Independence

India gained independence on 15th August 1947 and acquired a dominion status. After independence, the Government of India decided to issue commemorative postal stamps to mark the historic occasion in the history of the country. 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, bearing the slogan “Jai Hind” in Devanagari and the date 15th Aug 1947 in English. The second stamp carried an image of a Douglas DC-4 aircraft, a value of 12 A and carried the slogan “Jai Hind” in Devanagari, along with the date 15th Aug 1947.

The stamps were designed by T.I. Archer and printed in the Security Printing Press in Nashik.