By Thirteenth October is Philately Day. India Post, Mumbai has started the celebration of the National Postal Week from 9th October has come out with unique philately merchandise – a ‘Stamped Mask’. The masks are made of cloth and have pictures of stamps imprinted on them. It is an attempt to make the mask attractive and also drive home the importance of wearing masks during the present Covid 19 pandemic.
India Post, Mumbai, similar to other government departments has been in the forefront in increasing awareness about Covid 19 and joined the Covid Appropriate Jan Andolan campaign launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 8th October.
In a bid to increase awareness about the role and importance of the postal sector in socio-economic development and the impact ‘post’ leaves on the lives of people, India Post has decided to launch the ‘Know Your Beat Postman’ initiative.
The World Health Organisation has also stated that masks must be used as part of a comprehensive strategy of measures to suppress transmission and save lives.
World Post Day
World Post Day is celebrated each year on 9th October to memorialise the establishment of the Universal Postal Union. The Universal Postal Union (UPU) was established in 1874 in Bern, Switzerland.
The World Post Day declared by the UPU in Tokyo, Japan in 1969. The aim was to create and enable a system that allows a free flow of international mail around the world.
The purpose of the day is to create awareness of the role of the postal sector in people’s and businesses’ everyday lives and its contribution to the social and economic development of countries.
What is meaning of Philatelic?
Philatelic is the study of postage stamps and postal history, which refers to the collection, appreciation and research activities on stamps and other philatelic products.
History about Indian Philatelic
The Indian Philatelic began with the introduction of paper postage in India in 1852. Before that copper token were introduced for payment of postage in 1774. Penny Postage in England, Sir Bartel Frere, the Commissioner of Sind introduced paper stamps for his province in 1852. These stamps known as Scinde Dawak, which round in shape and issued in three forms – embossed on white paper without colour, on white paper in blue and on vermilion wafers.
The first design of India Postage Stamps was attempted by Col. Forbes of Calcutta Mint showing the ‘Lion and the Palm tree’.
The first India Postage Stamps issued in 1854 bore the inscription ‘India Postage’. A new caption ‘भारत’ ‘India’ introduced replacing the ‘India Postage’ from November 1962. In 1854, the Queen Victoria stamps issued, a portrait of British Monarch had figured in Indian Stamp Designs. The first independence stamps, issued in 1947 with depicted the Ashoka Pillar, the Indian National Flag and an Aircraft.
What is the Philatelic material available at Philatelic Bureaux?
Philatelic material includes –
- Mint stamps (unused stamps)
- Commemorative Stamps
- First Day Covers (FDCs, which are issued with every commemorative stamp )
- Brochure (Information sheet accompanying each commemorative stamp )
- Collectors’ Packs (Year-wise)
- Miniature/Souvenir sheets which are sometimes issued
Source: PIB, Indian Postage Stamps
