The Indian postal system was developed long before the arrival of the Europeans in some of the independent states. However, after the British East India Company took over the power on the sub-continent, most of the modern-day India came under the British Administrative System with a need to establish and maintain both official and commercial mail systems. India has produced large number of stamps using various techniques including line engraving, typography, lithography, photogravure and web-offset. Stamps have been produced both for postage and for service or revenue.
The East India Company took constructive steps to improve the existing postal systems in India and in 1774 the services were made available to the general public. The history of the Indian postage services attained a major breakthrough with the establishment of the Indian post office in the year 1837. Ever since Indian stamps collection has only grown in size and has caught the attention of philatelists and stamp collectors all across the globe.
Apart from being considered as one of the most valuable stamps of the world, Indian stamps are one of the rare world stamps, here’s a look at some of the vintage collection of the stamps:
Most rare and Expensive postage stamps of India
2a Violet Official Provisional stamp, 1866
1866 Provisional stamp was introduced due to the Post Office Act XIV on May 1, 1866. This was done as an attempt to curb abuse of Government Officials in using stamps for personal use and lead to proper accounting of mail sent through Official channels. These improvised stamps were done by taking “Foreign Bill” revenues, cutting off to the top and bottom inscriptions, and overprinting the stamp “Service Postage”. The design consisted of the usual Victoria profile. Nowadays, 1866 2a Violet Official Provisional is thought of as one of the most important Indian stamps and a key item for the serious Indian or British Commonwealth collector. The used example of the 2a with inscriptions intact was sold for $19,000 at Spink auction that took place in October 2010. |
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