Currency Collector of Udaipur, Dr. Vinay Bhanawat is one of the few people who has possession of the first three stamps issued in independent India.

Ths first postage stamp of independent India, which showed the flowing Indian Tricolor was published three months after independence, i.e. on 21 November 1947. Subsequent to this two more tickets were issued on 15 December 1947. Hence, the first Government of independent India issued three postage stamps in all in the first year of independence, and subsequently more were printed. The first three tickets were printed in India Security Press, Nashik.

Bhanavat says that a special album has been made to save these tickets. Even slight humidity can damage the ticket. In such a situation, a transparent special paper is also kept on every page of the album to protect them. Gloves, tweezers, etc. are used to remove the stamp from the album, as well as a heater has been introduced in the room to reduce the humidity of the room.

3.5 Annas - Cost of First Postage Stamp

The cost of the first postage stamp of Independent India, bearing the picture of a flowing was 3.5 Annas (16 Annas were equal to 1 Rupee). Along with the Tricolour, August 15, 1947 is imprinted on the ticket. In the first lot, 23 Lakh (2.3 Million) postage stamps were printed. Each sheet consisted of 96 postage stamps. Hence, the first postage stamp of independent India was printed 23,959 sheets. The current price of this ticket is Rs 250.

Ashoka Stambh and the Aeroplane

On December 15, 1947, nearly a month after the first postage stamp was issued, two more stamps were issued. The first one, which bore the Ashoka Pillar (Ashoka Stambh) with "Jaihind" written across it, cost 1.5 Annas. 22,70,000 postage stamps bearing the Ashoka Pillar wee published in the first lot. One sheet consisted of 144 such stamps. The current price of this postage stamp is Rs 30.  The other stamp, which was again issued on the same day, i.e. 15 December bore the picture of an aeroplane with the word Jai Hind in Hindi and mentions 12 Annas as its cost then. 24 lakh such stamps were published in the first lot, with 160 stamps on a single sheet. Its current price is Rs 350.