From the earliest Indian stamps to the latest ones based on intriguing themes, there is more than one reason to start collecting stamps of India. Let's find out what makes these stamps so fascinating.
Earliest Stamps of India:
The earliest Indian stamps were called as Scinde Dawk and were issued for the Sindh region on 1st July 1852. The word "Dawk" came from the Hindi word "Dak" which translates to "Post". These rare Indian postage stamps are considered to be the first ones to be issued in entire Asia. They bore the denomination one-half anna and consisted of red sealing wax with an embossed design. These circular stamps are have a very high market value as it's believed that less than 100 such stamps exist today. Since these stamps disintegrated quickly, they were replaced by a colourless design embossed on white paper. Towards the end, a blue embossing was applied on white paper.
First Stamps of Independent India:
The very first Indian stamp issued after our country got independence from the British regime on 15th August 1947, featured the Indian flag with the famous slogan "Jai Hind". They bore the denomination three and a half Annas and were meant for use only for foreign correspondence. These republic India stamps were released on 21st November 1947. The second stamp featuring the Ashokan Lions capital bore a denomination of one and a half annas and was issued for domestic use. A fifteen rupees stamp was issued on the second anniversary of India's independence on 15th August 1949 featuring the famous Satrunjaya, Jain temple complex near Palitana.
Rare Indian Stamps:
When it comes to rare stamps of India, the most famous one is the 10 rupees postage stamp featuring Mahatma Gandhi that was issued on 15th August 1948. A set of 100 such stamps were overprinted with the world "SERVICE" and were handed over the Governor General of India for official use only. These Indian rare stamps have been auctioned for thousands of rupees by auction houses all around the world. The inverted Head 4 Annas stamp issued in 1854 is another beauty to look out for. The portrait of Queen Victoria on his stamp is incorrectly printed in an inverted position and the error was discovered only in 1890. Experts believe that only 28 such stamps exist today.
Interesting Themes:
Modern stamps of India are based on numerous interesting themes as our country is known for its rich diversity. From cultures, traditions, languages, art to monuments, climate, natural wonders, wildlife, history and prominent personalities, a lot of subjects have been explored through Indian stamps over the years. Every postage stamp of India sheds light on various aspects about our country's evolution in various fields as science and technology, education, apart from other important milestones. Through the study of these Indian stamps youngsters can learn a lot about our country's identity and vibrant past.
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| Image Courtesy: mintageworld.com |
Tips for Young Collectors:
As parents, you should encourage your kids to start building a collection of old Indian stamps. You can also take them to stamp exhibitions and seminars that keep happening around your city. By networking with like-minded collectors, they will certainly increase their knowledge in the long run. You can also let them join various types of communities and local clubs so that they maintain their interest levels in the hobby. Finally, you should also make them realise the importance of safeguarding their collection from any kind of dust or moisture by storing them in quality stamp albums.
Collecting stamps in India is always a satisfying experience for all collectors as there are so many interesting varieties to explore. So dive deep into the world of philately and start collecting right away!
Read and understand several fascinating aspects about stamps in India and their evolution. From the very first Scinde Dawk issue to the first Indian stamp after independence featuring the national flag to the latest colourful issues based on mesmerising themes, find out what makes Indian stamps so popular among philatelists.
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