Rare Stamp Bookletes of Pakistan

THE FIRST STAMP OF ASIA - SCINDE DAWK

In 1st July 1852 India became the first country in Asia and the 10th country in world to issue postage stamps, issued by the province of Scinde (a part of India under British rule), by Sir Bartle Frere, then the Governor of Scinde. The shape was circular, with SCINDE DISTRICT DAWK around the rim, leading the common name Scinde Dawk. This was intended to use Scinde province only. The colour of the first stamps were red, white and blue and the denomination was ½ anna. This was also among the first circular stamps of the world.
The history
Scinde was a province in Western India with an area of about 57000 square miles and a population of about 2,500,000. Since the 4th century, Scinde was under several rulers such as Alexander the Great, Chandragupta, Muhammad Khan, Akbar and Nadir Shah of Persia till the British came to on the scene in the 1830’s.
Sir Bartle Frere, son in law of John Arthur, the governor of Bombay, was assigned with task of bringing postal reforms to Scinde. The postal administration was directly under the control of Bombay Presidency. In 1850, there were four post offices in the provinces of scinde, - Sukkur, Shikarpur, Hyderabad and Karachi. The route between Karachi to Bombay had important stages ie. Thatha, Bhuj, Ahemedabad, each route was further divided into small stages ie. 7 to 8 miles apart. The mails from these places were carried to Bombay by runners called Kasids. The distance was covered these runners handling over the dak to the next runners covering the entire route by successive relays delivering the mail to Bombay. in about nine days time. They were basically the local tribals.
The stamp & Design Sir Bartle Frere with the help of Edward Coffey, the postmaster of Karachi, he designed the first postage, which ultimately came to known as the Scinde Dawk. The set comprised of three embossed stamps, round in shape, in white, red and blue.

The design of the Scinde Dawk was the same as the mark of East India Company, composed of '+' and 'P' a very ancient Christian sign, the first letter of the name of Christ in Greek. The mystic sign of 4 is found at the head of almost every marine merchant's mark. The design. more or less of the same pattern is also noticed , in the watermarks of the contemporary laid, wove and bond papers. There is no doubt however, that it was regarded as a holy sign. The shape of the embossed Scinde Dawk is circular. In set is a heart divided into three segments, each segment containing one of the letters EIC (East India Company) in the center, above the heart is then figure 4 with the central stroke vertically lengthened to form one of the partitions in the heart. At the bottom tip is written 1/2 anna. The entire design is enclosed in a circular belt, forming its border. The circular belt contains the inscriptions 'Scinde District Dawk' with the belt buckle at the lower center showing the holes for the buckle grip.
There is controversy about the original assignment of De LA Rue and Co of London as printers of the stamps, since the official records in India were destroyed and no authenticated comtemperary records exits in London.
The Scinde dawk stamps were first used on 1st July 1852 and were suppressed on 30th September 1854 and the remainder were ordered to be destroyed on October 1854.
After independence - India

This Stamp Issued during Asiana'77, First Asian International Philatelic Exhibition, Bangalore, India, depicting the scinde dawk. This is the only stamp issued after India's independence which commemorates the scinde dawk.

The real facts:- In 1952, the Department of Posts of India celebrated the centenary of the release of the postage stamp by holding an exhibition but neither made any mention of it on any of its postal stationery nor released a stamp depicting the Scinde Dawk, may be because Scinde now happens to be a part of Pakistan and also the political relation between two nations not well on that time.
On the other hand Pakistan in 14th August 1952 two stamps of the 3-anna and the 12-anna denominations and an attractive First Day Cover were issued to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Scinde District Dawk stamps, the first stamps issued in Asia in July 1852.

The design illustrates the original stamp with a string of camels and airplane added to symbolize progress in mail transport. The 3-anna stamp is chartreuse in colour, and the 12-anna stamp is light brown. These stamps were withdrawn from sale on 1st November 1953.

Ordinary Rs.2, Envelopes of Pakistan

Ordinary Rs.2, Envelopes
(Illustrating portrait of Quaid-e-Azam)
By: F. Aleem Sundal

The Last of the Rs.2 inland letter-rate envelopes had imprint of the Quaid-e-Azam, and deservingly his famous maxims UNITY FAITH DECIPLINE were boxed opposite the stamp impression. The basic design changed its faces many a time though lived only for two years or so.
Construction: Light bluepaper of about 60/65 GSM was used. Overall size of the pocket being the same as the issuing authority standardized it at 159x116 mm (considering crease markings the face of envelope should be 160x115mm). Proper folding of envelope is rarely met, resulting variation in size of the envelope up to 2mm either way. The two side flaps were identical in size and shape. However, the closing flap was 75mm in breadth while lower flap was tailored at 68mm with broader round at its tip.
Imprint: Quaid’s portrait - a painting was adapted for stamps impressions vertical green frame of 28x35mm house the picture in brown, this is extending downwards by 4mm to accommodate name of the country in English and Urdu in reverse green. Another element in the vignette is the denomination Rs.2, printed in black at bottom right of the illustration.
Maxims: On the opposite side of the imprint a double lined box of 21x26mm is placed to house Quaid’s maxims; FAITH/UNITY/DECIPILINE in three lines. The box is green in colour having rounded corners; the outer frame line is thicker than the inner one.
Postcode: The postal department has always suggested public to adapt writing postcode on all types of mail. For that, bracketed instruction in Urdu (postcode) is printed below five boxes intended for writing area postcode of delivering office. Postcode boxes 35x7mm and Urdu inscription are printed in magenta.
Reverse side of the stationery has two main elements; three lines for sender’s address each 71mm long spaced at 9mm in between, followed by five boxes (size same as before) and a short Urdu sentence, translated as “sender’s postcode” all printed on closing flap in magenta. The other element on this side is also printed in magenta denoting “Stationery Charge/25p”, but it is placed at the bottom flap.
Under prints: The printer, for its own reference applied two different types of under prints. In the second printing (the first had no under print at all) a star was printed on the right flap and date at the left, which escape sight being overlapped by the bottom flap, in ready envelope. This arrangement was later changed and both were shifted to left flap.
Development: The first such reference was recorded in January 2000, when a solid green star of 3mm was printed inverted on right flap; the colour of star was later altered to magenta. The second batch came up with date “1/2000” in brown printed on the left flap. Third assignment during the period shows the star being shifted to left flap spaced 16mm away from date towards its right. This development continued but position of star altered; as up right, inverted or diagonal, star in smaller size is also common.
Environment Slogans: The month of February witnessed introduction of slogans related to different aspects of human health, nature and protection of environment. Twenty-six different slogans were applied, one for each envelope, printed in magenta between stamps impression and Maxims in Urdu manuscript. The following month these slogans were repeated and four more were added, by April, these were withdrawn.
The printer kept on changing date almost on monthly basis. In May 2000, the star was brought to the left of date printed in magenta, while date remained brown. This month the reign of Quaid’s maxims ended.
Family Planning slogans: Postal department tried another group of slogans to disseminate call of the Family Planning Department. First two slogans in the new series also in bold Urdu manuscript were boxed in double frame of 27x27mm, with rounded corners saying; “Beta Naimat/ Beti Rahmat”, and the second
“Chhota Khandan/Khushall Pakistan, The following month two more were added
“Chhota sa Gharana/Khushiyon Ka Khazana” and
“Chhota sa Gharana/Tandrust wa tawana”.
The last in this group was the slogan, which remained on the scene most of the time.
“Chhota Khandan/Zindagi Asaan”.
The life span of above slogans was up to July 31, 2001, when postal rates were increased
and new large size envelopes were brought into use.
Printing Varieties: Litho offset always concedes printing mishaps; plenty of shifts are known, value coming out of the frame so was the head printed away from its center; missing colour are very interesting; vignette is totally omitted, value not printed; in case of magenta omitted, postboxes and inscriptions are not there; omission of green vanishes name of the country and the/maxims/slogans etc. Faulty registrations up side down are amazing; part of stamps impression coming at bottom or on the reverse side; magenta inverted brings postcode boxes in between stamp and slogan box. Varieties in basic design are worth collecting. In slogan “Chhota Khandan/ Khushall Pakistan”, the inner frame of the slogan is removed. It may have happened in others as well. Maxims design version shows four different types of Urdu inscription on front of the envelope
a) normal,
b) with vocalic sign over second character,
c) redrawn inscription,
d) With vocalic sign over second character.
e) It will not be out of place here to state that Quaid’s portrait was printed in brown and black. Where brown is omitted, the impression will there in black and vice versa. Besides that, the date, which is also in brown, remains intact because both were not printed in the same action.

Pakistan – A Heaven for Collectors

By: S.M. Masud

In Pakistan Philately is still regarded as junvenile past time and it could not attain its due status on account of absence of proper patronage and attention. Conversely in the Western World Philately is no more regarded as a mere hobby but is considered as a science. Technical aspects of studies embrance lot of intensive study and it is thriving on the love for knowledge and wisdom. It is true that wealthy people and tycoons have an edge over the common collectors belonging to the lower and middle classes due to their wealth, but I still feet that philatelists from the lower income groups can with little articulation defeat the hegemony of those cheque book collectors.

One way is that you can concentrate on a single issue or even one little stamp. There are number of great collectors who devoted a life time to one stamp only. Numerous superstars of philately were “single stamp” devotees. The great collector, namely Edward L. Willard was only collecting a two cent re-brown of United States, of 1882 to 1887. He wrote two volume books on the same subject titled “United States Two cent red brown of 1883 to 1887”. In Pakistan Col. Martin is known for his collection of Pakistan overprinted on Indian stamps. There are some other collectors who have exerted on just one subject. I feel that even now a collector can make new approaches to the above subjects but there are other issues in which lot of work can be done. I am particularly impressed with tissues showing Mausoleum of Ibrahim Khan Malik on S.G. 475 to 480. these stamps have all kinds of EFO’s Imperforate, gummed side prints, paper folds, mis-perforations, set off, dry prints, partially colour omitted stamps, inverted watermarks and even inverted “service” printed stamps. One can look out for Arabic gummed and P.V.A. gummed oddities also. Postal forgeries are also available of these stamps. This can provide large sphere to any new collector who has little means with him. There are other subjects also in which one concentrate. Last year at the time to Pak-Philex 1993 Capt. (now Major) Nasir, a collector from Quetta, offered for sale a collection of “Forts” series S.G. 629 to 636 which had different yearly plate markings with and without imprints blocks and wide range of colour shads. It was available at a very modest price. Presently many collectors are working on those lines and have plenty of scope. The study of plate corrections made on S.G. 131, 132 and 134 Shalimar Gardens stamps correcting “SH” to “P” is the need of the time including its “Service” overprints. Philately has two branches, one is “stamp collecting” and the other is “postal history”. A person cannot be regarded as a philatelist if he has no interest in the branch of postal history. If you look out the results of various philatelic exhibitions held in Pakistan, my opinion is fortified that the exhibits of postal history have lead the field by attracting more crowds and winning more medals. Postal history is generally considered the study of the origin and development of postal services and all aspects pertaining to them. Different branches of postal history now have their own specialized societies including air-mail, traveling post offices and even mail boxes. But the term is now loosely applied to collectable materials, such postmark, postal stationery, stamp covers and cards. You can include the history of your country which is depicted on stamps and special postmarks in this field. This is a sphere which is still barren and wide open for every one. There is lot of challenges to the philatelist of our country.

Pakistan offers lot of opportunities to a thematic collector. It is rich in the ancient history as well as in turbulent events of our recent past. After all we are the pioneers of cotton cloth which we introduced to the world civilization. In the matter of urban living, we have excelled in the organized society. Indus Valley Civilization is reflected on S.G. 188, 318, 342, 402, to 406, 414, 430, 439, 666, & 667. Though only so far remains of Moenjodaro have been shown but there are other avenues for a thematic collector. You can even make collection on the subject of common heritage. R.C.D. commemorative stamps offer lot of such opportunities. Even common stamps issued by SAARC countries are a nice subject.

There are number of sidelines of Pakistan Philately. The gutter pair of multiple gutter blocks of first over print stamps is extremely popular and quiet expensive. Imprint and year of printing blocks especially of UN issued stamps like Faisal Mosque are rare items to be added to one’s collection. I have not seen any collection of traffic lights. In India such items are even mentioned and included in the catalogues. There are numerous designs and patterns of these marks. However a fantastic study can be made of special marks on the margins on the sheets. Not only plate numbers are mentioned but I have noticed some of the following features.

i) Position of plate mentioning “Top” is printed on different sides of the margin of the sheet

ii) Different dates on the side margins.

iii) Print lines in different colours.

iv) Inscription like “Positive for” four plater” in regular issues.

v) Inscription “New layout for Rs.4” with date 7-4-97 and plate number “2”. I have not seen other plate numbers in this new layout (S.G. 777)

vi) Different kind of gutter pairs with different designs on them.

These are just few suggestion otherwise there are innumerable opportunities in the side lines Number of postal stationery items have also been issued by Pakistan Postal Department which can make a nice study. One can even build a collection of greeting cards issued by postal Department.

Many opportunities are available to a collector of a national history which can be examined just in one case, like our first commemorative issue. Pakistan’s date of Independence has been has been a controversial matter. Indian Independence Act, 1947 fixed 15^th August, 1947 as a day on which two independent states Pakistan and India were to come into existence. Defacto Pakistan became independent on that date. It was Friday. Many people would be remembering it from their living memory. In the speeches of Quaid-e-Azam and Liaquat Ali Khan the same date is mentioned. Pakistan issued its first commemorative stamps showing Pakistan’s date of Independence as 15^th August, 1947, (S.G. 20 to 23) in 1948. A beautiful folder was also issued which is very scarce and a prestigious collectable item. The same date is mentioned thereon. We celebrated our second day of Independence on 15^th August 1948. It was national holiday. Pakistan issued its first definitive set in August, 1948. Stanley Gibbons have mentioned 14^th August although with a sign of interrogation but postal historian must check up his first day covers. If they bear 14^th August, 1948 with Pakistan Day postmarks, surely these would be forgeries. See date of issue in Gibbon’s catalogue. The same mistake may have been carried on elsewhere also. Government changed our date of Independence to 14^th August much after as it thought that we became de-jure independent on 14^th August, 1947. This controversy about date of Independence is still going on in the national press. You may notice that all the buildings shown on our first issue are from West Pakistan, Constituent Assembly Building, Karachi, Karachi Airport entrance, Gateway to Lahore Fort (S.G. 20 to 22). Even one Rupee scarlet stamp (S.G. 23) was designed by a renowned Pakistani artist – Abdur Rehman Chughtai who also belonged to West Pakistan. Was it done intentionally or happened by chance that only one stamp depicting a building from East Pakistan was shown on our stamps till 1954? By that time seeds of separatism had been sown deeply in our society. We are now left to collect these stamps and covers as part of our history showing, our joint past with Bangla Desh.

Pakistan’s philately offers to collectors a variety of choices. You can form collection of stamps from all issues from the earliest over-printed stamps to the recent issues and find number of interesting items. The stamps which have been issued on the occasion of E.C.O Foreign Ministers Conference have lot of new varieties. Apart from the partially colour omissions on the kite shaped pentagular patterns appearing in different colours on these stamps, I have acquired a very unusual variety which is in the third row of sheet that instead of one pentagular pattern in blue and other. Green in the centre, both are printed in green which kind of variety has not been noticed in the past. In my collection of EFO’s I have gathered number of varieties like miscuts, colour shades, etc. of Sher Shah Suri commemoratives miniature sheets which five a spectacular look of these beauties.

The postal marking provide a life long challenge from start of Independence to to-date but I have yet to see a cover hearing the Independence Day cancellation. May be some lucky collector has the same in his treasure. However, there are postmarks which are available of the last day when Pakistan decided to convert itself into a Republic. I obtained some covers from the then Post Master in the Governor General House Post Office showing 22^nd March, 1956, the last day of the Dominion and of the first day when Pakistan became Republic on 23^rd March, 1956 with President House Post Office Postmarks. These covers I disposed of when I left philately in 1958 and am now in possession of a well-known philatelist of Lahore Mr. Anwar-ul-Haq. Such kinds of covers which depict the history of a country have numerous opportunities in Pakistan. Now even covers of East Pakistan will be relics to collect. The covers of cities which changed their names like Lyallpur to Faisalabad may be a treasure. Similarly, earlier Montgomery covers and change to Sahiwal, all opens new opportunities, showing our internal administrative changes and making a new history.

I have noticed that many new stamps are coming up which are not catalogued and still offer a lot of opportunities to collectors of our country. I sent in 1957 number of thick and thin paper stamps from Thomas De La Tue printings to Stanley Gibbons who took note of them but never included in their catalogue. The artistic stamp issued in 1976 on the birth centenary of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah (S.G. 436) is like a fantasy. It is also available in thick and thin paper varieties. There are numerous stamps which have not been catalogued and search continues for them. Postal markings also provide a challenge to anyone. Slogan cancels, First flight covers, Postal Stationery, Premium charge catchet all provide collectable items. Special Post Offices have always been opened at the time of Royal visits and official Guest’s tour to Pakistan. Special cancellations are provided in these post offices. Some of the markings are extremely difficult to obtain but they provide fascinating materials. I saw a photocopy of the first page of Mr. Shahid Zaki’s collection. A drawing of map of Pakistan with “Pakistan Zinda Bad” slogan postmark made it a remarkable combination. Think of starting your collection with better or improved design”

Considerable information on Pakistan stamps is now available to the collectors. Apart from the specialized studies which are coming up with the new issues. This is making more information available to the collectors but still a specialized catalogue is the need of time. It is hoped that some one will share the burden soon. Don’t forget that first issue of Scinde Dawk of 1852 was issued in area which now forms part of Pakistan. Indian Postal authorities have recently issued facsimiles of those stamps and we have not. Can’t our Postal authorities reclaim them if not Kho-i-Noor?

THE SCINDE DAWK STAMPS

BY: - F. Aleem Sundal

The postal system in Sind was highly irregular until the mid-19^th Century. It had depended upon private messengers called Qasids. This messenger, Qasid or Namaber, a name which had acquired a poetic and romantic connotation in the literature of the Orient, was a foot-runner carrying mail, covering long distances with only a spear to guard against attacks and a pair of jingles tied at the top of the spear to frighten away wild animals while passing woods.

The postal reforms in Great Britain gave an initiative to the officials in India and efforts were made to ensure speedy and safe mail transit. On July 18, 1848, a system called “Camel Dawk” was introduced between Karachi and Thatta.

But this proved neither effective nor safe and was soon replaced by the services of the police horseman. This kind of postal service was, by and large, confined to carrying official mail from Muffasils to Districts or Divisional Headquarters. However, a few well-to-do and privileged private citizens could also avail of very high service charges.

Mr. Bartle Frere (later Sir Bartle Frere), who was the Commissioner of Sind during the period, was aware of this problem. He was increasingly concerned over the system of the post, run at perpetual loss to the authorities. While the government officers were entitled to use the postal facilities free of charge, the public was made to pay postage relate which were well above the reach of the common man.

The practice of defrauding the post offices also became quite alarming. Un-paid or bearing letters became a menace for the post office department. Many letters were refused by the addresses after penetrating searching looks at the covers. They discerned the message of the sender from the peculiar folding of the flaps, the way of writing of the address, any unusual dot, and mark or appar3ently undecipherable stripes on the cover.

This led to the piling up of enormous quantities of bearing letters coming back to the post offices, declared as “refused” or “addressees unknown”. The postal authorities under this old Dawk system experienced unsurmountable difficulties in running the post offices as no profits accrued. The postal services, too, were not functioning for the benefit of the common man.

Mr. Frere belonged to the group of administrators who felt the need for a simplified postal system based on some sort of prepayment of postage. They had in view the remarkable success of the uniform penny postage in Great Britain in 1840.

Although a very strong lobby existed against the introduction of some uniform postage system in Sind on the lines of the penny postage in London on the plea that the political, administrative and geographical conditions of the province greatly differed from those in England, Mr. Frere did not give up his sustained efforts to introduce a uniform low-paid postal system which would benefit every citizen.

He was greatly assisted in this deavours by the then postmaster, Karachi, Mr. Edward Less Coffee, in designing the Sind District Dawk Stamp. July 1, 1852 finally saw the introduction of “Scinde Dawk”- the first postage stamps of Asia.

The design of the stamps was the insignia, of the East India Company. It had in the centre, a heart shaped device divided into three segments, each containing one of the letter EIC (East India Company). Above this, a symbol resembling the figure 4 denoted the handle of the sword of authority. At the foot of the design was the value ½ Anna.

The whole design was enclosed in a circular garter containing the inscription Scinde District Dawk. In the lower part of the garter, was a buckle as well. The entire printed area was embossed.

Stamps were printed in three different colors, blue, red and white by De la Rue & Co. and were suppressed in October 1854. The quantity issued is not known.

Although all three values are very scarce, a block of 14 stamps, white un-used, is unique. No other large block of this nature is known to exist anywhere in the world. It is an almost tattered, part sheet, folded at three places, with the centers of six stamps punched through by embossing and two stamps having prominent crease running across. This seemingly worthless piece of torn paper is among the highest prized items in the philatelic world.

THE SCINDE DAWK STAMPS

BY: - F. Aleem Sundal

The postal system in Sind was highly irregular until the mid-19^th Century. It had depended upon private messengers called Qasids. This messenger, Qasid or Namaber, a name which had acquired a poetic and romantic connotation in the literature of the Orient, was a foot-runner carrying mail, covering long distances with only a spear to guard against attacks and a pair of jingles tied at the top of the spear to frighten away wild animals while passing woods.

The postal reforms in Great Britain gave an initiative to the officials in India and efforts were made to ensure speedy and safe mail transit. On July 18, 1848, a system called “Camel Dawk” was introduced between Karachi and Thatta.

But this proved neither effective nor safe and was soon replaced by the services of the police horseman. This kind of postal service was, by and large, confined to carrying official mail from Muffasils to Districts or Divisional Headquarters. However, a few well-to-do and privileged private citizens could also avail of very high service charges.

Mr. Bartle Frere (later Sir Bartle Frere), who was the Commissioner of Sind during the period, was aware of this problem. He was increasingly concerned over the system of the post, run at perpetual loss to the authorities. While the government officers were entitled to use the postal facilities free of charge, the public was made to pay postage relate which were well above the reach of the common man.

The practice of defrauding the post offices also became quite alarming. Un-paid or bearing letters became a menace for the post office department. Many letters were refused by the addresses after penetrating searching looks at the covers. They discerned the message of the sender from the peculiar folding of the flaps, the way of writing of the address, any unusual dot, and mark or appar3ently undecipherable stripes on the cover.

This led to the piling up of enormous quantities of bearing letters coming back to the post offices, declared as “refused” or “addressees unknown”. The postal authorities under this old Dawk system experienced unsurmountable difficulties in running the post offices as no profits accrued. The postal services, too, were not functioning for the benefit of the common man.

Mr. Frere belonged to the group of administrators who felt the need for a simplified postal system based on some sort of prepayment of postage. They had in view the remarkable success of the uniform penny postage in Great Britain in 1840.

Although a very strong lobby existed against the introduction of some uniform postage system in Sind on the lines of the penny postage in London on the plea that the political, administrative and geographical conditions of the province greatly differed from those in England, Mr. Frere did not give up his sustained efforts to introduce a uniform low-paid postal system which would benefit every citizen.

He was greatly assisted in this deavours by the then postmaster, Karachi, Mr. Edward Less Coffee, in designing the Sind District Dawk Stamp. July 1, 1852 finally saw the introduction of “Scinde Dawk”- the first postage stamps of Asia.

The design of the stamps was the insignia, of the East India Company. It had in the centre, a heart shaped device divided into three segments, each containing one of the letter EIC (East India Company). Above this, a symbol resembling the figure 4 denoted the handle of the sword of authority. At the foot of the design was the value ½ Anna.

The whole design was enclosed in a circular garter containing the inscription Scinde District Dawk. In the lower part of the garter, was a buckle as well. The entire printed area was embossed.

Stamps were printed in three different colors, blue, red and white by De la Rue & Co. and were suppressed in October 1854. The quantity issued is not known.

Although all three values are very scarce, a block of 14 stamps, white un-used, is unique. No other large block of this nature is known to exist anywhere in the world. It is an almost tattered, part sheet, folded at three places, with the centers of six stamps punched through by embossing and two stamps having prominent crease running across. This seemingly worthless piece of torn paper is among the highest prized items in the philatelic world.