Queen’s Baton relay special covers – Part 1

Sport events have significant place in the world of philately, as many stamps, FDC, postmarks and special covers are released during the time period of the event. This year India is hosting XIX Commonwealth Games and had issued various stamp related to the event since 2008.

Today I will present some of the special covers issued during the journey of baton in India till date. As there are many covers I will present all the issued covers in five parts. I would like to thanks Mr. Sreejesh Krishnan for providing me the images of all the special covers.

THE QUEEN’S Baton relay for XIX Commonwealth Games reached India on 25 June 2010 after crossing 70 countries, travelling 1, 70,000 km in 240 days. The relay commenced from Buckingham Palace, London, on October 29, 2009. The Baton entered India from Pakistan through the Wagah-Attari border today at 9.25 am, It was a day one for baton in India. Here an FDC was issued with cancellation of Attari post.

After entering India, a grand ceremony was organized before the Baton’s national relay kicked off. Since then the baton is traveling across India, the Baton will visit all 28 States and seven UTs of India including 200 cities and thousands of villages, a special covers are releases at the capital of each state.

It will be the longest Queen’s Baton relay in the history of Commonwealth Games. After the relay throughout the country, the 100 day journey will finish when the Baton bearers enter the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium during the opening Ceremony of the XIX Commonwealth Games. The Baton will enter Delhi through Gurgaon on September 30, 2010. There will be a three day relay of the Baton in Delhi. On October 3, 2010 Queen Elizabeth-II’s message will be removed from the Baton and read at the Games’ Opening Ceremony.

Route of Queen’s Baton in India.

Special Cover issued at Srinagar:-

Special Cover issued at Chandigarh:-

Special Cover issued at Shimla:-