The Government of India - Ministry of Home Affairs Office, through its Memo No.18/3/48 (1) Public dated 9th February 1949, had decided that in future the inscription “ON HIS MAJESTY’S SERVICE” on official letters, envelopes etc., should be replaced by the words “ON INDIA GOVERNMENT SERVICE”. The existing stocks of envelopes etc., with the inscription “On His Majesty’s Service” would continue to be used, in the interest of paper economy, until they were exhausted. The Indian P & T Department took note of it vide DGPO Circular No.5 dated 14th April 1949, by stating that necessary amendment to relevant rules in the P & T manuals would be issued shortly. In my opinion, “On India Government Service” on envelopes and postcards came in the same year - 1949.

I have an example, which shows the use of “On H. M. S.” in 1949. I have an example dated 16th May 1949, which was printed in year 1948 and used by “On United Provinces Service”. My example, which shows “On India Government Service” is dated 3rd May 1952.

To replace the existing King George-VI Service Postage Stamps, it was decided to introduce, a new series of India Service Postage Stamps for the use by Government Offices and others duly authorized in this behalf in accordance with the Clause 354 of the P & T Guide, Part I, July 1948 issue, and/or vide Postal Notice No.46 dated 24th December 1949. The main motif of the designs is the “Ashokan Capital”. The word “Service” appears at the top and the word “Postage”just beneath it.

Four stamps in rupee denomination i.e., Re.1/-, Rs.2/-, Rs.5/- and Rs.10/- were issued on 2nd January 1950. It was specifically mentioned that the existing KG VI stamps would continue to remain on sale until exhausted. Although Service Postage Stamps are intended primarily for use on official correspondence only, Philatelists and other members of the public could buy these stamps for collection purposes from the treasuries as well as from the following Philatelic Bureaux:- Bombay GPO, Calcutta GPO, Madras GPO, New Delhi H.O., Simla H.O., Lucknow H.O., Patna H.O., Cuttack H.O., Shillong H.O., and Nagpur H.O. Service Stamps were available from all treasuries through out India. But, initially these stamps were available from 25 treasuries only i.e., Ahmedabad, Ambala, Allahabad, Bombay, Bangalore, Banaras, Calcutta, Cuttack, Delhi, Indore, Jubulpore, Jullundur, Kanpur, Lucknow, Madras, Madura, Nasik, Nagpur, Poona, Patna, Puri, Rajkot, Shillong, Simla and Tiruchirapalli.

But the collector had to buy Service Stamps of a face value, not less than 6 rupees 8 annas and then he had to pay ½% on the face value, to cover incidental expenses. This rule is embodied in Sec.1 Clause-7 of the Postal Guide - 1954.

The Service Stamps in denomination of 3 pies, 6 pies, 9 pies, 1 anna, 2 annas, 3 annas, 4 annas, 6 annas and 8 annas were issued on 1st July 1950 vide Postal Notice No.18 dated 20th June 1950.

It had been decided to introduce a change in colour of 4 annas Service Postage Stamp depicting Ashokan Capital, as a corollary to the change in the colour of the existing 4 annas ordinary postage stamp (Archaeological Series) from “red purple” to blue, due to the revision in foreign letter rate, vide DGPO Circular No.43 dated 25th September 1951. The new stamp in blue colour was issued on and from 1st October 1951 and its supplies were available from 11 treasuries in the first instance, which were as follows:- Bombay, Calcutta, Cuttack, Delhi, Lucknow, Madras, Nagpur, Nasik, Patna, Shillong and Simla.

Seeing the colour change in 4 annas Service Stamp, one thing is evident that the person handling the then present position did not know what really happened in past. When New Service Stamp series did not have 3½ annas stamp for Sea Mail, what was the justification to change the colour of existing 4 annas stamp, when Sea Mail rate was increased from 3½ annas to 4 annas from 1st December 1950?

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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