Postal History of India in Brief:
The postal history of a country is more important for a
philatelist than its political history. India is one amongst the richest countries
of the world who provides for a vivid, varied and wealthy postal history
material for an ardent student of philately.
In India, during the administration of Warren Hastings
(1774-1785), the postal system maintained by the East India Company was made
available for transmission of private communications. Before the introduction
of postage stamps, prepayment of postage was indicated by hand struck stamps
known as Bishop-mark, named after Henry Bishop, Postmaster General of Great
Britain. In India, it was in all probability first introduced in Calcutta Post
Office in January 1774, when Warron Hasting allowed carriage of mail of private
individuals on payment of fee through the Ease India Company's postal network.
Small copper tickets or tokens valued at Anna 2(1/8th of a rupee) were
generally the medium for payment of postage. Single letters up to 2-1/2 tolas
(29grams) weight charged at the rate of annas 2 for every 100 miles (160Kms.).
These copper tickets were reported to have been withdrawn by the Government on
14th September, 1784.
Sir Ronald Hill (1795-1879) introduced the Penny Postage stamps
in England on 6th May, 1840. The first postage stamps issued in India were in
1852 in the province of Sind under the Bombay Presidency. Sir Bartle Frere,
than Chief Commissioner of Sind, was asked by the Bombay Government to
undertake the upkeep of the postal services of the province and also to
popularize it among the public. He was a great admirer of Sir Rowland Hill and
his Penny Postage Scheme. With the help of Edward Less Coffery, then Postmaster
of Karachi, Sir Bartle issued the postage stamps on 1 July, 1852. They were
embossed pieces of paper with a circular design in red, with or blue, 'Scinde
Dawks' as they were known, were of the denomination of 1/2 Anna. The number of
stamps per sheet was probably 64, 8 row stamps. However, the exact number is
not known. They were used in the Province of Sind as well as on the
Karachi-Bombay route. Though these, embossed stamps were recalled in September
1854, but the order was not apparently carried out till June 1866.
After 13 years of the use of postage stamps in England, the
Government decided to extend their use in India. In 1853, the first design was
prepared in the Mint at Calcutta and the stamps were struck under the guidance
and supervision of (later on General) Sir Henry Thuillier, then Deputy Surveyor
General of India at Calcutta. The stamps were issued in July 1854.
Collection
The most common
hobby is collection. Collection of any things like: stamps, coins, currencies,
bank notes, postal stationery, logos, vintage cars, bikes, matches labels,
boxes, cards, watches, sunglasses, articles, antiques, buttons, stickers, nail
polish, photos, stories, books, umbrella, software’s, songs, records,
cassettes, CD’s, DVD’s, movie, ribbons, pens, pencil, bottles, wallpapers etc.
The list is going on even we can’t think what kind of stuff people collects.
The collection is depends on that persons interest. Just for an example: can
you imagine that I meet a person during my one train journey and he collects
shoe lasses. Even funny collections like nail polish and ribbons.
But all in this collection hobbies and among other
hobbies the first and bests are stamps, coins & currencies collection. It
was called as “KING OF HOBBIES” or “HOBBIES OF KINGS”.
How to start collection:
It’s a basic question which first comes to mind that “How should I start my
collection”? And the answer is also very simple; just think of your interest
that what are the thing which attract you very much. And then it’s easy to
start collection those items.
For example: I was
very much attracted about stamps, coins. So whenever I found any letter, post
cards I just keep it with me. I borrow it from my friends, neighbors. After
knowing my interests my friends, family members, relatives etc all support me.
So if they found any stamps, postcards etc they give that to me. And day by day
my interests grew up. I started taking more ideas from books, senior regarding
developing the collection. I started making pen friends and request them to send
theirs used stamps. Then I contacted stamps dealers, philatelic bureau and my
collection grow day by day. I spend my free time in that. I study about stamps,
the history of stamps. How to take care of your stamps and coins?
Later I started
attending and participating Stamps and Coins exhibitions. Meet new philatelist
and share each other’s ideas, knowledge and experience. I started organizing
workshops for school children’s and guiding them. I found myself very happy by
attending those events. When you involved in a work in which you have interest
then that works became fun for you and then you performed your best in that.
To start stamps collection, you will
need only few small things.
v Stamps
v A glass soaking dish
v Scissors
v Water
v Paper towels
v A stamp drying book
v Weights
Finding Stamps for Your Collection
·
· Ask friends and
family members to save up old envelopes and
interesting stamps for you.
· From your neighbor,
relatives, friends house you found stamps.
· New stamps can be
purchased at the post office.
· Buy stamps packets
at hobby stores.
· Dealers sell
stamps.
Sorting, Soaking, and Drying Stamps
Most stamps you can get easily and
cheaply will be on paper—on old letter envelopes. Sort them before you take
them off the paper to keep from tearing them. You must get them loose from the
paper without damaging them.
Trim the Stamps
Never tear them off. This can
destroy a wonderful stamp. This hobby requires patience. Cut carefully around
each stamp leaving all the serrated edging plus about an inch or so space
around the stamps.
Soak the Stamps
Put a half inch of slightly
warm water in a glass baking pan or a glass pie pan. Don’t use hot water as it
will make ink run or the stamp start to disintegrate. Lay the stamps face up in
the water. They will need to soak for from 15 minutes to as long as 2 hours.
(The new self adhesive stamps are the tough ones.)
Stay close by and watch the
stamps. The ink of the postmark or the color of a colored envelope paper may
begin to run and could ruin your stamp. If this happens remove the stamp and
blot it dry and then try floating it lightly on cold water shallow enough so
only the paper is in the water. Do only one at a time to avoid ruining the
batch. This should minimize the damage.
Lift the Wet Stamps
Use your fingers rather than a
tool, like tongs, to handle the wet stamps as they may tear easily. When the
paper is loosened enough to lift the stamp, carefully pull the stamp off the
paper. Clean any remaining glue from the back of the stamp by rubbing your
fingers gently over the glue. If it clings to the backing, soak longer. Don’t
go off and forget your stamps. Set a timer or stay close by to keep your eye on
them.
Drying Process
Lay the wet stamps carefully
face down on a paper towel. Blot gently with another paper towel. Don’t use
newspaper because ink in the newspaper may leech onto the stamp and spoil it..
Next lift the stamp and place it in your drying book.
Stamp Drying Books
Inexpensive stamp drying books
can be purchased at the hobby store and consists of alternating blotter paper
pages and plastic pages. You can make your own with absorbent paper and plastic
sheets and some big books for weight. Dry the stamps in the drying book
overnight.
Air Dry
Take them out of the dryer
book and lay them face up on a paper towel again to air dry for a hour or more.
Arrange in Album
When the stamps are
thoroughly dry and nice and flat, put them into your collecting book. Hobby
stores and the Post Office sells such books. If you choose a photo album be
aware that the plastic sheets may stick down to the stamps and that they may
discolor the stamps over time. They can usually be found at teacher stores and
book stores also. Dover books carry some stamp collecting books.
Saving Postmarks
In many cases the
postmark or cancellation mark since it bears a date and the name of the city
where it was mailed may be as interesting as the stamp. When you trim the paper
from the stamp, record the date and city name, if they will not show on the
face of the stamp. When you add the stamp to your book, jot the postmark facts
with it. Many Philatelists also collect postcards.
Clubs for Collectors
The American
Philatelist Society is a nationwide club for stamp collectors. Your local
postmaster may have a listing of local stamp clubs. You can start your own
Philatelist Club with friends who are interested in stamps. Meet once a month
and show the new stamps you have preserved. It is fun to trade duplicates too.
Learn together about stamps, stamp collecting methods, and products.
Philately is a great hobby. As I write above that its 'KING OF
HOBBY' or 'HOBBY OF KINGS'
So why not start today?
For any suggestion, question or help needed then please write to me.
For any suggestion, question or help needed then please write to me.
