Glimpses of Modern Indian Philately

This blog is devoted to Modern Indian Postal History and Modern Philately of India providing less known information on various aspects of Indian Postal Services.

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A new series of postage stamps depicting subjects of Archaeological and Historical interest was introduced and put on sale on and from 15th August 1949 - the second Anniversary of India’s Independence. These stamps constitute Free India’s first series definitive stamps and were intended to replace King George VI stamps, although both would remain on sale concurrently, until stock of the latter were exhausted.
A special Independence Day Cover was put on sale from 8th August 1949 and the price of such cover was 1 Anna each.
archsr1
A special cachet which would be used exclusively on the day the new stamps were brought out, had been supplied to the following Post Offices, vide Postal Notice No.23 dated 5th August 1949.
Agra
Ambala
Bombay GPO
Dehradun
Jullundur
Mathura
Ootacamund
Shillong
Ahmedabad
Amritsar
Calcutta GPO
Hyderabad (DN)
Kanpur
Merrut
Patna
Simla
Ajmer
Banaras
Cuttack
Indore
Lucknow
Nagpur
Poona
Srinagar
Allahabad
Bangalore
Delhi
Jaipur
Madras GPO
New Delhi
Rajkot
Tiruchirapalli
There were 10 Philatelic Bureaux in the country at that time, which were housed in the following Post offices:
Bombay GPO
Culcutta GPO
Madras GPO
New Delhi HO
Simla HO
Lucknow HO
Patna HO
Cuttack HO
Shillong HO
Nagpur HO

As August 15, 1949 was a public holiday, the sale of these stamps was confined to certain selected Post Offices only. The new stamps were also sold at the Stamp Agency in the office of the High Commissioner for India, London. A short description of each stamp, which are in 16 denominations.
Sr. No.
Denom-ination
Theme
Service to be rendered
Stamp Image
1. 3 Pies Ajanta Panel
  • Registered News Paper not exceeding 10 tolas.
definitive1949a
2. 6 Pies Kornak Horse
  • Fee for the Certificate of Posting.
  • The Blind Literature Packets upto 2 lbs. for Inland & Foreign.
definitive1949b
3. 9 Pies Trimurti
  • Post Cards.
  • Book Post.
  • Printed Papers & Sample Packets for Inland & Foreign.
definitive1949c
4. 1 Anna Bodhi Sattava
  • Late fee for RMS carriage.
  • Commission for each Postal Order.
  • "Acknowledgment of Delivery" Fee.
  • Sample Packets - first 2 oz.
  • Air Fee on Inland Air Mail Money Order
definitive1949d
5. 2 Annas Nataraja
  • Money Order Commission for first Rs.10/-.
  • Envelope.
  • Express delivery Fee.
  • Foreign Surface Mail Post Cards
definitive1949e
6. 3 Annas Sanchi Stupa
  • Foreign "Acknowledgment of Delivery" Fee.
  • Air Mail Post Cards for Persian Gulf Countries.
definitive1949f
7. 3½ Annas Bodh Gaya Temple
  • Sea Mail Rate.
  • Business Papers first 10 oz., by surface route.
definitive1949g
8. 4 Annas Bhuvanesvara
  • Registration Charges
  • Air Mail Post Cards.
  • Insurance Charges for first Rs.100/-.
definitive1949h
9. 6 Annas Gol Gumbad - Bijapur
  • Aerogramme
  • Inland Parcels. (not over 40 tolas)
definitive1949i
10. 8 Annas Kandarya Mahadeva Temple
  • Aerogramme
  • Foreign Insurance Fee for every 20 pound.
definitive1949j
11. 12 Annas Golden Temple - Amritsar
  • Air Mail charges for letter mail for England
definitive1949k
12. 1 Rupee Victory Tower - Chitorgarh
  • Air Fee for Inland air Parcels.
definitive1949l
13. 2 Rupees Red Fort - Delhi
  • High Value - mainly used for Telegraphs & heavy Parcels
definitive1949m
14. 5 Rupees Taj Mahal - Agra
  • High Value - mainly used for Telegraphs & heavy Parcels
definitive1949n
15. 10 Rupees Qutb Minar - Delhi
  • High Value - mainly used for Telegraphs & heavy Parcels
definitive1949o
16. 15 Rupees Satrunjaya Temple - Palitana
  • High Value - mainly used for Telegraphs & heavy Parcels.
definitive1949p
In this Archaeological series, a supplementary issue became necessary as “Bodhi Sattava” statue was wrongly shown reversed (left hand raised instead of right hand) in 1 Anna value, which was rectified by a fresh issue on July 15, 1950. Second supplementary issue became necessary, when foreign Postal rates were increased for surface route from 1st December 1950. The rate for Post Cards was increased from 2 Annas to 2½ Annas and for Letters 3½ Annas to 4 Annas.
definitive1949d definitive1950a
15.8.1949 15.7.1950
definitive1949g definitive1951a
15.8.1949 30.4.1951
3½ Annas stamp was withdrawn and 2½ Annas stamp was issued in the same design as 3½ Annas stamp but in lake colour. 4 Annas stamp was reissued in same design but in blue colour, because the convention of Universal Postal Union says that stamps showing Sea Mail Postage should be in blue colour. These stamps were released on 30th April 1951, vide Postal Notice No.4 dated 19.4.1951.
  • Notes:
    Rs.10/- stamp is found in two different colours. The first one is purple brown & deep blue and the second is purple brown & blue.
  • Forgeries in 8 Annas and Re.1/- value are known. Re.1/- forgery was emanated from Nepal and is very scarce. Nothing much is known about 8 Annas forgery except it was reported by Mr. Jal Cooper.
Article By: Shri Ashok Kumar Bayanwala, Ahmedabad