Friday, April 13, 2007

The Future In Philately - Stamp Collection


While the use of the letter mail has declined due to the e-mail, WILL and cell phones, the volume of parcel mail and mail articles consisting of small and large business packets and magazines or journals has rapidly increased the world over. The use of the postage stamp for these forms of mail will continue and certainly so, so long as the Post Office is in existence.

While couriers have made great strides, yet, in all countries of the world a national postal service has been found to be vitally essential in order to cover the length and breadth of the country for mail collection and delivery, for penetration into the interiors of rural countryside and for other sectors or special services which the couriers find to be non-profitable. Thus prospects for the postage stamp will continue always as ever to be bright and it is quite possible that newer roles for them will arise in the future.

END OF THE ARTICLE ROLES PLAYED BY POSTAGE STAMPS
By K.V.Sundar Rajan - Is the Postmaster General Western region Of Tamil Nadu State , India.

Reference:

1. Altman, D. Paper Ambassadors, Angus & Robertson, 1991

Role as Basis for Other Philatelic Products


In addition to postage stamps themselves, there are ranges of other philatelic products which also constitute a philatelist’s paradise and this range is constantly increasing. Postal stationery of various types, First Day Covers or FDCs or special cancellations or regular ones, and philatelic souvenirs are the usual items for lovers of philately.

Among postage stamps too, philatelists are eager to collect used and unused ones, issued in singles or as sets, and those used on covers, and bearing cancellations of the date-stamp of the office of posting or other special cancellations, or stamps without any cancellations. Philatelists also collect paper qualities and types of printing, varieties in perforations, watermarks and the gum used.

Some other items that are of great interest to philatelists for their rarity or value are: Essays, that is, stamp designs submitted but not accepted or accepted after alterations; proofs, which are sample prints of stamp designs and which includes die proofs, plate proofs and colour proofs; cachets, which are printed or hand-stamped or embossed text or graphic combinations impressed on cover; specimens or samples of printing.

However, flaws or errors in postage stamps perhaps tend to excite the philatelists most. These are stamps bearing a blemish in design due to the engraving, plate, making or printing process or any other errors in perforations, ink, lettering, double print etc., but which has been inadvertently issued by the postal administration to the public. Owing to their rarity and subject to their condition, these stamps have higher ‘market value’ in comparison to their face value, and also in comparison to what is known as ’constant variety’ or a flaw or error repeating throughout an issue or on a part of it.

Continued....

Role as Advertising Medium and Marketing Tools


Owing to the worldwide movement of postage stamps to all households round the globe, postal administrations have been quick to use them as marketing tools. Advertising on the back of the postage stamps started as way back as in the 1890s, specially by New Zealand and these stamps are a collector’s delight since each advertisement is meticulously preserved.

The face of the stamp is not normally used for advertisements, but the theme is integrated with the design, as for instance, stamps on the national air carriers such as the stamp on Inauguration of Indian Airlines Airbus of December 1976, Air India Boeing 747 Air mail issue of October 1979, or Qantas’s 50th anniversary issued by Australia Post. The usual area used is the selvage of stamps, the booklets, brochures, the interleaving and covers.

Market research in both developing and developed countries has revealed that mail with postage stamps on them are invariably opened by the addressees themselves, in contrast to mail that are machine franked. Consequently, a number of postal administrations have begun to use space on postal stationery as advertising media. In the business sector too, a collection of stamps is often given as a gift item along with other products or services sold and hence is a direct marketing tool.

Since postage stamps are pieces of miniature art in themselves, they are also used as a medium of communication and for promotion of the art, artifacts and other treasures of a nation. Some instances are the set on the paintings of Mithila, Indian jewelry, places promoting tourism like the multicolours on Centres of Culture and Tourism of June 1997, and many, many others.

Continued.....

Role as National Brand Images Calling Cards of the National Postal Service


Postal administrations of some countries have begun to issue stamps that are so unique to their country that people on merely seeing the stamps can identify the country to which the stamp belongs, without necessarily having to look for the name of the country or it’s currency. These postage stamps are brand images of their country. The USA and France and some other countries have developed specific designs and printing methods and have an ‘issuing programme’ that gives their stamps a distinct appearance.

Modern designs, as one can see in the stamps of the Netherlands Post Office, reflect the policies and innovations made in postal communications by that administration. Even where private couriers operate and deliver letters, it is the postage stamp that functions as the country’s calling card and as the symbol or icon of a particular national postal system. Thus a postage stamp carries the brand image of the national postal system both at the national and international levels.

Continued....

Role as Ambassadors and Promoters of the national Image


Postage stamps have done much to portray the history and culture, the flora and fauna, the great personalities and inimitable works of art of a nation and carry these portrayals abroad. This role is a most fascinating feature of postage stamps.

The various colourful sets, series and commemorative stamps issued by the Department of Post s of India over the years during the post-independence era, especially since the 1970’s – starting from the Indian Miniature Paintings of May 1973 – present an enormous range of themes in an attempt to cover the multi-coloured dimensions of India and Indian culture. These stamps are as educative as they are colourful and fascinating.

Some examples of setenants or series which give us a glimpse into India’s flora and fauna are the multicoloured series on Wildlife Preservation of October, ’63, Indian Birds Series of December, ’68 and April, 75, Indian Flowers of July, ’77, Flowering Trees of September ’81, Indian Trees of November ’87, Himalayan Peaks of May ’88, Indian Flowering Trees of October, ’93, Himalayan Ecology of May ’96, Indian Medicinal Plants of October, 1997, Sea Shells of India of December, 1998, Endangered Species: Asiatic Lion of October, 1999, Wildlife Deifnitive Series, a set of 10 stamps of 2000, four multicolours on Corals of India of July, 2001 and so on.

The commemorative issues on Temple Architecture series of Rameshwaram, Tryambakeshwar, Aundha Nagnath, Kedarnath Temples and the Sun Temple of Konark of December, 2001; the four multicolours on the Panchathantra issued in October, 2001; and on the Mahabodhi Temple, Bodhgaya, the Mahaparinirvana Temple, Kushinagar, the Dhamek Stupa at Sarnath issued on 21st January, 2002; and the more recent ones on Vishal Badri Temple, Badrinath, Mallikarjunaswamy Temple, Srisailam; Tripureswari Temple, Udaipur (Tripura) and Jagannath Temple, Puri issued on 15th September, 2003 – all take the essentials of Indian culture and spread it round the globe.

Denis Altman1 calls postage stamps as “paper ambassadors”. Postage stamps are depictions of a whole civilization in miniature. Their colourful designs like miniature art, present little fragment of history.

Continued....

Role As a Cash Equivalent


A postage stamp signifies the cash equivalent for the price paid for using the postal services. Some countries have also used postage stamps as currency during shortages of notes or coins of minor denominations. Some have used them as Revenue Stamps also, as for instance the 4 pence New Zealand stamp which has the words “Postage & Revenue” inscribed on it.

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....

Indian Postage Stamps



The world of Indian postage stamps is exceedingly rich, varied and fascinating, and truly constitutes a philatelist’s paradise. Indian philatelic collections are usually divided into two broad categories: pre – and post - independence stamps.

The first postage stamps ever to be issued in India were the Scinde District Dawk – four special issues of 1st July 1852 for Sind District. These were ‘embossed stamps’ for ½ anna issued during the East India Company days by the authority of Sir Bartle Frere, the Commissioner of Sind, and printed by M/s De La Rue & Co. of England. Theses stamps were imperforates, that is stamps without perforations on their sides. Each stamp was to be cut out from a sheet of stamps using any sharp instrument. They were issued in white, blue and scarlet colours and depicted East India Company’s broad arrow. However they soon became obsolete. Fascinatingly, one of the series was embossed on sealing wax-scarlet colour on shellac wafer, but these often got cracked, though I have seen an intact one displayed in an exhibition.

The Scinde District Dawk stamps were most unique because they were not only India’s first but also Asia’s first stamps, and they were also the ‘first round stamps’ ever to be issued in the world.

The postage stamps depicting the Head of Queen Victoria for ½ Anna in blue colour were the first general issues starting from April 1854 onwards, initially issued as imperforates and without gum. Interestingly, by an error of printing, some sheets of stamps bore the Queen’s head upside down – called an ‘invert error’- thereby creating the first ever printing error on stamps. These are invaluable collections and are philatelic items since they were useable as postage stamps.

After the assumption of the governance of India by the British Crown in November 1858, Queen Victoria stamps continued to be issued, but it is captivating to see that India was name as East India in these stamps-printed as ‘East India Postage’, a continuation of the East India Company nomenclature. Queen Victoria assumed the title of ‘Empress of India’ in January, 1877, and since then the Queen Victoria stamps bore the words, ‘India Postage’.

Queen Victoria’s reign was the longest for any British Monarch (1837 – 1901) and one can see the change in the youthful face of the queen of 21 years in the Penny Black and early Indian stamps, changing into that of a maturing empress in the issues around 1891 and thereafter.

After Queen Victoria, came the stamps depicting the Head of King Edward VII from May 1901, the Head of King George V from May 1911 and King George the VIth from December 1936. These pre-independence stamps are mostly definitives and were printed in England.

India began printing its own stamps from 1926. The India Security Press, Nasik prepared the designs for the Head of King Edward the VIIIth, the eldest son of George the Vth, to time its issue with the king’s coronation, but Edward acceded the throne in January 1936 and abdicated it in December 1936 in preference to marriage an American lady and the crown passed over to his younger brother, George Vth. These essays i.e. preliminary designs are very interesting besides being of priceless rarity.

Continued....

Hand Strucks and Franks


It is interesting to note that prior to the issue of postage stamps, postmark-like impressions or ‘franks’ were made on letters to indicate pre-payment of postage. In India they were called ‘hand-strucks’ or hand-struck stamps. Even today we have the service of postage-prepaid-in-cash for bulk mailers and a hand struck date-stamp as well as Franking Machines for the same.

The East India Company in India used hand-struck stamps in the three Presidencies of Calcutta, Bombay and Madras as way back as prior to and after 1837, the year when the Post Office Act came into effect, and rarities bearing these impressions are prized possessions of philatelists. Hand-strucks were also used by ex-territorial post offices of territories not coming under the domain of the East India Company or the Crown. Even today, various types of frank impressions of the world o postal mail are an item of philatelic delight.

Continued....

The Coming of Pictorials and Other Philatelic Items



What really gave a tremendous fillip to philately as an art or hobby was the coming of pictorial stamps, commonly called ‘pictorials’. These include pictorial definitives, pictorial commemoratives (issued to commemorate an event) and special issues (issued on special occasions), all of which depict the intrinsic beauty of a nation’s flora and fauna, its art and culture, its science and technological achievements. Multicouloured setenants or sets of stamps, issued with say two or four stamps in a set – like the set of four multicolours issued in June 1975 to commemorate the 500th Anniversary of Michelangelo, and ‘miniature sheets’ – like the Mahatma Gandhi MS miniature sheet with two issued on 2nd October, 1995 – have given a tremendous spur to thematic lovers, who look for unusual aspects of information brought out in the theme related to the country of issue or to other closely allied themes.

Though the Post Office was founded in Britain in as early as 1635 with primitive means of mail carriage, the first postage stamp ever to be issued in the world was the famous Penny Black issued in black ink on the 6th May 1840 for one penny depicting the head of Queen Victoria. Sir Rowland Hill – subsequently, Post Master General – could achieve Parliament’s backing for the ‘Penny Post’ that year and this ushers in the era of the modern pre-paid postal services using postage stamps. However, one must not that a ‘lady’ was chosen to be represented in the first ever stamp of the world. Quite a few philatelists in India possess the Penny Black and its subsequent issues.

Ever since the 1860s, collecting postage stamps began to grow as a hobby, especially with the coming of illustrated stamp catalogues, magazines and albums in Europe and North America. By the 1890s, many countries of Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand began to issue pictorial postage stamps depicting the scenic beauty of their countries. The first pictorial issued of New Zealand on Lake Wakitipu for 21/2 D of the 1890’s is one such example. They are considered as classic designs and were reused a century after its release.

The collection of Postal Stationary items also was established during this time. The 1910’s and 1920’s saw the prominent rise in the use of Postcards, and if used with pictorial stamps on them, we have the beginning of Maxim Cards and the collection of such cards, called Maximaphily. The coming of airplanes and stamps depicting them in the 1920’s ushers in the era of Aero philately.

The Primary Role Definitives



Postage stamps were introduced for purposes of pre-payment by a customer for the postal service availed by him, the cost of the service offered being the face value of the stamps payable for the service. This is their primary role. Normally ‘definitives’ are stamps that would definitely be available for purchase for three to five years from their issue, though some few rare ones have been reused even a century later.

The rates or values of the stamps in the case of definitive issues are the commonly used postal rates required for all classes of mail – many are issued for the small or ‘make-up rates’ and quite some for high values used for heavy letters, parcels and for airmails. But the value of a stamp issued must correspond to the range of postal rates being charged by the postal administration of a country, since stamps issued with very high values or with materials not recognized for use as postage stamps, will not charm the collectors as they would have no philatelic value.

Continued...

Roles Played by Postage Stamps


Fundamentals of Philately

Philately has been the king among hobbies and its worldwide popularity is matchless. Its educational value especially for the children, for the children, for the youth and even for adults is beyond compare. The postage stamp is fascinating to young impressionable minds who look upon these little bits of art and history, as invaluable personal collections.

The roles played by postage stamps ever since their first use in 1840 have changed dramatically over the years. This has been due partly to the dynamic issuing policies adopted by postal administrations in association with their printers and partly to the growing numbers of avid philatelists, stamp collectors and enthusiasts who preserve and present a variety of classes of collections.

Continued....

Courtesy : K.V.Sundar Rajan

Blogarama finding blogs