Stamp Collecting

Stamp Collecting

Stamp collecting is considered to be one of the most popular hobbies among the people of all ages. This activity involves collecting various philatelic items such as stamps, covers, postmarks etc.

It is essential to divide such notions as a stamp collector and a philatelist that differ in many aspects. A philatelist may, but does not have to, collect stamps. It is not uncommon for the term philatelist to be used to mean a stamp collector. Many casual stamp collectors accumulate philately items for one aim – enjoyment and relaxation. They do not worry about special philately knowledge considering philately to be the study for scientists or historians. In spite of this fact the creation of a large collection, generally requires some philatelic knowledge and will usually contain areas of philatelic studies.

Usually stamp collections are created according to the following principles: the historical value, geographical aspects or subjects to which they are devoted.

Stamp collectors are not only enthusiastic philately lovers they can be also an important source of revenue for some small countries. The Post Offices of such states create a special run of stamps designed for collecting. The stamps produced by these countries may far exceed their postal needs. The revenue from selling these philatelic items can be quiet large thus the country receives considerable amount of money from this branch.

Rare & Famous Stamps Issued By Indian Postal Service Post Independence

Rare & Famous Stamps Issued By Indian Postal Service Post Independence

The history of the Indian postage stamp dates back to 1852. Postage stamps, which began as a piece of paper in token of receipt of postage have assumed additional functions over the years. The postage stamps of today play the role of an ambassador, a brand image of postal administration and a statement of the sovereignty of a nation.
Compiled below is a list of some of the most famous stamps issued by the Indian Postal Service post-independence.


1. The first stamp of Indian Independence issued on Nov. 21, 1947, had the national flag symbol. It was valued at three and one-half annas and had the patriotic slogan, Jai Hind (Long Live India), on the top right-hand corner.

2. This 12 annas stamp was issued to commemorate Air India’s first international flight on June 8, 1948.

3. Issued on Aug. 15, 1984, the first anniversary of India’s Independence, the 10 postage stamp depicting Mahatma Gandhi is still one of India’s most famous stamps.








4. This stamp was issued on April 16, 1953, to mark the incredible 100 years of Indian Railways which was founded on April 16, 1853.

5. The stamp valued two annas and was issued to mark the inauguration of the Republic of India, on Jan. 26, 1950.

6. Issued on Dec 30, 1976, this stamp includes excerpts from the Indian national song “Vande Mataram.”

7. This stamp was issued on April 29, 1971, to celebrate the birth centenary of India’s renowned painter Raja Ravi Varma.

8. The king of silent cinema and arguably the best entertainer the world has ever seen has also found a place in Indian postage stamps. The stamp was issued on April 16, 1978, to acknowledge his birth anniversary.





9. This commemorative postage stamp was issued on May 24, 1956, to mark the 2500th Buddha Jayanti.




10. The 1951 Asian Games, officially known as the First Asian Games, was a multi-sport event celebrated in New Delhi, India. This stamp was issued on March 04, 1951 to acknowledge the event.

World's Top 10 Most Expensive Stamps

10. The Penny Black - €3,000

Issued in the United Kingdom in May 1840, the Penny Black was the first adhesive stamp in the world, which is why this stamp is considered so valuable. Although not the rarest or most valuable collector’s item, they set the path for the future of British postage stamps. The Penny Black carries a picture of Queen Victoria II and does not show the country of origin, as is custom today. Despite there being plenty of Penny Blacks for sale, an unused one can earn a lucky owner around €3,000, making it a very popular amongst collectors.

9. Inverted Swan - €35,500

The Inverted Swan is one of the most famous and unique stamps in the world, not because of its beauty, but rather because it was one of the first invert errors in the world. The Inverted Swan was issued in Perth, Australia in 1855 when a complicated process of producing these stamps through lithography was followed. However, contrary to popular belief, it is actually the frame that is inverted rather than the swan. This famous stamp was last sold in 1983 for €35,500.

8. Red Mercury - €37,000

The Red Mercury stamp is extremely valuable due to its rarity. Rather than a postage stamp, the Red Mercury was used for mailing newspapers. These stamps possess an image of the Roman god and were printed in yellow, red and blue depending on a number of newspapers in the bundle. However, the Red Mercury was short lived and was soon replaced, which is why so few copies have survived and why they hold such a high value of €37,000.

7. Hawaiian Missionaries - €39,000

Despite the cheap blue paper that the Hawaiian Missionaries stamp was printed on, these are amongst the rarest and most valuable stamps of all time, now worth around €39,000. The Hawaiian Missionaries were the first stamps to be produced in Hawaii and were predominantly used in correspondence between missionaries, hence their name.

6. Inverted Dendermonde - €75,000

TheInverted  Dendermonde, which showcases the town hall upside down, is Belgium’s greatest contribution to the printing errors. Although this error leaked through two sheets of the stamp’s first run and one pane of the second, only 17 are known to still exist. It is rumoured that two of these stamps were lost when a famous stamp collector was murdered in 1942. If you wanted to get your hands on the remaining few, it would set you back an estimated €75,000.

5. Inverted Jenny - €750,000

Another printing error is what placed the huge price tag on the Inverted Jenny.  Now worth around €750,000, this stamp features an upside down image of the Curtiss JN-4 airplane and was issued in the US in 1918. Only 100 copies managed to make it through printing, which is why the Inverted Jenny is valued so highly.

4. Baden 9 Kreuzer - Around €1 Million

Rather than being valuable for an image error, the Baden 9-Kreuzer is a moneymaker due to a colour error. A 9-Kreuzer stamp has the face value of 9-Kreuzer and is coloured pink, whilst the 6-Kreuzer stamps were green. However, an error in printing meant that a batch of 9-Kreuzer stamps were coloured green, rather than pink. Only four are known to exist and one was sold in 2008 for over €1 million.

3. The First Two Mauritius - Over €1 Million

Issued in 1847 in Mauritius during the British Colony, these stamps were modelled on the British stamps with an image of Queen Victoria. With only 26 known copies known to still exist and being the first British Commonwealth Stamps to be produced outside of Great Britain, it is no wonder that the Mauritius stamps hold a value of over €1 million each.

2. The Treskilling Yellow - Over €2.1 Million 

The Treskilling Yellow is considered one of the most expensive postage stamps in the world due to the fact it should be printed in a blue-green colour with the three-skilling print, but it was actually printed in yellow. This Swedish misprinted stamp issued in 1855 is believed to be the only surviving copy to exist, which is why it is worth over €2.1 million. The stamp has been sold more than once, each time climbing with value, so it may be on it's way to taking the number 1 spot on our list in the future.

1. The British Guiana 1c Magenta - €9 Million

The rarest and most valuable stamp in the world is the British Guiana 1c Magenta, which holds an estimated value of 9 million euros.  A delivery of stamps from London to British Guiana in 1856 had been delayed and so the 1c Magenta was created in limited numbers to ensure continued trade and communication on the island. Both the symbolic colony’s Latin motto and the fact that there is only one known to exist makes this stamp a real rarity.

Sir ROWLAND HILL & THE POSTAL REFORMS

Hi, I am Swikruti here. So today i would like to share information about stamps. And about sir Rowland Hill and The Postal Reforms.


Sir ROWLAND HILL

& THE POSTAL REFORMS

The Penny Black was the world's first adhesive postage stamp used in a public postal system. It first was issued in Great Britain on 1 May 1840, for official used from 6 May of that year. It features a profile of Queen Victoria.

Since its inception, it has been every stamp collectors dream to own the little black stamp that made post affordable for a normal person. But the Penny Black, which first went on sale in London 175 years ago today, had a troubled birth.

Before the Penny Black, the world's first adhesive stamp, only the very rich could afford to use the post. Until 1840, letters were charged by the number of sheets written upon and the distanced travelled to send them – and the recipient, rather than the sender, had to pay.

In 1837, British postal rates were high, complex and anomalous. To simplify matters, Sir Rowland Hill proposed an adhesive stamp to indicate pre-payment of postage. At the time it was normal for the recipient to pay postage on delivery, charged by the sheet and on distance travelled. By contrast, the Penny Black allowed letters of up to 1⁄2 ounce (14 grams) to be delivered at a flat rate of one penny, regardless of distance.

Sir Rowland Hill, (Born 3 December 1795 – 27 August 1879) was an English teacher, inventor and social reformer. He campaigned for a comprehensive reform of the postal system, based on the concept of Uniform Penny Post and his solution of prepayment, facilitating the safe, speedy and cheap transfer of letters. Hill later served as a government postal official, and he is usually credited with originating the basic concepts of the modern postal service, including the invention of the postage stamp.                                                           

The portrait chosen for the stamp was based on the profile of Queen Victoria at age 15.

The Penny Black - world's first stamp.