Quill, Ink Well and Verse

The Indian Posts and Telegraphs Department announced the issuance of a new series of postage stamps commemorating the inauguration of the Republic of India on January 26, 1950. This series consists of four stamps with denominations of 2 annas, 3½ annas, 4 annas, and 12 annas. The designs are simple yet symbolic.

The first stamp, valued at 2 annas, portrays a boy and a girl witnessing a procession of cavaliers carrying flags and blowing trumpets, symbolizing India’s attainment of full nationhood. The second stamp, valued at 3½ annas, features a quill dipped into an inkpot with leaflets inscribed in Hindi with Mahatma Gandhi’s favorite hymn ‘Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram,’ representing India’s focus on education in its nation-building efforts.

The third stamp, valued at 4 annas, depicts an ear of grain set vertically in the center with an indigenous ploughshare placed diagonally against a star-spangled background, symbolizing India as an agricultural nation. The fourth stamp, valued at 12 annas, showcases an indigenous handloom (Charkha), representing India’s cottage industry and its progressive evolution. In the background is hand-spun and hand-woven cloth, symbolizing the importance of the Charkha in India’s rural economy.

Each stamp bears inscriptions of ‘Republic of India’ and ‘Inauguration January 26, 1950’ along the sides. The denominational value is displayed in English, with the word ‘POSTAGE’ and the value in Hindi script in the top right corner. The colors vary for each stamp – Red, Blue, Violet, and Maroon respectively. There are 13 perforations in each stamp, and they are printed on watermark paper with a multiple of five-pointed stars.

The stamps serve various postal purposes: the 2 annas for inland postage, the 3½ annas for foreign letter mail, the 4 annas for registration, and the 12 annas for foreign air mail. They have been printed in limited quantities and will be available for sale until stocks are exhausted.

The stamps were designed by Messrs. D. J. Keymer & Co. Ltd., Calcutta, and printed by the India Security Press, Nasik Road. Alongside the stamps, a First Day Cover and a Folder will also be released. Orders can be placed with the Officer-in-Charge of designated Philatelic Bureaux, with overseas orders handled in Bombay, Calcutta, and Madras.

Remittances for purchases must accompany orders and can be made via various methods, including cash, money order, postal order, crossed cheque, or bank draft payable in Indian currency. Special cancellation postmarks have been designed for use on January 26, 1950, restricted to select Philatelic Bureaux. These postmarks bear the name of the Post Office in Hindi script along with the date in international numerals.