Tuesday, September 9, 2014

From India's freedom struggle to celebrating the 1st Asian Games: 30 commemorative vintage Indian postage stamps you may not have seen before

Communication may have come a long way since 1947 but for more than 150 years the Department of Posts has been playing a key role in the way India communicates. With 1,55,015 Post Offices, the DoP has the most widely distributed postal network in the world. The DoP has immortalised important events in Indian history through postage stamps. These interesting postage stamps lead to a new hobby, philately.

After independence, the medium of postage stamps was initially used to highlight the country's achievements in science and technology as well as its socio-economic Development by depicting themes like the Five Year Plans, Steel Plants, Dams and even commemorating important events like 100 years of India's freedom struggle, or centennial celebrations of the oldest Indian universities. The website 
indiapost.gov.in has a huge collection of every Indian stamp ever. Here are 30 vintage stamps you may never have seen before. 

A commemorative postage stamp issued on 15 Dec. 1947 marking India’s independence.
Courtesy: indianpost.gov.in

 

A commemorative postage stamp issued on 29 May 1948 to mark Air India’s first international flight on 8th June 1948.
Courtesy: indianpost.gov.in

A commemorative postage stamp issued on 26 Jan. 1950 to mark the inauguration of the Republic of India. The postage stamp features a quill, ink well and verse.
Courtesy: indianpost.gov.in

This stamp was released to mark the 1st Asian Games in 1951. It was issued on 4 Mar. 1951.
Courtesy: indianpost.gov.in

This commemorative stamp was issued on 13 Jan 1951 to mark the centenary year of the Geological Survey of India.
Courtesy: indianpost.gov.in

The conquest of Everest on 29 May 1953 was marked with this postage stamp released on 2 Oct. 1953.
Courtesy: indianpost.gov.in

To mark the centennial year of the Indian railways, this stamp was issued on 16 April 1953.
Courtesy: indianpost.gov.in

A commemorative stamp to mark the 2500th Buddha Jayanti was issued on 24 May 1956.
Courtesy: indianpost.gov.in

This postage stamps marks the 100th year of India’s first war of independence. The freedom struggle is signified by the sapling and the leaping flames.
Courtesy: indianpost.gov.in

The centenary university series: Celebrating 100 years of Calcutta University. The stamp was released on 31 Dec. 1957.
Courtesy: indianpost.gov.in

The centenary university series: Celebrating 100 years of Bombay University. The stamp was released on 31 Dec. 1957.
Courtesy: indianpost.gov.in

The centenary university series: Celebrating 100 years of Madras University. The stamp was released on 31 Dec. 1957.
Courtesy: indianpost.gov.in

Celebrating the forest centenary with a postage stamp released on 21 Nov. 1961.
Courtesy: indianpost.gov.in

The Golden Jubilee of the first aerial post was marked with this postage stamp issued on 18 Feb. 1961.
Courtesy: indianpost.gov.in

A commemorative postage stamp on Dr. Rajendra Prasad – President of India from 1950 to 1962. The stamp was issued on 13 May 1962.
Courtesy: indianpost.gov.in

Centenary of High Courts: A commemorative stamp celebrating 100 years of the Calcutta High Court. The stamp was released on 1 July 1962.
Courtesy: indianpost.gov.in

Centenary of High Courts: A commemorative stamp celebrating 100 years of the High Court of Judicature, Madras. The stamp was released on 6 August 1962.
Courtesy: indianpost.gov.in

Centenary of High Courts: A commemorative stamp celebrating 100 years of the High Court of Bombay. The stamp was released on 14 August 1962.
Courtesy: indianpost.gov.in

The world united against eradicating Malaria. This stamp commemorative postage stamp was issued on 7 April 1962.
Courtesy: indianpost.gov.in

This stamp marks the Red Cross centenary. It was released on 8 May 1963.
Courtesy: indianpost.gov.in

A commemorative stamp released in honour of Vallabhbhai Patel. It was released on 31 Oct. 1965
Courtesy: indianpost.gov.in

Centenary of High Courts: A commemorative stamp celebrating 100 years of the Allahabad High Court. The stamp was released on 25 Nov. 1966.
Courtesy: indianpost.gov.in

The family planning week in 1966 was marked with this stamp released on 12 Dec. 1966.
Courtesy: indianpost.gov.in

The bicentennial year of the Survey of India was marked by this stamp released on 1 May 1967.
Courtesy: indianpost.gov.in

A commemorative stamp that marks the 100 years of the Indo-European Telegraph Line. It was issued on 9 Nov. 1967.
Courtesy: indianpost.gov.in

The stamp marks the opening of the 100,000th post office in India. It was released on 1 Oct. 1968.
Courtesy: indianpost.gov.in

To honour the freedom fighter Bhagat Singh, this stamp was issued on 19 Oct. 1968.
Courtesy: indianpost.gov.in

The centenary year of Amrita Bazar Patrika was marked by this stamp issued on 20 Feb. 1968.
Courtesy: indianpost.gov.in

On the 25th anniversary of the Azad Hind Government, this stamp was issued on 21 Oct. 1968.
Courtesy: indianpost.gov.in

The 100th birth year of Mahatma Gandhi was commemorated in this stamp issued on 2 Oct. 1969.
Courtesy: indianpost.gov.in

As man stepped on the moon for the first time on 20th July 1969, this postage stamp was issued to mark the event on 19 Nov. 1969.
Courtesy: indianpost.gov.in

A commemorative postage stamp marking the National Philatelic Exhibition in 1970. The stamp was issued on 23 Dec. 1970.
Courtesy: indianpost.gov.in

Beethoven also finds a place in India’s postage stamps. This postage stamp was issued to honour the musician on 16 Dec. 1970.
Courtesy: indianpost.gov.in

Source : http://ibnlive.in.com/

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