How tragedy, tribute, and bureaucracy shaped India’s most iconic stamps.
Planned as a celebration of Gandhi’s 80th birthday in January 1948, the stamps became a memorial after his assassination on January 30.
On August 15, 1948, the first anniversary of independence, India released four stamps to honor Gandhi.
The 1948 Mahatma Gandhi memorial stamps were printed in Switzerland by Helio Courvoisier, highlighting India's commitment to quality. Despite Gandhi's Swadeshi ideals, this collaboration ensured that the stamps captured his legacy with exceptional craftsmanship, creating timeless pieces of philatelic art admired worldwide.
The word 'Bapu' was printed in Hindi and Urdu on the stamps as a symbol of Gandhi’s vision for unity.
Communal Harmony in Design
The "Service" stamps of the 1948 Gandhi series were printed for official use by the Indian government, specifically for correspondence from the office of Governor General C. Rajagopalachari. This overprinting distinguished official mail from regular correspondence, making these stamps rare and valuable, especially the ₹10 denomination.
Only 100 of the high-value ₹10 stamps were overprinted with 'Service' for official use by Governor-General C. Rajagopalachari.
The Rare 'Service' Overprints
Gandhi was the first Indian to appear on a stamp post-independence, setting a precedent for honoring national icons.
In April 2017, a block of four 'Service' stamps sold for ₹4.14 crore at an auction, making it one of India’s most valuable collectibles.
The smallest denomination, the 1.5 annas stamp, was printed in a warm brown color. This stamp was widely circulated and represents the accessibility of Gandhi's message to the common people.
Note: Over 16,150 'Service' overprints were created for official purposes.
The violet-colored 3.5 annas stamp captured attention with its rich hue. It served as a mid-range option for postal services and reflected Gandhi's enduring legacy.
Note: Only 1,550 of these stamps were overprinted with 'Service,' adding to their rarity.
The grey-green 12 annas stamp was designed for higher postage rates, symbolizing the importance of Gandhi's ideals in broader communication.
Note: This denomination had only 450 'Service' overprints available.
The ₹10 stamp, printed in grey with a reddish-brown background, was the highest denomination in this series and represented a significant value for postal services.
Note: Only 100 of these stamps were overprinted with 'Service,' making it one of India’s rarest and most sought-after collectibles.