History of the British India Stamps (1854 - 1947)

HISTORY OF BRITISH INDIA POSTAGE STAMPS (1854 - 1947)
1852	Scinde Dawks These stamps were issued under the authority of Sir Bartle Frere, Commissioner of Scinde. The stamps were issued on 1st July, 1852 but were withdrawn w. e. f. 30th September, 1854

1854	India’s First Postage Stamps The First postage stamps for general use in India were issued in denominations of ½ a., I a., 2 as. and 4 as., inscribed “India”. The ½ a., I a., and 4 as., were lithographed in the Surveyor General’s Office, Calcutta, and the 2 as., was typographed at the Stamp Office. All were printed on paper having a watermark of the Arms of the East India Company in the sheet and were issued imperforate.

1855 – 1876	All the stamps on this plate were typographed by Messrs. De La Rue & Co., London, the inscription being “East India Postage”. The ½ a., I a., 2 as., 4 as., 8 as. and 8 ps. Were first printed on paper without watermark. Later on from I865, they were printed on paper with a watermark of “Elephant’s head” on each stamp. The same watermarked paper was used for other values also on this page. All perforated I4.

1866	In I866, the need for a six annas stamp was met by overprinting the word “Postage” in green on 6 As. Foreign Bill Stamps, cutting off upper and lower labels bearing the words “Foreign” and “Bill” respectively.

1882 – 1888	A new series of stamps with a changed inscription, “India Postage” was brought out between I882 – 88. A new watermark single five pointed star replaced the Elephant’s Head, typographed by De La Rue and perforted I4. The same watermark and perforation continued till I926 for all stamps printed by De La Rue.

1891 – 1900	With the reduction in postage rates, need for 2 ½ as. stamps in I89I and ¼ anna in I898 was met by overprinting 4 ½ as. and ½ a. stamps. In I895, high value stamps of Rs. 2, 3 and 5 were issued for the first time.

1902 – 1911	After the death of Queen Victoria, stamps bearing the head of King Edward VII appeared in the same denominations upto Rs. 5. In I909, further new high values of Rs. I0, I5 and 25 were added for the first time.

1905-1906	There was a shortage of three pies in I905 and ½ a. stamp was overprinted ¼. On a decision to use postage stamps for revenue purposes also, the ½ a. and I a. were issued with the words “India Postage and Revenue” in I906.

1911 – 1933	On the death of King Edward VII, stamps with the head of King George V were issued. A new value, I ½ as. was added, first with the words “One and Half Anna” subsequently corrected to “One and A Half Annas”.

1911 – 1933	High value denominations with the head of George V were brought out during this period.

1921, 1922	New postage rate necessitated overprinting of “Nine Pies” on I a. in I92I. During a shortage of three pies stamps, ½ a. was overprinted ¼ again in I922. In 1926, contract for printing stamps with De La Rue was terminated and the Security Printing Press, Nasik took over the printing of Indian stamps. Stamps from the same dies were thereafter printed in India, but on a new paper with “Multiple Star” watermark. Like the ½ a. and 1 a., inscription on 1 a. and 4 as. was also changed to “India Postage and Revenue”

1929	India was probably the first country in the world to issue a set of six stamps, specially for the Air Mail.

1931	Inauguration of New Delhi in I93I was commemorated by a pictorial series of six stamps, the first of such series, showing the old Fort and principal Government buildings in the capital.

1932 – 1936	Government again decided to issue separate revenue stamps. Consequently the inscription “India Postage & Revenue” on ½ a., I a., 2 as. and 4 as., was changed to ‘India Postage’. New inland postage rates gave rise to two new values I a. 3 ps. and 3 as. 6 ps., in I932.

1935	The occasion of the Silver Jubilee of King George V’s reign gives the Government an opportunity of picturing some of India’s and Burma’s architectural beauties.

1937	The necessity of making new stamps for the reign of King George VI gives the P. & T. Department an opportunity of illustrating the various modes of transport of mails.

1937	The George VI set has the same values as in the previous two reigns.

1940 – 1943	The shortage of paper occasioned by the war prevents the reprinting of the large postal carrier stamps and a new set is issued in the old size. A large I4 as. stamp, the air mail rate to the countries of the British Empire, is issued. It can serve for ordinary postage also.

1946	The end of Worlds war II in I945 gives the occasion for issuing a “Victory” set. Again, a shortage of 3 pies stamps had to be remedied by surcharging the I a. 3 ps. value, no longer useful, with the value 3 pies. It will be noticed that the surcharge is no longer ¼ a., but 3 pies.

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