Till date, innumerable stamps of Mahatma Gandhi have been issued by many countries worldwide, but the series of four stamps issued on 15th August 1948 have a popularity that is unmatched. They are collected in India and abroad equally with the same passion. These were the first commemorative stamps of Independent India issued in four denominations: one and a half annas: three and a half annas: twelve annas and ten rupees. Incidentally, the only set of stamps printed outside India after Independence in Geneva. These stamps are also known as "mourning stamps" as Gandhi died on 30th January 1948.
These stamps were meant to be sold till the 15th of November 1948, but then the date was extended till 31st December 1948 and were withdrawn from sale on 1st January 1949.
The one and a half annas and three and a half annas stamps were demonetized on 1st October 1959 and were allowed to be exchanged at Post Offices till 30th November 1959, however, the twelve annas and ten rupees stamps remained valid as postage stamps.
Mahatma Gandhi 10 Rs overprint SERVICE
Gandhi Memorial Stamps: 15 August 1949
The one and a half annas, sepia brown stamps printed were quantity 25,000,000.
The three and a half annas, bluish purple stamps printed were 02,500,000.
The twelve annas, dark green stamps printed were 03,750,000.
The ten rupees, reddish brown stamps printed were 00250,000
The total number of stamps printed were quantity 31,500,000.
Very few sets of all values were overprinted "Specimen" These were affixed in a black velvet folder with a golden card inside and given to the delegates attending the conference at France. probably just a couple of hundred were overprinted.
According to Jal Cooper
The one and a half annas stamps, quantity 15,950 stamps were printed.
The three and a half annas stamps, quantity 1350 stamps were printed.
The twelve annas stamps, quantity 250 stamps were printed.
The ten rupees stamps, quantity 100 stamps were printed.
The multiple mint examples of these issues are known to exist for one and a half annas and twelve annas only. Multiple mint examples of three and a half annas are not seen. The Ten rupees "SERVICE" is extremely difficult to find. These ten rupees and three and a half annas are extremely rare.
The complete sheet of Ten Rupees "SERVICE" in the National Philatelic Museum, New Delhi
✧ courtesy David Feldman
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