National Philatelic Exhibition, Karachi.(2003-1)

On the occasion of the 3rd National Exhibition arranged jointly by the Philatelic Federation of Pakistan and the Pakistan Post a beautiful stamp is being issued in the form of a gutter sheet with a big National Flag along with the National Theme of Animal, Bird, Flower and Trees, which are detailed as under.
The purpose of producing such stamp indicates the great support for the Pakistan thematic collectors, both local and international, to have the various themes in a single stamp. This issue will also help both youth and the senior collectors in building-up the thematic collection on either philately, flag, animal, trees, birds and flowers,. Such uni purpose thematic stamps are not entirely rare in the world.
Philately is the hobby of people endeavouring to preserve original specimen of history, art work, trade and industry, handicraft as well as the political history of the country in a well defined subject of postal history, aero philately, thematics, revenues, etc.
We learn from the history of stamps of the last one hundred and sixty years that the first Asian stamp was produced in Sindh, the first double colour stamp of Asia was produced in India and that Jammu and Kashmir produced its stamps before Japan and China. It is the effort of the Stamp Society of Pakistan since 1964 to develop the hobby of philately in Pakistan in general and Sindh in particular and to this end regular exhibitions have been held, which have been recognised by general public and encouraged with patronage and support by the Pakistan Post Office and the Ministry of Communications. Members of the Stamp Society are the regular members of other societies, Philatelic Federation of Pakistan and the senior members of the Advisory Board formed by the Secretary, Ministry of Communications.
Various seminars, workshops and lectures are held from time to time apart from regular monthly meetings conducted by the Stamp Society. Besides articles in various local and international magazines are published as well as in the FIAP Journal and other international magazines by senior philatelists of the country. These senior members participate at International Exhibitions all over the world and win awards for Pakistan.
Last international standard exhibition was held at Karachi in 1998 on the occasion of the fifty years of stamps in Pakistan which was supported by the Leading Industries & Business Houses, apart from a special stamp produced for that exhibition by the Security Printing Press under the active collaboration of Pakistan post. The next exhibition is being held on 31st January, 2003, at Karachi at the Arts Council, which will attract visitors and stamp lovers from all over the country and from different educational institutions of Karachi for a period of four days. Special stamp is being issued by the Government of Pakistan at this occasion and it is envisaged that thousands of people will be attracted to this venue.
Special leaflets will be published and a souvenir is also being designed, with articles from eminent philatelist as well as the details about the exhibition and advertisements by the leading industrial houses in Pakistan. As usual the Pakistan Post will play a pivotal role in sponsoring the exhibition.
THE FIRST STAMP OF ASIA1852 112 Anna Scarlet "Scinde Dawk"
Pakistan appeared on the map of the world on 14th August, 1947, but the history of our postage stamps starts with the first postage stamp of lndo-Pak known as "Scinde Dawk Stamp" which was the first Asian Stamp Issued by the province of Sindh (now forming a part of Pakistan) on july, 1852 by Mr. Bartle Frere, the then Governor of Scinde.
An apocryphal story concerning Sir Charles James Napier is that when he crushed the Amirs of Scinde at Miani in 1843, he sent home a preliminary dispatch of a single word: "PECCAVI". Translated from Latin, that means "I have sinned". However, Napier was not blazoning his shortcomings, but rather punning the Latin word, "He had conquered Scinde. (Sind)".
By 1852 Sir Henry Bartle Frere, appointed Commissioner of Scinde, had put the district on the road to prosperity. He recognised the posts and issued postage stamps. They were not only the first stamps issued in the India subcontinent, but in the whole of Asia!.
The stamp was issued in a rare EMBOSSED form on white paper, on blue paper and on a fascinating RED WAD. Inscribed "Scinde District Dawk", "Dawk" meaning "Post", It confirmed the postal use. In the centre is the logo of the East India Company, with the talismanic "a" above.
There is controversy about the original assignment of De la Rue of London as printers of the stamps, since the official records in India were destroyed and no authenticated contemporary record exists in London.
Because of its very delicate nature, the red wax stamp did not survive the decades well, and apart from being a very rare item, it is almost impossible to find an example in near to -perfect condition. Date of Issue (January 31, 2003)