Indian postal systems for efficient military and governmental communications
had developed long before the arrival of Europeans.
When the Portuguese, Dutch, French, Danish and British displaced the Mughals, their postal systems existed alongside those of many somewhat independent states.
The British East India Company gradually displaced other powers and brought into existence a British administrative system over most of India, with a need to establish and maintain both official and commercial mail systems.
Although the Indian Post Office was established in 1837, Asia’s first adhesive stamp, the Scinde Dawk, was introduced in 1852 by Sir Bartle Frere, theBritish East India Company’s administrator of the province of Sind. However, the first stamps for postage throughout India were introduced in October 1854, these were designed and printed in Kolkata.
The Scinde Dawk , a round red sealing wafer
The stamp-issuing States were of two kinds:
- The Convention States are those which had postal conventions (or agreements) with the Post Office of India to provide postal services within their territories.
- The Feudatory States maintained their own postal services within their territories and issued stamps with their own designs.
Anchal Petty (Post box) of Travancore – Feudatory States
After the Independence of India in 1947, the Indian postal service continues to function on a countrywide basis and provides many valuable, low cost services to the public of India.
Indian Flag, the first stamp of independent India, released on 21 Nov 1947,
was meant for foreign correspondence.
Aśokan capital, the second stamp, depicts the national emblem of India and is for domestic use.
The third stamp, showing a Douglas DC-4 aircraft, was meant for foreign airmail
Since then Indian post office has released many stamps to commemorate history and great battles, to honor national leaders, pay tribute to popular personalities and to celebrate Crafts and Culture.
The first stamp dedicated to crafts was released in 1961, depicting stone carvings of Pithalikora Caves and Kalibangan town.
To know more about Indian postage stamps please visit the website of Indian Post office.
