India’s most famous and valuable postage stamp is undoubtedly the 10 Rupee Mahatma Gandhi stamp of 1948.
This stamp, issued on the first anniversary of India’s independence, holds a special place in philatelic history for several reasons:
- Commemorative Significance: It was the first time an Indian personality, Mahatma Gandhi, was depicted on a postage stamp of independent India.
- Rarity: While 250,000 normal stamps were printed, a special “Service” overprinted version was produced for the use of the Governor-General of India. Only 100 of these were made, and only a handful are known to be in private collections, making them incredibly rare.
- High Value: Due to its rarity, the “Service” overprinted version has fetched record-breaking prices at auctions, solidifying its status as one of the most expensive and sought-after Indian stamps in the world.
Mahatma Gandhi was featured on the 1948 Indian postage stamps to honor him as the Father of the Nation on the first anniversary of India’s independence. Initially, the plan was to release a set of stamps for his 80th birthday in 1949. However, his assassination in January 1948 prompted the government to issue the stamps as a memorial instead.
The 1948 Gandhi stamps hold special significance:
- First Indian on a Stamp: It was the first time an Indian person was depicted on a postage stamp of independent India, a major symbolic step for the newly formed nation.
- Commemorating Independence: The stamps were released on August 15, 1948, marking the one-year anniversary of India’s freedom from British rule.
- Symbol of Harmony: Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru requested that the word “Bapu” (a term of endearment for Gandhi, meaning “father”) be included on the stamps in both Hindi and Urdu, symbolizing Gandhi’s lifelong struggle for peace and communal harmony.
Notes From A Stamp Collector
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