COLLECTION & STUDY OF STAMPS- prepared by:PTC Madurai Philately Phil (fond of something) + ately (free of tax)

Study of Stamps, and related stationeries (includes government issued Postcards, , letter cards, wrappers, , etc., that have an )

As well as collection of stamps, a popular hobby in world PHILATELY PRODUCTS PHILATELY PRODUCTS o Postage stamps o First day covers/ special covers o Souvenir sheets o Miniature sheets o Maxim cards o Stamp booklets , coil stamps o Collector‟s pack, thematic pack, souvenir packs o Presentation pack o Information sheets o on cards and on other items o Items of like money order forms, acknowledgements , etc Postal stationeries Postcard, , ILC, envelopes Postal stationeries: Postcard, Aerogram, ILC, envelopes 1st stamp in world and India 1st stamp in the world- 1840

1774- copper coins; (BRITISH INDIA 1st STAMP) 1st stamp in the India – 1852 (Scinde Dawk)

1854 - 1st stamp of Independant India

From 1962, the stamp bears the inscription “INDIA- BHARATH ( in hindi) First pictorial stamps – inauguration of New Delhi, 1931 Stamps Medium of postage stamps was intially used to highlight the country‟s achievements in science and technology

as well as its socio-economic development by depicting themes like Five year plans, steel plants, dams etc.

Stamps Country‟s rich cultural, natural heritage- art, architecture, crafts, maritime heritage, defence, cinema Stamps Great leaders of national and international standing Personalities of repute in areas like painting, literature, science, music, social upliftment have also been portrayed Philately – stamps Postage stamps: Permitted the letter to come free of charge to the recipient , rendering it untaxed

Revenue stamps: To signify that the (onetime) tax/fee leviable on the contract that is being signed has been paid to the government

Mint stamp : its original state of issue, is unused, has never been mounted and has full gum, if issued with gum. The term applies equally to postage stamps and revenue stamps. A commemorative may also be issued as a mint stamp, it means it has not been cancelled Anatomy of stamp

Margin inscriptions

Perforations

Vingette

First newspaper to be depicted on indian postage stamp- inscriptions Times of India Some other terms Corner blocks / plate blocks

4 colours at corners Postage stamps

Dual character : “tokens of prepayment of postage” and as “cultural ambassadors” Postage stamps

Definitive Commemorative Postage stamps- Definitive

Meant for day-day use As a token of prepayment of postage on articles Less complicated design inputs , minimum expenditure in their manufacture and are printed in large quantities, over longer periods CSD supplies Definitive Stamps Postage stamps - definitive Commemorative stamps Stamps, covers or postal stationery issued to commemorate an event, and institution, a theme, flora or fauna and personages, are called commemorative/special stamps. Not reprinted when stock exhausted Commemorative stamps are printed only once. PAC(Philatelic Advisory Committee): Advises the Government of India on the annual programme for issue of commemorative stamps Proposal should be submitted before 2 years from the date of release Postage stamps- commemorative Are designed and printed with greater aesthetic inputs. Important forum for citizen- government interface – persons who have achieved eminence in various fields can contribute to the process of identifying and highlighting issues or events, institutions , personalities and themes whose commemoration through postage stamps would help elevate the image if India in global erena Thematic stamps Commemorative stamps Stamp release – FDC, brochure , stamp First Day • A cover with the stamp franked with special cancellation of the day of issue is brought out along with a commemorative/special postage stamp. This is put on sale on the day of release of the stamp. Information brochure

Whenever any commemorative/special stamp is issued, a publicity brochure is also brought out. It contains a brief write-up on the subject, designs and also the technical data of the stamp. Information Brochure Cancellation

Cancellation provided by philatelic bureau can be of the following types: i. Special First Day Cancellation ii. Special Place Cancellation iii. Philatelic Exhibition Cancellation iv. Pictorial Cancellation v. Special cancellation provided to commemorate any event, institutions and inaugural flights. Cancellation cachet: On a cover to denote the date of the special event on which it was provided. The Cancellation cachet are procured by the Heads of the Circles and supplied to all the bureau under his jurisdiction before the date of release.

Permanent Pictorial cancellation These are permanent, regular date cancellations provided at any located at a place of tourist attraction, it normally features the major tourist attraction of the place. Permanent Pictorial cancellation Permanent Pictorial cancellation Famous live personalities for whom stamp was released when they are alive: Sheets - Miniatures

• A Miniature Sheet is a sheetlet comprising of one or more postally valid stamps with which the issue concerns. • Its size normally varies depending upon the subject illustration, size of the stamp and number of stamps. • The outer area of the miniature sheet beyond perforations of the stamp depicts an extension of the theme of the stamp or an elaboration of the same and is of complementary nature. 1st miniature sheet – 14.11.1973 Sheets- Miniatures Different shapes of Miniatures Sheets – souvenir It is also a sheetlet like the miniature sheet, with the exception that it is the Issue itself, i.e. while a miniature sheet is issued on stamps and is separately produced and sold. Se - tenant • Pair of postage stamps of different values joined together • Joined together as in the original sheet but differing in design, overprint, color, or perforation. 1st se-tenant stamp- mathura museum – on 9.10.1974 Se-tenant Sheets- sheetletsA sheetlet of stamps is a smaller version of a full issue sheet of stamps. It generally contains 16 to 20 stamps. Sheets- Sheetlets Mint sheet Mint sheet is a full sheet of unused stamps without any post mark Special cover

• An event which is not nationally important enough to be commemorated by issue of commemorative/special stamp or for which a stamp cannot be accommodated in the annual issue programme is commemorated by the Department by issue of Special Covers which can be cancelled with a special cancellation at the post office selected for the purpose. Charges collected for release of special cover (as per order dated 11.5.2016)

Per day if it is at Per day per proponent’s postoffice (Rs) premises(Rs.) On working day 25,000 12,500

On holidays 50,000 25,000 Special cover Special cover Philatelic Numismatic Covers • Philatelic Numismatic Covers contain an Official Stamp and Numismatic Item, this could include a commemorative coin or special release stamp to mark a special occasion recent or in the history of the issuing country Philatelic Numismatic Covers • The cover which is carried on the inaugural mail flight between two points by an airline and which bears the marks of the two places is called First Flight Cover. First flight cover First flight cover Carried cover Carried cover Maximum card  A maximum card (Maxi card, maxi-card, MC) is made up of three elements: the postcard, the stamp and the .  The object of Maximaphily is to obtain a card where the stamp and picture are in close concordance, ideally with an appropriate cancellation, too.

 If all three elements are concordant, then that card truly is a maximum card (hence the name Maximaphily). Preferably, the image on the postcard should not be simply an enlargement of the image on the stamp. There are exceptions. For example: a work of art, like a painting is often shown in its entirety, both on the postcard and on the stamp of the Maxi card. Maximum cards Maximum cards Indians on foreign stamps Foreigners on Indian stamps Joint issue Odd shaped stamps- Triangle shape -

1st triangle shape - 10.10.1985- 25th anniversary of Border road organisation Odd shaped stamps-diamond shape stamps

1st diamond shape stamp- on 27.9.1964- Raja Rammohan roy Hexagon shaped stamp-2.8.2008(alipore tortoise) (also se-tenant stamp) 1st round shaped stamps-02.10.2018 1st octagon shaped stamp- 02.10.2019 Scented stamps Sandalwood (2006) Rose(2007)

Jasmine (2008) Coffee (2017) Scented stamps Role of department in philatelic activities Designing, printing, distribution, sale of commemorative postage stamps through philatelic bureaus and counters, e-post office, etc., Designing, printing, distribution of definitive postage stamps and items of postal stationery like , Inland Letter Card, Postcard, Aerogram, Registered cover, etc., Promotion of philately and conduct and monitoring of philatelic exhibitions Maintenance of National Philatelic Museum, Dak Bhawan, New Delhi Philatelic Day : October 13th Crowd sourcing of stamp designs Stamp designing competitions to design on “People – centric themes” Deen Dayal SPARSH Scholarship for Promotion of Aptitude & Research in Stamps as a Hobby Introduced in 2017 – 2018 to promote philately among children at a young age 920 scholarships are awarded throughout the country to students from classes VI, VII, VIII and IX every year Dhai Akhar Letter writing competition A nationwide letterwriting competition introduced in 2017- 2018 to encourage and promote letter writing Top 3 entries in each category(4 ) are awarded at national level (18 years below: ILC, envelope) (18 years above: ILC, envelope)

Theme 2017- 2018: “Dear Bapu, you inspire me” Theme 2018-2019 : “Letter to my motherland” Theme 2019- 2020: “Dear Bapu, you are immortal” Our department features depicted on stamps

Our department depicted on stamps Stamp catalogue Stamps released can be viewed from : indiapost.gov.in Stamps from 1.4.2019 to 22.1.2020 ( as per annual report 2019-2020)( page no. 77 to 80) Diversification of philately • Traditional philately • Thematic/ topical philately • Postal history • • • Postal stationery • Philatelic literature • Revenue philately • Maxima philately • Youth philately Traditional philately Study of technical aspects of stamp production and stamp identification. Includes: Stamp design process Paper used Method of printing (engraving/typography) Gum Method of separation(perforation / rouletting) Any over prints on stamp Any security markings, underprints or perforated initials(perfins) Study of philatelic fakes and forgeries Tools for stamps . Stamp tongs . Magnifying glass . Perforation gauge (odontometer) . Watermarks . Stamp catalogue . Stamp stock books . Hinges Postcrossing An online project that allows its members to send and receive postcards from all over the world. The project's tag line is "send a postcard and receive a postcard back from a random person somewhere in the world!" Postcrossing Philatelic Deposit Account • Can be opened at these Bureaus with minimum deposit of Rs. 200/- in cash/MO/DD/Cheque • In case of customers from outside India- Rs.1000 • Commemorative stamps are only available at Philatelic Bureau and counters or under the Philatelic Deposit Account Scheme. • Customer selects types & quantity of philatelic items & reflect in Application • Bureau supplies each issue of new stamps automatically My stamp • Introduced in India during Indipex 2011 • Brand name for personalised sheets of Postage stamps • Personalisation is through printing thumbnail of – Photograph of customer images – Logos of institutions – Images of artwork, heritage buildings, wildlife, birds etc., alongside selected commemorative Postage stamp When Personalised Stamps could not be produced in India, an Indian Version of “P” Stamp was issued from Calcutta by India Post, West Bengal Circle, during 15th India Industrial Trade Fair, at Kolkata from 21st to 31st December, 2001, a blank ¼ size sheet paper perforated in Stamp-sized perforation was made available with Post Office. When a buyer approaches, his photo is printed in one row, so that the adjacent row remains vacant. Then an Indian Postage Stamp (a commemorative postage stamp in circulation or in use) is affixed in the blank space. Thus an Indianised version of „P‟ stamp is ready. (1st personalised My Stamp on Panchatantra)

My Stamp - How to purchase • The scheme is available in philatelic bureaux and select POs • Customer

 fills in the „My stamp order form‟

 has to produce ID proof issued by Government authority

 can get his/her photograph clicked or provide a hard or soft copy

 Photographs can also be of family/friends etc.,

 Images of logos, historical places, wildlife etc., can also be given but they should be free of copyright restrictions

 Gets acknowledgement slip from the philately counter My Stamp - How to purchase (cont.) • Corporate customers - minimum number of sheets purchased is 5000 • Cost of one My stamp sheet is Rs. 300/-

Ordinary customers Corporate customers 10% 2 to 100 sheets Discount – From 5000 sheets discount 20%

20% from 101th sheet eg. For 5000 sheets, Rs.15,00,000- discount discount Rs.3,00,000. Hence, net amount Rs.12,00,000 In case bulk order, first sheet – Rs.300/-; additional sheet Rs.270/- (upto 99 sheets) Exhibitions and Organisations Philatelic exhibitions organized properly by the philatelic clubs, societies and organizations. District level , State level , National level , World level

Societies/ Organisations: World‟s oldest philatelic society- “Royal philatelic society “ , London- 10.4.1869