Philately is a delightful hobby that sharpens and satisfies your aesthetic tastes. While expanding your knowledge of and interaction with the world you live in, you get to know interesting details of politics, history, prominent personalities, national and international events, geography, flora and fauna, agriculture, science, monuments, soldiers, warriors, scientists, arms and ammunition, modes of transport etc. This process of learning becomes more delightful through visuals and brief write-ups. In addition, philately cultivates a meticulous and focused attention to detail. It also helps you to make friends across boundaries and age limits.

    Both mint-stamps (unused stamps) and used stamps can be collected. These can be collected year-wise, nation-wise or theme-wise. To make this easier and more attractive to beginners, philatelists generally advise you to collect stamps according to a selection of your choice called a Thematic Collection. Themes may be flowers, birds, animals, architecture, railways, monuments, Red Cross etc. Definitive stamps and stationery can also be collected as a theme. The bottom line is that the collection unfolds various aspects of a theme like a story

    There are commemorative and definitive stamps. Commemorative stamps are issued, as the name suggests, to commemorate important events, prominent personalities in various fields, aspects of nature, beautiful or rare flora and fauna, environmental issues, agricultural activities, national/international issues, games etc. These stamps are only available at Philatelic Bureaux and counters or under the Philatelic Deposit Account Scheme. They are printed in limited quantities. Definitive stamps on the other hand, are used for day - to - day postal mailing purposes and are available in various ascending denominations from 20 paisa onwards at all postal counters.

    Do not throwaway letters that you receive. You can collect used up stamps through them. These can be detached delicately from the postal articles. Rinse in a shallow dish of water, using your hands or a soft brush. Carefully dry them in a dark place as the ultra violet rays of sunlight can damage the colours. It is also valuable to retain stamps along with the envelopes on which they are pasted as this authenticates their use.

    Mint stamps are available at Philatelic Bureaux and Counters in the designated post offices, details of which will be available at your nearest Head Post Office. You may like to get in touch with local philatelists who can perhaps guide your interest. Make pen - friends both in the country and abroad -you will be surprised at the number of people who share your interest.

    Albums are available at leading Book and Stationery stores and with philatelists. Pasting stamps ruins them. Use paper hinges or "havids" to place them in a album. Plastic strip albums are now available and are ideal to use for beginners. Handle stamps with pincers to avoid smudging or damaging them in any way with your fingers.

Philatelic material includes -

 Mint stamps (unused stamps)

First Day Covers (FDCs, which are issued with every commemorative stamp )

Brochure (Information sheet accompanying each commemorative stamp )

Collectors' Packs, year-wise

Miniature/Souvenirm sheets which are sometime issued with

Commemorative stamps.

Catalogue of Postage Stamps of India since 1947

    Philatelic Bureaux function in 59 Head Post Offices at Circle Head Offices or in major district towns. They carry out sale of philatelic items to individuals, dependent counters and authorised Post offices. Philatelic Deposit Accounts can be opened at these Bureaus. Philatelic counters supply all philatelic itemsbut are not authorised to issue the Special Cancellation that accompanies each commemorative stamp. They provide a standard "First Day of Issue" cancellation on first day cover. Authorised offices only sell commemorative/special stamps, blank first day covers and brochures.

    Periodically a catalogue of Indian Postage Stamps from 1947 onwards is updated and is made available for sale   from the Philatelic Bureaux. If you need it from abroad, please contact

TheDirector, MumbaiGPO, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.

    Re-production of stamps is allowed for illustration purposes in Philatelic Publication or in an article relating wholly on postage stamps which may appear in any magazine, newspaper or publication of a general character. Such reproduction should however, be only in black. If stamps are to be produced in colour for publicity purposes, prior permission of the Director General of Posts must be obtained. To avoid similarity with the postage , such reproduction must be distinctively in smaller or larger sizes than the actual stamp and must be without perforation on the edges. Further, across bar will also be placed on one- corner of the stamp, obliterating the denomination. It must be noted that reproduction of the stamp in colour of the actual size of the stamp with perforation of the edges may be deemed to be taken as production of the actual stamp".