Centenary of
India Postage Stamps - 1st October 1954
(Contd...)
| A Picture Card on photo paper in 216 x 129mm size was also issued depicting the word - “INDIA POSTAGE STAMP CENTENARY / 1854 - 1954 / COMMEMORATIVE STAMPS AND STATIONERY ” to gather photographs of all four Postage Stamps and six Postal Stationery. The photo of Areogramme is missing. |
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A special issue of Post & Telegraph Guide, Part I, October 1954, Centenary issue, was published under the authority of the Director - General of Posts and Telegraphs. It appears that for the first time two pages of the Guide were devoted to Indian Stamps. The first page shows “THE FIRST INDIAN LITHOGRAPHS 1854” and the second page shows “INDIA POSTAGE STAMP / CENTENARY / COMMEMORATIVE STAMPS / 1954”.
Though the idea of holding a Philatelic Exhibition was first mooted in June
1953, the Department of Posts was a bit late in initiating the programme.
Because some of the suggestions for the celebrations put forward by the Department
back fired. The criticism was rampant and the first philatelic venture in
India was jeopardised, because the officials didn’t had the critical
eye of a philatelist. But they had the understanding and the capability of
surmounting the adverse factors. So the Postal Department immediately replaced
their earlier proposals with new ones. The capability was proved by the great
success of the Centenary celebrations, which were in a manner befitting the
prestige and standing of our country.
The Prospectus of the India Postage Stamp Centenary International Stamp Exhibition was forwarded on 1st May 1954.
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A Publicity Folder of ‘Indipex’ was also issued before the exhibition which gives a general idea of International Philatelic & Postal Services, Philatelic Symposium and how to get Special Stamps and Postal Stationery.
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Lastly , they brought out a ‘Vistiors Souvenir Guide ‘, which had a good reading material and informations.
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The historic event of the completion of a hundred years of the first Indian
Pstage Stamp, finally arrived on 1st day of October 1954, when the Prime Minister
of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru inaugurated the Centenary Philatelic Exhibition
in New Delhi. It was an unique occasion in the history of Philatelic Exhibitions
that most of the countries of the world participated through their Postal
Administration. Some 79 countries took part in ‘Indipex’, which
showed their Classics and Dieproofs, Colour Trials, Original Dies etc. Many
countries presented their exhibits to the Government of India for the National
Collection. The world famous Stamp Printers - Thomas de la Rue of London and
Courvosier S. A. Imprimere of Switzerland showed their work. The collections
of Invitee Class was excellent. The display of our Postal Department was unique.
Two separate exhibitions were planned to celebrate the “India Postage
Stamp Centenary”.
(1) The first one was International Philatelic Exhibition, whose duration
was from 1st to 15th October 1954.
(2) The second was International Postal Exhibition, whose duration was from
1st to 30th October 1954.
But the rush of the visitors forced the authorities to extend the period from time to time and eventually it was closed on 7th November 1954. The entrance fee of 5 annas, couldn’t control the visitors who were 4000 in average i.e., 152,000 visitors in 38 days. The highest number on any one day was 12600 and the lowest was 1000 visitors.
The Cancellations and / or Postmarks regarding the celebrations, were as
follows:-
The first one was a duplex Slogan Postmark, which reads - “INDIA POSTAGE
STAMP/ CENTENARY INTERNATIONAL / EXHIBITION / NEW DELHI-OCTOBER-1954”.
It is a bit scarce. My examples are from Calcutta GPO and New Delhi Air Port
used as a canceller and a delivery Postmark. Earliest example is dated 13/8/54
from Madras. Last example is dated 25/9/54 from Delhi Air Port.
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The second was also a duplex Slogan Postmark, which reads - “VISIT THE / INTERNATIONAL STAMP / & POSTAL EXHIBITION / NEW DELHI-OCTOBER, 1954”. It was used both as a canceller and a Delivery Postmark. It is found used both black and red ink. My examples starts from 1st September till 26th October 1954. This Slogan Postmark is also found in 2 wavy lines from Bombay dated 4-9-1954, which is very very scarce.
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Two Wavy Line Cancellation was provided on 4th September 1954 prior to Exhibition from Bombay, which gives the message - “VISIT THE / INTERNATIONAL STAMP / AND POSTAL EXHIBITION / NEW DELHI OCTOBER”
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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
