Indian
philately has a long history – India came out with its first
stamp in 1852, a special issue on the province of Sind, only twelve years after the world’s first stamp appeared. Before the introduction of
postage stamps, hand struck
stamps were used on letters, on the payment of postage. At first, the currency in use was “annas”, but after
Independence the postage stamps began to be issued in terms of “rupees” and “paise”.
Some of the earlier stamps carried pictures of prominent buildings. After independence, stamps displayed the state emblem (Ashokan Pillar) and the national flag (Tricolour), or were issued to commemorate the national leaders who took part in the independence struggle. Other stamps carried the pictures of historical figures, poets and saints. Later stamps included sporting events as well as the pictures of birds and animals.
In 1968, the
postal department opened its ten thousandth post office – and marked the occasion with a postal stamp!
India’s unique contribution to the field of philately has been the issue of perfumed or scented stamps on sandalwood. Readers will also be interested to learn that between 1846 and 1904,
bullock mail (mail drawn by means of bullock carts) was operational in government offices across many parts of Norh India.
Surprisingly, air mail (by means of a biplane) was introduced in India as early as 1911 – the same year that official air mails in Britain and the United States also began.
Stamp collecting has now become a popular hobby with different strata of people, both young and old, as it is inexpensive and does not consume too much time. In most towns and cities, shops selling used postage stamps from across the globe are quite common. Stamp exhibitions have also helped to popularize this hobby. Of course, nowadays stamps come in all shapes and sizes!
More summaries about the Indian Philately