post, is agovernment-operated postal system, simply referred to within India as"the post office". With its far-flung reach and its presence in remote areas, the Indian postal service provides manyservices such as small savings banking and financial services. As of 31 March 2011, the Indian Postal Service has154,866 post offices, of which 139,040 (89.78%) are in rural areas and 15,826 (10.22%) are in urban areas. It has25,464 departmental POs and 129,402 ED BPOs. At the time of independence, there were 23,344 post offices, whichwere primarily in urban areas. Thus, the network has registered a sevenfold growth since Independence, with theexpansion primarily in rural areas. On an average, a post office serves an area of 21.23 sq;km and a population of7,114 people.[25] India is believed to have the most widely distributed system in the world (China has 57,000, Russia41,000 and the United States 38,000 offices).[26] This proliferation of offices results from India's history of havingmany disparate postal systems, eventually unified in the Indian Union after Independence.

India has been divided into 22 postal circles, each circle headed by a Chief Postmaster General. Each Circle isfurther divided into Regions comprising field units, called Divisions, headed by a Postmaster General, and furtherdivided into units headed by SSPOs & SPOs and Sub Divisions headed by ASPs and IPS. Other functional units likeCircle Stamp Depots, Postal Stores Depots and Mail Motor Service exist in various Circles and Regions. Besides the22 circles, there is a special Base Circle to provide the postal services for the Armed Forces of India. The Base Circleis headed by an Additional Director General, Army Postal Service holding the rank of a Major General.Gandhi, Nehru and other historic personalities continued to appear on the postal issues coming from the country since Independence, with almost half a century seeing the Gandhi definitives of denominations most frequently used in the era concerned, becoming synonymous with a postage stamp to the Indian people of that respective time period[citation needed]. New themes are now finding their place on Indian postage stamps, with some stamps issued


jointly with postal agencies of other countries, renewable energy sources, the local flora and fauna and even thespecial annual issues wishing season's greetings. On 9 March 2011 India Post launched an online e-post office. Theportal provides electronic money orders, instant money orders, stamps for collectors, postal information, tracking ofexpress and international shipments, PIN code search and registration of feedback and complaints online.[27]

National Philatelic MuseumBut I hit upon a much simpler plan. I gathered together all the children in my locality and asked them to volunteer two or three hours'labour of a morning when they had no school. This they willingly agreed to do. I promised to bless them and give them, as a reward,used postage stamps which I had collected.

Mahatma Gandhi, Rajkot 1896.[28]

The National Philatelic Museum of India was inaugurated on 6 July 1968 in New Delhi. It had its beginning at ameeting of the Philatelic Advisory Committee on 18 September 1962. Besides the large collection of India Postagestamps designed, printed and issued, it has a large collection of Indian states, both confederate and feudatory, earlyessays, proofs and colour trials, a collection of Indian stamps "used abroad" and as well as early Indian postcards,postal stationery and thematic collections.[15]

The museum was extensively renovated in 2009. It now includes more exhibits, a philatelic bureau and other postalobjects such as beautiful Victorian post boxes.[29]

An international philatelic exhibition was held from 1218 February 2011, on the centenary of India's first officialair mail. For the occasion of INDIPEX 2011 India Post brought out a special stamp on Gandhi Ji to commemoratethe event. It is printed on "khadi", the handspun cotton material that Gandhi Ji held out as the symbol ofself-determination and self-reliance. The Presentation Pack was released by Pratibha Patil, the President of India onSaturday 12 February 2011 at INDIPEX 2011, the World Philatelic Exhibition held in New Delhi, the capital ofIndia.[30]

References and sourcesReferences[1] India Postage Stamps 19471988.(1989) Philately branch, Department of Posts, India.[2] Souvenir sheet of the Independence series of stamps, Indian Posts, 1948[3][3] Mohini Lal Mazumdar, The Imperial Post Offices of British India. Calcutta, Phila Publications, (1990) p. 1.[4] Pg 29, Datta et al. (2009). Rare stamps of the World.[5] Mohini Lal Majumdar, Early History and Growth of Postal System in India, RDDHI-India, Calcutta (1995), p. 67. ISBN 81-85292-07-8[6] E. G. Oehme, India Post, No. 72. India Study Circle.[7] Robson Lowe, Encyclopedia of British Empire Postage Stamps, v. III London, Robson Lowe, Ltd. (1951), p. 134.[8] "Thomas Fletcher Waghorn (18001850)" Egypt Study Circle. On line. (http:/ / www. egyptstudycircle. org. uk/ PostalHistory/ overland.

html)[9] John K. Sidebottom, The Overland Mail: A Postal Historical Study of the Mail Route to India, London: G. Allen and Unwin (1948) ISBN

1-135-39399-0[10] "Scinde, India", First Issues Collectors Club (http:/ / www. firstissues. org/ ficc/ details/ scinde_1. shtml) . Retrieved 25 September.[11] H.D.S. Haverbeck, "The Sind District Dawk," The Collectors Club Philatelist v. 44 no. 2 (March 1965) pp. 7985.[12] "India (East India Company)", First Issues Collectors Club (Retrieved 25 September 2006) (http:/ / www. firstissues. org/ ficc/ details/

india_1. shtml)[13] http:/ / web. archive. org/ web/ 20120419154035/ http:/ / imagesoftheworld. org/ stamps/ wyon. htm[14] Geoffrey Clarke, The Post Office of India and its Story, (1920)[15] Saksena, Vishnu S., Notes for the Indian Stamp Collector, Army Postal Service Historic & Philatelic Society. Pratibha Printing Press, New

Delhi (1989), p. 86[16] Alan C. Campbell, "The Design Evolution of the United States Official Stamps", U.S. Philatelic Classics Society Chronicle, Vol. 48, Nos. 1

and 2, Whole Nos. 169 and 170 (February and May 1996).[17] In 1840 England had abandoned its first stamp designed for official use; it resembled the Penny Black, except for the letters V R in the upper

corners.[18] R.M.S. Rangoon was wrecked upon leaving Galle Harbor 1 November 1871. The Mercury, Hobart, Tasmania, 28 Nov 1871, p.3.


[19] Linns.com Refresher Course (http:/ / www. linns. com/ howto/ refresher/ provisional_20040621/ refreshercourse. asp)[20] Heinrich von Angeli, Queen Victoria, (1885) (http:/ / www. royalcollection. org. uk/ eGallery/ object. asp?category=AAPICTURES&

object=403405& row=775)[21] Mohini Lal Mazumdar, Early History and Growth of Postal System in India, Calcutta, Phila Publications, (1995) p. 358.[22] Gerald Davis and Denys Martin, Burma Postal History, including the 1987 Supplement, Robson Lowe, Ltd., Woods of Perth, Scotland.

(1971), pp. 18494.[23][23] India Security Press[24] Ashok Kumar Bayanwala, "Archaeological Series 15th August 1949" (http:/ / www. webcitation. org/ query?url=http:/ / www. geocities.

com/ indianphilately/ chapter22. htm& date=2009-10-26+ 00:25:46)[25] http:/ / www. indiapost. gov. in/ Report/ Annual_Report_2011-2012. pdf[26][26] UNIQ-nowiki-0-e8c1b49aad11f966-QINU[27] http:/ / ibnlive. in. com/ news/ india-post-launches-epost-office/ 145456-11. html[28] Saksena, Vishnu S., Notes for the Indian Stamp Collector, Army Postal Service Historic & Philatelic Society. Pratibha Printing Press, New

Delhi (1989), Frontispiece[29] Dayal, Ravi (2009) Newly Renovated Postal Museum in JanMar 2009 issue of Philapost, quarterly philatelic journal of the Indian Postal

Service.[30] http:/ / rainbowstampclub. blogspot. com/ 2011/ 02/ indipex-2011-updates_12. html "INDIPEX 2011 News and Pics", Rainbow Stamp

Club

Sources Crofton, C.S.F. & Wilmot Corfield The Adhesive Fiscal and Telegraph Stamps of British India. Calcutta:

Thacker, Spink & Co., 1905. Crofton, C.S.F. & L.L.R. Hausburg & C. Stewart-Wilson. The Postage and Telegraph Stamps of British India.

London: Stanley Gibbons for the Philatelic Society of India, 1907. Datta, Jayanta; Datta, Anjali; Datta, Jayoti & Datta, Ananya. (2008). Rare stamps of the world. Army Philatelic

Society, Mumbai. Dawson, L. E. (1948) The One Anna and Two Annas Postage Stamps of India, 185455. Philatelic Society of

India, H. Garratt-Adams & Co. and Stanley Gibbons, Ltd., London Haverbeck, H.D.S. (1985). "The Sind District Dawk," The Collectors Club Philatelist v. 44 no. 2 (March 1965)

pp.7985. Lowe, Robson. Encyclopedia of British Empire Postage Stamps v.III (1951), pp.1316. "The Sind District

Dawk," pp.149152. Martin, D. R. and Smythies, E. A.. (1930). The Four Annas Lithographed Stamps of India, 185455. Philatelic

Society of India and Stanley Gibbons Ltd., London. Martin, Denys R. and Smythies, E. A. (1928). Half Anna Lithographed Stamps of India Mazumdar, Mohini Lal (1995) Early History and Growth of Postal System in India. Calcutta, RDDHI-India.

ISBN 81-85292-07-8 [The postal history through 1858] Mazumdar, Mohini Lal (1990) The Imperial Post Offices of British India. Calcutta, Phila Publications. Saksena, Vishnu S. (1989) Notes for the Indian Stamp Collector. Army Postal Service Historic & Philatelic

Society. Pratibha Printing Press, New Delhi. Rossiter, Stuart & John Flower. The Stamp Atlas. London: Macdonald, 1986. ISBN 0-356-10862-7 Stanley Gibbons Ltd: various catalogues. Stewart-Wilson, Sir Charles. (1904). British Indian Adhesive Stamps (Queen's Head) Surcharged for Native

States, rev. ed. with B.G. Jones.


External links Ashok K. Bayanwala, "Survey of Post Independence Indian Postal History" (http:/ / modernindianphilately.

blogspot. com/ 2011_11_01_archive. html) Welcome to the World of Indian Philately (http:/ / www. indianphilately. net) Stampsathi.in Complete listing of India stamps (http:/ / www. stampsathi. in) Gallery of Indian Stamps (http:/ / www. indiapicks. com/ stamps/ Gallery/ H/ G1947. htm) Gallery of Indian Postage Stamps (http:/ / indianpostagestamps. com) Modern Indian States postage stamp forgeries: an illustrated checklist by David Heppell. (http:/ / www.

princelystates. com/ CurrentIssue/ ff-04-01a. shtml) Early India Cancellations, 18731884 : Jal Cooper Types 32 35 (http:/ / www. surinder-singh. com/

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Article Sources and Contributors 12

Article Sources and ContributorsPostage stamps and postal history of India Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=572586154 Contributors: 5464536, Ahoerstemeier, Akerans, Ambuj.Saxena, AndrewHowse,Aranea Mortem, Arnaud Renan, AshLin, Ashwinkandoi, Auntof6, Baiji, Ben Ben, Bhadani, BlackJack, BrightStarSky, Carcharoth, Chapparkinati, Chintancse, Chowbok, Christoph Braun, Ckatz,Danbarnesdavies, Dartster57, Deeptrivia, Dewritech, DigiBullet, DuncanHill, DynamoDegsy, EagleFan, Ecphora, Ekabhishek, Fconaway, GoingBatty, Half Life, Hmains, Ichatt4957, Khukri,Lotje, Mcoupal, MeltBanana, Michael Romanov, Miljoshi, Minesweeper, Nv8200p, Ohconfucius, Pahari Sahib, Paxse, Pearle, Philafrenzy, Postmasterjalandhar, Pranab saikia2010, Prashant61,Premkudva, Radagast83, Rama's Arrow, Redtigerxyz, Rjwilmsi, Roland zh, Rueben lys, Rzafar, Samarkhand, SangeetaD, Sarvagyana guru, SchuminWeb, Sebjarod, Shyamsunder, Siddhant,SimonArlott, SlackerMom, Stan Shebs, Sverdrup, Tassedethe, Thuresson, Tibetan Prayer, Tim Ross, Titodutta, Varanya Prakash, Warhorus, Woohookitty, Ww2censor, 37 anonymous edits

Image Sources, Licenses and ContributorsImage:1947 India Flag 3 annas.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:1947_India_Flag_3_annas.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Image by India PostImage:India 1947 Ashoka Lions 1 and half annas.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:India_1947_Ashoka_Lions_1_and_half_annas.jpg License: Public DomainContributors: User:AshLIn, User:PremkudvaImage:Thomas Fletcher Waghorn ca. 1847.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Thomas_Fletcher_Waghorn_ca._1847.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors:FconawayImage:Red Scinde Dawk stamp.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Red_Scinde_Dawk_stamp.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Original uploader wasFconaway at en.wikipediaImage:Four annas H3 F2 smaller.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Four_annas_H3_F2_smaller.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Original uploader wasFconaway at en.wikipediaImage:1856 Imprimatur- 2 annas Bottle Green.JPG Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:1856_Imprimatur-_2_annas_Bottle_Green.JPG License: Public DomainContributors: Original uploader was Fconaway at en.wikipediaFile:Hamburg Museum 2011-3697-0.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Hamburg_Museum_2011-3697-0.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Andrew Gray,Christoph Braun, Fconaway, Roland zhImage:1866 Bombay to London 28 days.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:1866_Bombay_to_London_28_days.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Originaluploader was Fconaway at en.wikipediaFile:Anchal pozt box kerala.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Anchal_pozt_box_kerala.jpg License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 2.0 Contributors:Challiyil Eswaramangalath Vipin from Chalakudy, IndiaImage:Orchha 1914 2 a red brown.JPG Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Orchha_1914_2_a_red_brown.JPG License: Public Domain Contributors: Original uploaderwas Fconaway at en.wikipediaImage:Stamp India 1902 1r.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Stamp_India_1902_1r.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: User:Stan ShebsImage:Inauguration of New Delhi 1931.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Inauguration_of_New_Delhi_1931.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Originaluploader was Fconaway at en.wikipediaImage:Mahatma Gandhi 10 Rupees.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Mahatma_Gandhi_10_Rupees.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Original uploaderwas Fconaway at en.wikipediaImage:Satrunjaya 1949.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Satrunjaya_1949.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Original uploader was Fconaway aten.wikipedia

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Postage stamps and postal history of IndiaPostal history of IndiaThe Post in ancient and medieval IndiaPosts and the East India CompanyThe Scinde District DawkThe Reforms of 1854 and the First IssuesThe Reforms of 1866 and the Provisionals

Postal history of Indian statesThe early 20th centuryIndia Security Press

Independent IndiaThe Indian Postal Service todayNational Philatelic Museum

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