India & States
The official philatelic history of India starts in 1852 when it became the first country in Asia to issue stamps, known as Scinde Dawks. The postal system of India has seen a myriad of varities, British, French and Portuguese colonials stamps, as well those issued by some of the many princely states in the subcontinent.
British India
The British Raj refers to British rule over the Indian subcontinent, which succeeded the rule of the East India Company (EIC) and spanned from 1858 to 1947, profoundly influencing the region’s political, social, and economic landscape.
This section includes collections from the Scinde Dawk, East India Company, British Indian Government, Indian Convention States and British territories abroad that used British Indian postal items.
EIC & British Raj
Scinde Dawk (1852)
Sir Bartle Frere, the commissioner of Sindh in 1850, was entrusted with bringing postal reforms to his province. With the help of Mr Edward Lees Coffey, the postmaster of Karachi post office, he issued the first postal stamps of the Indian subcontinent on July 1st, 1852, known as the Scinde Dawk. Link.
Queen Victoria (1854-1902)
- 1854-55 First Lithographs
- 1855 First Typographed Perforates
- 1856-64 East India Postage
- 1860 Crown Colony
- 1865 Crown Colony
- 1866-78 Crown Colony
- 1882-90 Empire
- 1891-98 Surcharged
- 1892-99 Single Star Watermark
- 1895 Large Format High Values
- 1900-02 New Colours
- Foreign Bills
- On Her Majesty’s Service
- Queen Victoria Telegraphs
King Edward VII (1902-1910)
King George V (1911-1937)
King George VI (1937-1947)
China Expeditionary Forces (1900-1911)
The China Expeditionary Force was the Indian contingent sent by the Government of British India to bring China under colonial rule. The 4,000-, strong army set up field offices across China, 12 initially and later 8 more were added, to manage the communication lines to India. Link.
Indian Expeditionary Forces (1914-1918)
The Indian Expeditionary Forces (IEF) were Indian troops who fought in World War I for the British Empire. The IEF fought in France, Belgium, Egypt, and other areas. Link.
Telegraphs
- Queen Victoria's Telegraphs (1860-1869)
- Queen Victoria's Telegraphs (1870-1882)
- Queen Victoria's Telegraphs (1890-1900)
Convention States
Chamba
Faridkot
Gwalior
Jind
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Nabha
Patiala
India Used Abroad
Aden
Bahrain
British East Africa
British Somaliland
Burma
Bushire
Kuwait
Muscat
Pakistan
Strait Settlements
Zanzibar
Indian States (Feudatory)
The Feudatory States were Princely States under the protection of the British Raj that maintained their postal services at one period or another. While many of these states joined the British India Post in due course of time, some states like Jaipur and Hyderabad continued to print their stamps till the independence of India. Two of these states are now part of Pakistan but have been added to the collection.
Indian States (Feudatory) Home Page
Feudatory States (A-C)
Alwar
Alwar was a Rajput Princely State in northwest India that shared its borders with Jaipur and Delhi.
Bahawalpur
Bahawalpur was a princely state to the east of Punjab in India, and it became a part of Pakistan after the partition.
- King George VI Overprints (1947)
- Abassid Motifs (1947-48)
- 1948 Issues
- 1949 Issues
- Official Issues
Bamra
Bamra was a princely state in the Orissa States Agency of the Bengal Presidency, currently a part of the Indian State of Odisha. It was one of the most obscure states of India, if not for its philatelic adventures.
Barwani
Barwani was a princely state in the Malwa Regency of Central India. A predominantly Bhil state, it was ruled by a branch of Sisodia Rajputs.
Bhopal
Bhopal was a large Princely state of Central India and formed the core of the Bhopal Agency. It was one of the first princely states in India to issue postage stamps, dating back to 1872.
Bhor
Bhor was a princely state in the Kolhapur Residency and Decca States Agency, presently a part of the Indian state of Maharashtra. The state was spread over 910 square miles and stretched from Satara in the Western ghats to the outskirts of the cantonment city of Poona.
Bijawar
Bijawar was a Princely state in the Central Indian Agency of Bundelkhand. One of the remnants of Chatrasal’s Bundela kingdom, Bijawar was a vassal state of the Marathas for most of its history and later passed under the British sphere in 1811.
Bundi
Bundi State, nestled in the historical Rajputana region of modern Rajasthan, India, boasts a captivating history that stretches back to the 12th century. It was established by Rao Deva, a chieftain of the Hada Rajput clan, who chose this strategically significant territory encircled by the Aravalli Hills as his domain. Throughout the ages, Bundi rose to prominence, playing a pivotal role in regional politics and forging alliances with fellow Rajput states to thwart the invasions of the Delhi Sultanate and subsequently the Mughal Empire.
Bussahir
Bussahir, also spelt as Bushahr or Bashahr, was a Rajput Princely state in the Punjab Hill State Agency, currently a part of the North Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. Rana Shamsher Singh of Bussahir (1850-1914) issued the first postal stamps of the state in 1895.
Charkhari
Charkhari was a Princely State in the Bundelkhand Agency of Central India, a part of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh now. Maharaja Malkhan Singh Bahadur (ruled 1880-1908) issued the first postal stamps of Charkhari in 1894.
Cochin
Cochin (Kochi) was a Princely State on the Malabar coast, currently a part of the Indian state of Kerala. It was part of the Madras State Agency in Southern India. The state issued its first postal stamps in 1882, during the reign of Raja Kerala Varma V (ruled 1888-1895).
Feudatory States (H-L)
Dhar
Dhar was a princely state located in the Malwa region of India, part of the Central Indian Agency. Established in 1730, the state came into existence when Udaji Rao Puar, a distinguished commander of the Maratha empire, received lands as a reward for his service to the empire.
Dungarpur
Dungarpur was a Princely state in the Rajputana Agency in northwestern India, presently a part of the Indian state of Rajasthan. A relatively small state, Dungarpur remained a vassal first to the Mughals, the Marathas, and finally to the British Raj.
Duttia
Duttia, also known as Datia, was a princely state located within the Bundelkhand Agency in Central India and is now part of Madhya Pradesh. The inaugural postage stamps for Duttia were released during the reign of Maharaja Lokendra Bhawani Singh, who ruled from 1857 to 1907.
Hyderabad
Hyderabad, located in the Deccan region of South India, was one of the most prominent princely states in British India. It was established in the early 18th century and lasted until its annexation by the newly independent Indian Union in 1948.
Idar
Idar was a princely state in the Western India Agency, currently part of the Indian state of Gujarat. The state issued its first stamps in 1932, during the reign of Maharaja Himmat Singh.
Indore
Indore, also known as Holkar, was an influential Maratha Princely State located within the Indore Agency in Central India, now part of Madhya Pradesh. During the rule of Maharaja Tukoji Rao Holkar II from 1844 to 1886, the state launched its inaugural postal stamps in 1886.
Jaipur
Jaipur was a Princely State in the Jaipur Residency of the Rajputana Agency, presently the Indian State of Rajasthan. Established by the Kachhwaha Rajputs of Amber in the 11th Century AD, the kingdom played an important role in the geopolitics of medieval India.
Jammu & Kashmir
Jammu & Kashmir was a major princely state in the Kashmir Residency in northern India. Established by Maharaja Gulab Singh, the state issued its first postal stamps during the reign of Maharaja Ranbir Singh in 1866.
Jasdan
Jasdan was a Princely state in the Kathiawar Agency in Western India, which is now the Indian state of Gujarat. A small state in size with an area of 730 sq km, Jasdan was the smallest princely state to issue its postage stamps.
Jhalawar
Jhalawar was a Princely state in the Hadoti region of Rajputana, part of present-day Rajasthan. The state was established in 1838, out of a treaty between the British, the State of Kota and the State of Malwa, wherein a part of Kota was spun off to be given to the hereditary family of the Dewans, descendants of Zalim Singh, who later assumed the title of Maharaja Rana of Jhalawar.
Kishangarh
Kishangarh was a princely state in the Rajputana Agency, currently the Indian state of Rajasthan. The state issued its first postal stamps in 1889 during the reign of Maharaja Sadul Singh, who ruled between 1879 and 1900.
Kotah
Coming soon
Las Bela
Las Bela was a Princely state in the extreme southeast region of Balochistan. Earlier, a vassal state of the larger kingdom of Kalat, Las Bela entered into a subsidiary alliance with the British when they arrived in the area in the mid-1850s. It was one of the two states, now part of Pakistan, to issue its postage stamps, the other being Bahawalpur.
Feudatory States (O-W)
Morvi
Morvi was a princely state in the Kathiawar region of present-day Gujarat. It was one of the seven smaller princely states ruled nominally by the Jadeja clan under the suzerainty of the Marathas or the British.
Stamps of Morvi
Nandgaon
Nandgaon was a relatively small but significant entity in central India, part of the Chhattisgarh region during the British Raj. Situated in the present-day Durg district of Chhattisgarh, Nandgaon was one of the princely states that played a modest but notable role in the region’s history.
Nowanuggur
Nowanuggur State (also spelled Nawanagar) was a princely state in Kathiawar, in present-day Gujarat, India. It was one of the prominent states in the Kathiawar region and played an important role in the history of western India.
Orchha
Poonch
Rajasthan
Rajpipla
Shahpura
Sirmoor
Soruth
Tonk
Travancore
Travancore-Cochin
Wadhwan
French India
French India, formally the Établissements français dans l’Inde, was a cluster of French enclaves in the Indian subcontinent, towns that had initially been the factories, and trading posts of the French East India Company. The enclaves were Pondichéry, Karikal, and Yanam on the Coromandel Coast, Mahé on the Malabar Coast and Chandernagor in Bengal.
Early Stamps
First Definitives (1892 – 1903)
In 1892, the first stamps for French India were issued. These stamps featured the “Navigation and Commerce” designs common across all French colonies. They were inscribed “Etablissements de l’Inde” and had illustrations of ships and allegorical figures representing trade and navigation.
Brahma and Kali Temple (1914)
In the early 20th century, the French colonial administration sought to introduce stamp designs that highlighted their colonies' unique cultural and historical heritage. For French India, this meant showcasing prominent religious and cultural symbols that resonated with the region’s history and traditions.
Brahma Red Cross (1915)
In 1915, French India issued a special series of stamps featuring a Red Cross overprint and surcharges. These stamps were originally regular postage stamps that had been in circulation, overprinted with a small Red Cross emblem and a surcharge that added a charitable amount to the face value of the stamp.
Brahma and Kali Temple (1922)
The Brahma and Kali Temple series was created between 1914 and 1922 to incorporate local religious iconography and architecture into the stamp designs. These stamps not only served postal functions but also symbolized the diversity of the region under French rule.
Brahma and Kali Temple Surcharged (1923)
The Brahma and Kali Temple series was created between 1914 and 1922 as a way to incorporate local religious iconography and architecture into the stamp designs. The Brahma design depicted the Hindu God Brahma sitting under the arch of a temple on his vehicle – the swan.
Pre WWII
Brahma and Kali Temple (1929)
The Brahma and Kali Temple series was created between 1914 and 1922 to incorporate local religious iconography and architecture into the stamp designs. These stamps not only served postal functions but also symbolised the diversity of the region under French rule.
Exposition Coloniale Internationale Paris (1931)
The Colonial Exhibition in Paris of 1931 (Exposition Coloniale Internationale) was a large-scale international event to showcase the vast French colonial empire and the achievements of imperialism. The exhibition, which lasted from May 6 to November 15, 1931, took place in the Bois de Vincennes, a large park in eastern Paris.
Exposition Internationale Paris (1937)
The Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne (1937) was a major international event held in Paris to celebrate modern advancements in art and technology. The exposition’s theme revolved around how technology could enhance everyday life, symbolising the optimism of the era for progress and modernity.
Run Up To World War II (1938-1939)
The stamps that were issued in 1938 and 1939 were a tribute to the achievements of Marie Curie and Pierre Curie (1938) for their study of radioactivity, New York World's Fair (1939), and on the 150th Anniversary of the French Revolution.
Defense of the Empire (1941)
The Empire Defense Council in France, established in 1941, was a body created during the Vichy regime, led by Marshal Philippe Pétain after France’s defeat by Nazi Germany in 1940. The council was formed as part of the Vichy government’s efforts to maintain control over France’s vast colonial empire and to ensure the colonies’ loyalty to the regime.
WWII and Later
The London Series (1942)
The French India stamps of the London Series were printed in London while the region was under Free French control after Nazi Germany occupied France. The French National Committee in London ordered and issued the printing of stylised lotus flower stamps to raise funds for their war efforts. General de Gaule appointed Endomnd Dulac to design stamps for the colonies, and Major Hackin selected the lotus design for India. Thomas de La Rue & Co. London were the printers.
War Issues (1942-1945)
Free France (or France Libre) was the movement led by Charles de Gaulle during World War II, formed in opposition to the Vichy regime that had collaborated with Nazi Germany after France’s defeat in 1940. It established itself as the legitimate French government in exile and worked closely with the Allies to support the liberation of France.
Victory Issue (1946)
The Allied victory in France during World War II was a pivotal moment in the war, marked by the successful liberation of France from Nazi occupation. By September 1944, most of France had been liberated, and the Allies continued their advance into Germany, leading to the eventual defeat of the Nazi regime in May 1945. Charles de Gaulle and his Free French forces established a provisional government, restoring the French Republic.
Link to The Victory Issue (1946)
Hinduist Sculptures (1948)
The French India Hinduist series of stamps, issued in 1948, was notable for depicting Hindu deities, temples, and motifs resonating with the predominantly Hindu population of French India. The stamps featured intricate designs of Hindu gods and goddesses, such as Shiva or Lakshmi, and traditional Indian architectural elements like temple structures, symbolising the deep-rooted religious and cultural heritage of the region.
Final Issues (1949-1954)
The final issues of French India included the Air Post series of 1949, 75th Anniversary of UPU (1949), Social Work (1950), Brahmin Ascetic (1952), and a commemorative stamp to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Liberation of France (1954). After French India ceded to the Republic of India, the French Indian postage merged with India Post.
Portuguese India
Portuguese India, officially known as the Estado Português da Índia (Portuguese State of India), refers to the colonial territories controlled by Portugal on the Indian subcontinent. At its height, Portuguese India consisted of several coastal enclaves spread across the Indian Ocean, including Goa, Daman and Diu, Bassein, and Cochin.
Monarchy
Nativos (1871-72)
The first issues were printed in an upright rectangular frame, with small arabesques in the corners, inside which, in white on a coloured background, were inscribed the words SERVIÇO POSTAL on the top and INDIA POST at the bottom.
Nativos (1873-76)
The series of Native numerical stamps with SERVIÇO POSTAL on the top and INDIA POST at the bottom that were issued between 1873 and 1876.
King Luís I of Portugal
Dom Luís I (1838-1889) ascended the throne of Portugal in 1861 after the death of his elder brother, King Pedro V. His reign was marked by internal instability, a succession of transitional governments, and a cultural shift in society.
Vasco da Gama (1898)
To commemorate the fourth anniversary of the discovery of the sea route to India by Vasco da Gama, a government order, dated 28th May 1898 and order number 150, was issued in 1898 to issue a set of 8 stamps.
Republic
India Portuguesa
Postage Due (1904)
A government order necessitated the issue of postage due stamps in 1904. The stamps were designed by José Sérgio de Carvalho e Silva and printed using typography at Casa sa Moeda de Portugal, Lisbon.
Postage Due (1946)
The 1946 Postage Due stamps came with a new black design, bearing the country name and value in black print. Marcelino Norte de Almeida designed the stamps, and the printing was done at Casa da Moeda de Portugal, Lisboa. The inscription had IMPERIO COLONIAL PORTUGUESE inscribed on the top and PORTEADO at the bottom. ESTADO DA INDIA was printed and the denomination was under it.
Postage Due (1952)
On 15th March 1952, Postage Due stamps with a new design, different from the 1904 set, were issued. These numerical stamps were printed in Litografia Nacional S.A., Porto.
Postage Due (Surcharged)
In 1943, the 1933 Saint Gabriel Padroes stamps were overprinted POSTAGE DUE and surcharged in red or black. Similarly, in 1951, Postage Due stamps were issued by surcharging 1946 Stamps of Historical men locally with overprints in red or black. The overprint came in two font variations.
War Tax (1919)
In 1919, the Portuguese government issued War Tax stamps for colonies, including Portuguese India. These stamps were printed at Casa da Moeda de Portugal. The commercial stamps were overprinted with TAXA DE GUERRA in black or red and denomination in black.
Postal Tax - Pombal Issue (1925)
The Portuguese Indian Government issued order number 1708, dated 24th December 1924, mandating a 6 réis stamp on postal articles as a Postal Tax. A set of stamps that came to be known as the Pombal Issue were printed for this purpose and put into circulation in May 1925.
Postal Tax - Assistęncia Publica (1948-61)
The Portuguese Indian Government issued Postal Tax stamps with a new design of a mother breastfeeding her child in 1948. These stamps were issued to raise money for the charitable organisation Assistęncia Publica which worked to help the poor and those in distress. The stamps were designed by João Franco and printed locally using the lithography technique.
India
India gained freedom from the British Raj in 1947 and became an independent dominion. The nation was proclaimed a republic in 1950 and became the Republic of India. France ceded its colonies in the subcontinent to the Indian Republic in 1954, and the territories were finally transferred in 1962. Portugal was unwilling to let go of Goa and was forcibly evicted in 1961. The Himalayan kingdom of Sikkim joined the nation as its youngest state in 1972.
The India Collection not only contains stamps from the Independent India (and Republic) but also from the Azad Hind Fauz Indian Legion (Germany) and Chalo Delhi (Burma) collections of the Azad Hind Fauz (Indian National Army), the provincial government of Free India.
India Home Page
1944-1960
Azad Hind
Azad Hind, also known as the Provisional Government of Free India, was a short-lived government established in Singapore in 1943 by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
1947
The first postal stamps of India were issued in 1947. The first postage stamp of India bore the colours of the Indian Tricolour. It was published three months after independence, on 21st November 1947. The stamp carried the slogan “Jai Hind” in Devanagari on the right top, and the date 15 Aug 1947. After this issue, two more stamps were issued on 15th December 1947, the first being the Ashokan Capital of 1½ Annas, and the second stamp that carried an image of a Douglas DC-4 aircraft.
1948
India planned to issue a set of stamps on Mahatma Gandhi’s 80th birthday on 2nd October 1949 as a mark of gratitude for his contribution towards the freedom struggle of India. However, the tragic assassination of Mahatma Gandhi on 30th January 1948 disrupted the plans. A set of mourning stamps were issued carrying portraits of Mahatma Gandhi.
1949
The first issue of Definitive Stamps in Independent India came in 1949, also known as the Archaeological Series, meant to represent the rich architectural heritage of India. The stamps were first issued on 15th August 1949 and continued to be printed till 1952.
In the same year, India also issued a set of four commemorative stamps to mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the Universal Postal Union (U.P.U.). These stamps were part of the British Commonwealth Omnibus Issue on U.P.U..
1950
On 26th January 1950, India became a Sovereign Republic, unveiling its constitution and formally withdrawing from the British Commonwealth. To commemorate this occasion, the Indian Postal authorities issued a set of four stamps celebrating the inauguration of the Republic of India.
1951
The first Asian Games, officially known as the First Asiad, were held from March 4 to March 11, 1951, in New Delhi, India. This marked the inauguration of a major multi-sport event dedicated to athletes across Asia.
In 1951, India celebrated 100 years of the Geological Survey of India, a scientific agency dedicated to conducting geological surveys and studying basic earth sciences in India.