PHILATELY

COLLECTION & STUDY OF

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

Study of Stamps, Postal history and related

stationeries
(includes government issued Postcards,
aerograms, letter cards, wrappers, envelopes,
etc., that have an imprinted stamp)

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 Cancellation on cards and on other items
o Items of postal stationery like money order forms,
acknowledgements , etc
 Postal stationeries
Postcard, aerogram, 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 postage stamp 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 mail
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 Cover
• 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 post office 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
 First Flight Cover
• 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
postmark.
 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
envelope, 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
• Aerophilately
• Astrophilately
• Postal stationery
• Philatelic literature
• Revenue philately
• Maxima 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