Kerala   

Glimpses into the world of stamps and stamp collectors

Photo: C. Ratheesh Kumar

CANINE PRESENCE: A collection of stamps on dogs kept on display at Kerapex 2007 in the city on Wednesday.

Hobby or serious pursuit, collecting stamps is no child’s play as any enthusiast will vouch. Kerapex 2007, the 11th Kerala Philatelic Exhibition, which began here on Wednesday, provides an insight into the world of stamps and collectors.

The exhibits, displayed in 200 philatelic frames, are classified into invitation class and competitive class. A rare collection of Travancore postal stationery welcomes the visitor to the venue. The collection includes Travancore- Cochin anchal cards, envelopes, service cards and aerogrammes. A paper on Douglas William Gumbley, known as the father of the aerogramme, is on display. Air letters of the British era are also on display.

The exhibition features a good collection of stamps issued in India during the pre-Independence period. From the first stamp for general use in India, the collection includes lithographed stamps of the period 1854- 1937 with pictures of Queen Victoria, King Edward VII, King George V and King George VI.

Anchal covers and cards of the united states of Travancore and Cochin, money order receipts, acknowledgements and stamps issued in Travancore reveal the history and evolution of the postal service in this part of the country. While the postage stamps of Travancore feature the conch shell watermark, the Kochi issues are marked by the coat-of-arms.

Serious stamp collectors often describe philately as the only enterprise in which errors lend value. The section on Indian errors at the exhibition has proved to be a big draw. Perforation errors and printing mistakes make these stamps rare and coveted possessions, often commanding a high price. A whole section is devoted to post- Independence Indian stamps. The first post Independence stamp of three and a half anna denomination issued on November 21, 1947, is one of the prominent exhibits. The stamp features the national flag.

Postage stamps issued by countries all over the world are also displayed. Noteworthy among the exhibits in this section are the stamps issued by the Vatican.

Stamps featuring Indus valley civilization, the Maurya and Gupta empires, the Mughal era, old Indian art forms and the Indian armed forces throw light on the country’s history. There are collections on various themes such as nature, flora and fauna, animals, birds, mammals, dogs and elephants as well as emblems, universities, hospitals, forts and towers.

Stamps based on world wide programmes for child development, community and humanitarian services are also on show.

Stamps on Indian heritage and culture highlight Indian temples, creative arts, costumes, jewellery, textiles, murals, modern painting, sculptures, theatres, rituals, libraries and museums in the country.

Earlier in the morning, Chief General Manager, State Bank of India Radha Unni inaugurated Kerapex 2007. Chief Post Master General, Kerala Circle, Uday Balakrishnan released a special cover on ‘The postal heritage of Kerala.’ A workshop on philately for school children was also organised as part of the event.

A Correspondent

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