Indian Pictorials

While pre-independence stamps were mostly definitives or general issues and showed the head of a British monarch, the first pictorial stamps were issued in India quite late. The Air Mail services in India were commemorated in 1929 by issue of a set of 6 pictorial commemoratives in various colours. Al show a single engine bi-plane flying over a lake with mountains and trees in the background and include, the head of George the Vth. Thus, natural scenery was included for being shown on an Indian postage stamp.

This was followed tow years later by another set of 6 pictorial issues commemorating the Inauguration of New Delhi as the capital in 1931, and these stamps depict important Indian monuments and building such as the Round House (Indian Parliament), the Secretariat (Central Secretariat), India Gate, the Viceroy’s House (Rashtrapathi Bhawan) – and all include the head of George the Vth. Commemorating the Silver Jubilee of King George the Vth in 1935, seven more stamps were released depicting the Taj Mahal, Rameshwaram Temple, Gate Way of India, Victoria Memorial, Jain Temple, Calcutta, Golden Temple and the Buddhist Pagoda, Mandalay, Burma, then a part of India.

In 1936, eight pictorials were issued depicting on how postal mails were being carried in those days, he Transport Series: by a dak runner, dak bullock cart, dak tonga, by a dak camel, by a mail train, a ship, a car, and by a mail plane. These stamps are of great interest to Postal History lovers among the philatelists.

The three Jai Hind stamps of 15th August 1947, commemorate India’s elevation to dominion status and the four on Mahatma Gandhi, the first anniversary of independence. The first definitives issued in India were pictorials: the First Regular Archeological Series issued on 15th August, 1949 which cover much of the multifaceted culture and religions of India as depicted in various archeological monuments. These pictorials and commemoratives have given a tremendous impetus to stamp collection as a hobby.

In contrast to postage stamp collecting, Postal History emerged as a serious venture among philatelists of the world much later – from the 1930s, and since 1945 onwards we have seen the growth of Thematic Philately as a regular discipline.

At the base of the pyramid constituting the customers of philately are the ‘hoarders’ – the largest segment. Like children and those new to philately who collect all sorts of stamps they can find. ‘Collectors’ are a little more selective though they collect most items and constitute the medium segment of customers. ‘philatelists’ are serious collectors who know the value of each stamp or item they collect, and they constitute the smallest and upper most segment of the pyramid. Postal administrations need to foster all levels of the pyramid, including the philatelists since the latter provide the intellectual inputs or knowledge resources on philately to novices and others, thereby leading to the promotion of philately.

Continued....