These overprinted stamps were meant for the use from the Secretariat of the Governor General H.E. C. Rajagopalachari. Very small quantities were overprinted and are extremely scarce, both in Mint and used condition.

They were printed in numbers are as under:
1½ Anna -16150 nos., 3½ Anna - 1550 nos. 12 Annas - 450 nos. 10 Rupees - 200 nos.

1½ Annas 'Gandhi' Service stamp defaced on 3rd August 1949 with the inscription - "NEW
DELHI GOVERNOR GENERAL CAMP P.O.

Used examples on covers are unobtainable. Crude forgeries of anna values are found in plenty. These stamps are usually found used with different types of Governor General Camp P.O., cancellations. A very few are known cancelled by President Camp P.O., which is very scarce.

The story of making of Gandhi stamps is written by Mr. T. N. Mehta of Indian Postal Administration, is also very interesting as it sketches the true picture of bureaucracy in India. Immediately after Independence, the idea of issue Gandhi Stamp was mooted. On 21st January 1948, the Director General of P & T Dept. requested Security Press, Nasik, to produce Specimen designs for Gandhi Stamps, within a week. The master of India Security Press, suggested issuing a set of 4 Stamps in denominations of lY2annas, 3Y2annas, 8annas and rupee. He proposed that the first 3 Stamps be printed in a single colour in existing 'anna' size and rupee value of Stamp to be printed in two colours in 'rupee' size. Trial copies based on the Em portrait of Gandhiji available with Nashik, was submitted. Alternatively, photographs approved by Mahatma Gandhiji himself could be adopted.

While these preparations were going on tragedy struck the Nation, on 30th January 1948. The picture changed drastically and Security Press was asked on 6th February 1948 to prepare Mourning Stamps. On 17th February 1948, the Security Press submitted 2 designs in denomination of 2½ annas for Inland Airmail and 12 annas for Airmail to United Kingdom, based on approval sketch drawn by Mr. C. Biswas. The then Prime Minister Sri Jawaharlal Nehru suggested that the word 'Bapu' be included in the proposed stamp designs both in Hindi and Urdu, a symbolic gesture of Communal Harmony, for which Gandhiji laid his life.

10 Rupees denomination was asked on 12th March 1948 and a specimen was submitted on 16th March 1948 by Security Press. Although the proposed stamps were in final stage, the Authorities in New Delhi in a typical bureaucratic manner placed the print order with the well-known Swiss Printers, Helio Curviosier, Sa. La Chaux De Fonds.

The Master of Nasik Security Press felt so much that he wanted to quit, but the then Communication Minister Mr. Rafi Ahmed Kidwai argued that India didn't have Photogravure Printing, which the Swiss printers could produce the best result.

The irony of bureaucracy is visible -

Gandhi! Who fought for Swadeshi through out his life, his memorial stamps were printed by a Vedishi (foreign) Press.

Gandhiji always used the cheapest mode of communication, that is 'Postcard', but his stamp was issued in 10 Rupees denomination (very high value of stamp in those days).

Bureaucracy could not have done a greater disservice to Gandhiji. Philatelically also, this 10 Rupees stamp deprived the collectors of possessing the full set because 10rupees is a very big amount and unaffordable.

Lastly, the clothing of Gandhiji in stamps, in no way approximated the Indian grab or the way Gandhiji used to wear. Actually the photographs showed the Mahatma unclothed above the waist. The bureaucrats thought that it would be derogatory to portray of the 'Father of the Nation' in such a manner. So they asked the Swiss Printers to adequately cover the naked portion of Gandhiji's body, but they couldn't reproduce the Indian Way.

Before concluding, I must admit that as Gandhiji used to glitter and eclipsed all other politicians during his lifetime. His 10 Rupee stamp is glittering in Indian stamps and have eclipsed all other Indian stamps.

A complete set of 4 stamps were cancelled on 15th August 1948 in Folder.

A commercial use of 10 Rupees Gandhiji's stamp on 50th Year of Independence

Readers are requested to send their query/comments to Mr. Ashok Kumar Bayanwala, 96, Swastik Society,Navarangpura, AHMEDABAD-380009, INDIA or email to Prashant H. Pandya

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