Issued by India

Issued on Jan 25, 2017

Issued for : Every generation is required to be conscious of their responsibility towards nature. To bring the awareness in the students, Department of Posts chose Nature: India as a topic for Stamp Design Competition organised across the country for the Republic Day 2017. The participants were to send original entries on the theme “Nature: India”. Based on selected entries Stamps, Miniature Sheet, Maxim Cards, First Day Cover and Brochure are based on the entries submitted by Mr. Krishna Debnath, Mr. S. Keerthivassan, Mrs. Tripti Dutta, Ms. Pooja, Mr. Souvik Datta, Ms. Souramita Bhaumik, Mr. Suyash Goyal, Ms. Debasmita Chakraborty, Mr. Akshat Pamawat, Ms. Mehr Vig, Ms. Yamini K, Mr. Divyansh Sharma, Ms. Aparajita Biswas, Ms. Jetshree Sharma and Ms. V. Aishwaria.

Credits :
Stamp / Miniature Sheet / FDC / Brochure / Cancellation Cachet : Ms. Nenu Gupta, based on selected paintings submitted by participants.

Type : Miniature Sheet, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 500 Paise (6)

Stamps Printed : 301590 each

Miniature Sheet Printed : 0.1 million

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

About : 

• The “Nature” is a storehouse of joy, peace and pleasure. Nature is like a Philosopher’s stone that has the potential to transform its surroundings with its presence itself. Nature can provide a new lease of life to a fatigued mind or a weary body. The kind of comfort and consolation that can be felt in the lap of nature is described by the poets, bands and wandering minstrels. The flowing rivulets, the sounding cataracts, the whispering winds, the joyful flowers and the lofty mountains are only some of the manifestations of that divine beauty.
• The Bliss of being touched by any aspect of the vast Nature can be seen in the world’s greatest poetic and philosophical expressions. There can be no better mediation that being in touch with the Nature. It has a healing touch of its own. The lovers of Nature immerse themselves in listening to the melodious songs of larks, watching the clouds moving majestically across the sky, and manage to witness the joyful dance of peacock on a rainy day. They can spend hours looking at the starry heavens and absorb the beauty of a rainbow in the sky. They do not forget to see the sublime in the ephemeral.
• Where Nature is a source of joy, it is also a great teacher. The fruitful trees teach us to be humble; the mountains teach us to be strong and firm; the flowers teach us to smile and blossom even when we are surrounded by the thorns of life. The wildlife in Nature teach us harmony and balance in life. It reveals the oneness of life.
• Nature is permeated with the same soul that dwells in men. There is a kinship between man and nature. But our relationship with nature is also of imbalance and overuse. Nearly every step in human history has unfortunately been accompanied with a leap in environmental degradation. Apart from achieving stability for ourselves and our kin, we also have an obligation to maintain the environment, as we depend on the resources and services it provides. Our cognitive ability and understanding of nature obliges us to maintain the integrity of the environment. In order for the Earth to retain its balance, it is important that we do not overstep our bounds as a species. This requires a universal effort to revaluate our relationship with nature and make adjustments as needed. It is important to recognise a rippling of consequences that are being faced because of Man’s intervention with the nature.
• Text : Based on the material available on internet.

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Issued by India

Issued on Jan 2, 2008

Issued for : The Department of Posts is happy to issue a set of postage stamps on endemic butterflies of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Credits :
Stamp & FDC : Suresh Kumar
Cancellation : Alka Sharma

Type : Miniature Sheet, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi colour

Denomination : 500 paise each

Stamps Printed : 3.0 Million each

Miniature Sheet : 0.2 Million

Printing Process : Photogravure

Printer : India Security Press, Nasik

About : 

• The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are blessed with rich butterfly fauna due to presence of humid tropical rainforest. The long isolation of these islands and their relatively undisturbed ecology provides scope for the evolution of many endemic varieties. The butterfly fauna of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands has a high degree of endemism, they are very unique.
• Some of the endemic butterflies are : Andaman Mormon, Andaman Club Tail, Andaman Oak Leaf, Tailless Oak Blue and Andaman Snow Flat; Nicobar Yeoman and Nicobar Map. These butterflies are very specific to their food plants. The butterflies have been provided protection by the Government of India under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and a few butterflies of Andaman and Nicobar islands are listed in Schedule I, II and III and in the Red Data book of International Union for the Conservation (IUCN). There is urgent need to draw the national attention on conservation and protection of endemic butterflies of these islands. This set of stamps portrays two endemic butterflies, Andaman Mormon (Papilio mayo) and Andaman Club Tail (Pachliopta rhodifer).
• Andaman Mormon (Papilio mayo)
  • Andaman Mormon was the first endemic butterfly described from Andaman Islands. The wing expanse of male is 120 mm while that of female is 150 mm. The body is black in both sexes. Male has black upper side; forewing without internervular streak, hind wing without tail, antediscal broad blue band, underside black; fore wing with basal red streak and obscure internervular veins; hind wing with red patch, a complete red ocellus, submarginal blue lunular spots; posterior ones less prominent. The female has fore wing with broad internervular streaks; white in the discal area. Hind wing is interrupted by an oval black sport and by a broad elongated black patch, apical half of tail is red whitish at apex. Its food plant is citrus plant of climbing vine. This endemic species is not rare in Andamans but females are very difficult to sight. This is a forest species which inhabits North to South Andamans. It resembles Great Mormon and is also mimic to Andaman Clubtail.
• Andaman Club Tail (Pachliopta rhodifer)
  • Wing expanse of male 120mm while that of female is 140mm. The body of the male is red upper side black; forewing has pale streaks extending upto apex of cell; hind wing are more crimson red; hind wing upper side dusted with black scales, discal more extensive; antediscal spot extends well below vein. The female is mimic to female of Andaman Mormon and flies slowly together in forest paths. This endemic species used to be very common in 80’s in South Andamans but now a days it is rarely sighted. Its food plant is Thotia tomentosa.
• Text : Based on material provided by the proponent.

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Issued by India

Issued on Dec 18, 2001

Issued for : Department of Posts in happy to release these special stamps on greetings to reinforce and complement the greeting within the envelope and to add greater depth and meaning to the message. In a small but significant way, these postage stamps hope to show the feelings that have gone into sending the missive at the first glance.

Credits :
Stamp : C. R. Pakrashi and Kamleshwar Singh
FDC : Kamleshwar Singh
Cancellation : Nenu Gupta

Type : First Day Cover

Colour : Four Colour

Denomination : 400 & 300 Paise

Overall size : 2.90 x 3.91 Cms.

Printing size : 2.90 x 3.91 Cms.

Perforation : 13.5 x 13.5 mm with elliptical hole on each 39.1 mm sides

Paper : Matt Chromo

Stamps Printed : 3 million each

Number per issue sheet : 40

Printing Process : Photo Offset

Printer : Calcutta Security Printers Ltd.

About : 

• Greetings are an important medium of conveying thoughts and feelings. In a subtle way, they celebrate and strengthen relationships. Celebrations have been woven into the way of life in almost all cultures and greetings have played a significant role not only in celebrating important occasions but also in social interaction between people. Over the centuries, greetings have assumed myriad forms and shapes from letters written on leaf and bark scrolls, to greetings on gold, silver and copper plaques and modern day greetings by post and electronic medium.
• History has recorded the prevalence of greetings in ancient Egypt and Rome where the New Year was marked by the exchange of symbolic presents of scent, laurel or olive branches coated with gold leaf etc. This practice continued and further developed in the early days of Christianity. A fresh impetus was given to this form of expression with the advent of the printing press and with the coming of the penny post in 1840, greetings became a part of the social matrix, gathering increasing connotation as they passed through the centuries.
• In India too, the practice of sending illustrated greetings through the post picked up over the years. Almost all festivals, Diwali, Holi, Pongal, Durga Puja, Baisakhi, Christmas, Id and now even Raksha Bandhan and Valentine’s Day are marked by sending of greetings cards through the post. They are now used to express a gamut of emotions; love, friendship, sympathy, affection and for conveying congratulations and thanks.

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Issued by India

Issued on Sep 20, 1998

Issued for : The Department of Posts is happy to issue a stamp on the occasion of 26^th IBBY congress held in New Delhi.

Design : The aim of the 26^th IBBY Congress was to explore, encourage and promote the concept of peace as a theme in children’s books. Books can be used to serve as important vehicles to convey the message of peace in an entertaining manner and help children to live in harmony with the rest of the world and with themselves. The design of the stamp effectively symbolises this message.

Credits :
FDC : 26^th IBBY Congress, New Delhi
Stamp Design : Bharati Mirchandani
Cancellation : Alka Sharma

Type : Stamp, Postal Used

Colour : Multicolour

Denomination : 1100 Paise

Overall size : 3.91 x 2.90 cms.

Printing size : 3.91 x 2.90 cms.

Perforation : 13 x 13

Paper : Imported un w/m Adhesive Gravure Coated stamp paper in sheets 50.8 x 53.5 cms.

Stamps Printed : 0.7 Million

Number per issue sheet : 35

Printing Process : Photogravure

Printer : India Security Press, Nashik

About : 

• The Association of Writers and Illustrators for Children (AWIC), the Indian Section of IBBY hosted the 26^th Congress of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY). The theme of the Congress was peace through children’s books. This was the first time that India holding the world congress on children’s books. IBBY is non-profit organisation founded in 1953 in Switzerland. It has more than 60 National Sections and represents countries with well-developed book publishing and literary programmes. It is a network of people from all over the world committed to bringing books and children together. In addition to other work the IBBY confers, biennially, the highest international recognition given to an author and illustrator of children’s books – the Hans Christian Andersen Awards commonly known as the ‘Little Nobel Prize’. This prize is awarded for outstanding contribution to Children’s literature.
• IBBY also presents everywhere the IBBY-Asahi Reading Promotion Award to a group or institution that is making a significant contribution to book promotion programmes for children. The AWIC received this Award in 1991 for its Home Library Project. The AWIC is a voluntary organisation founded in 1981 and has organised the Indian Section of IBBY since 1990.
• Text : 26^th IBBY Congress, New Delhi.

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Issued by Australia

Issued on Sep 3, 1998

Design : The stamps feature the Common Red–eye (Chaetocneme beata), found in coastal eastern Australia from Cairns in Queensland to Wollongong in NSW; the brilliant Ulysses Butterfly (Papilio ulysses joesa), seen in north-eastern Queensland, from Cape York to the vicinity of the Atherton Tablelands; the Meadow Argus (Junonia villida calybe) which occurs throughout Australia; a shining purple butterfly, the Dull Oakblue (Arhopala centaurus centaurus), seen near mangroves or around rainforest trees in coastal Northern Territory and Queensland; and the Red Lacewing (Cethosia cydippe chrysippe), found in north-eastern Queensland, from Cape York to Townsville.

Designer : Chris Shurey, Melbourne

Stamp photographs by ANT Photo Library :
Red Lacewing (G Wood); Ulysses Butterfly (Otto Rogge); Dull Oak Blue, Meadow Argus and Common Red-eye (Frithfoto).

Type : Stamps, Postal Used

Colour : Multi colour

Denomination : 45 cents each

About : 

• More than three quarters of Australian butterfly species occur in the tropical north and north-east of the continent, where abundant rainforest provides host plants and habitats for many species. Some 400 species of butterflies have been recorded in Australia.
  
• Butterflies do not live long, sometimes only a few days or weeks. They have many natural enemies and form an important part of many food chains. The life cycle of a butterfly incorporates four separate stages: egg, caterpillar (larva), pupa (chrysalis) and adult. This type of life cycle involves a total body transformation, a process known as complete metamorphosis. A tiny caterpillar hatches from the egg. As it grows, it moults several times before pupating. During pupation, the caterpillar’s body is reorganised and transformed into a butterfly. After the butterfly emerges, mating takes place and the life cycle is completed when fertilised eggs are laid. The entire period from egg to adult varies considerably and can range from just a few weeks up to two years.

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Issued by India

Issued on Nov 19, 1989

Description of Design : The design of the stamp is based on the logo used by the Amateur Athletic Federation of India for the 8^th Asian Track & Field Meet, 1989, depicting the butterfly ‘Bharati‘ entrenched in the hand-shaped ‘tracks of Friendship’, using the tri-colours. The First Day Cover has been designed by Brij Raj Goel and the cancellation by Alka Sharma, the latter based on the logo of the Meet.

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Three Colour

Denomination : 100 Paise

Overall size : 4.80 x 3.60 cms.

Printing size : 4.35 x 3.15 cms.

Perforation : 13 x 13

Paper : Imported un W/M Adh. Gr. Coated stamp paper

Number Printed : 15,00,000

Number per issue sheet : 20

Printing Process : Photogravure

Printed : India Security Press

About : 

• After the ASIAD in 1982, New Delhi was once again prepared for hosting a sporting event of that magnitude – the 8^th Asian Track & Field Meet, 1989. Instituted in 1973, over the last decade these championships have snowballed into one of the biggest gatherings in the continent outside of the Asian Games. The Asian Track & Field Championships are held every two years and seven of these have been conducted across the continent starting from Manila, Philippines in 1973, to the last one in 1987 at Singapore. The meet was not held in 1977.
• In the inaugural championships, only about a dozen countries participated. The number swelled to over 25 in the 5^th meet at Kuwait in 1983. The present meet at New Delhi will witness more than 700 athletes from over 35 countries.
• The organisers of the Meet have selected the butterfly, nicknamed ‘Bharati‘, as the official mascot. Set amidst the ‘tracks of friendship‘, it symbolises strength and fortitude and disciplined exhibition and grace.
• The 8^th Asian Track & Field Meet ’89, also marked the culmination of the Nehru Centenary celebrations. In October 1989, athletes carrying torches traversed the length and breadth of the country to reach and light the ceremonial flame of the Asian track and Field Meet, 1989, at New Delhi on November 14, the day of Jawaharlal Nehru‘s Birth Centenary, marking a fitting finale to the year long centenary celebrations. Aptly named the ‘Jawahar Jyoti‘, the torch relay embodies the spirit of national integration.
• Text : Courtesy Amateur Athletic Federation of India.

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Issued by India

Issued on Oct 20, 1981

Description of Designs : The design of the stamp is based on paintings by M. Mandal and depict Stichophthalma camadeva (35p), Cethosia biblis (50p), Cyrestis achates (100p) and Teinopalpus imperialis (200p) butterflies. First day cover designed by M. Mandal shows Papilio buddha. Cancellation was designed by Charanjit Lal.

Type : Stamps, Postal Used

Colour : Multicolour

Denomination : 35, 50, 100 & 200 Paise

Overall size : 3.91 x 2.90 cms.

Printing size : 3.55 x 2.54 cms.

Perforation : 13 x 13

Paper : Unwatermarked adhesive gravure stamp paper

Number printed : 20,00,000 each

Number per issue sheet : 35

Printing process : Photogravure

Printed at : India Security Press

About : 

• Butterflies and moths belong to the order Lepidoptera (derived from the Greek words Lepis meaning scale and pteron meaning wing) under the class Insecta which is one of the largest classes of the animal kingdom. The first vague traces of these insects occur in the Cretaceous period (about 135 million years ago), and they appeared as a well developed order in the Tertiary era (about 65 million years ago). The Lepidoptera comprise about 220 thousand species of which nearly 45 thousand are butterflies.
  
• There is no region on earth that can offer a richer variety of butterflies than the tropics. The tropical forests, profusely adorned with elegant grasses, varieties of beautiful flowers amidst the verdant foliage are the haven of some of the most resplendent and exquisitely fascinating butterflies.
  
• Few others insects can boast of wings as large or as beautiful as those of some of the butterflies, their soul and their very existence seem to be in their wings. According to the American naturalist, Donald Culross Peattie, “Man with all his looms and dyes cannot create anything half so exquisite as a butterfly’s wing“. At the same time butterflies are among the weakest creatures on earth and can exert little force against their enemies. Nature therefore has provided them with an ample measure of wiles which they use for survival. “Protective resemblance” and “mimicry” are two such specialisations resorted to by butterflies and moths for self preservation. The most dramatic example of protective resemblance is seen in the beautiful Kallima butterfly which at rest looks like a decayed leaf clinging to the stem. The Viceroy butterfly mimics the inedible Monarch to escape from predators.
  
• The sublime beauty of these winged wanderers with their endless variety of hues and patterns has provided the theme for poetry and lore of both East and West. Their grace and beauty have inspired bards and artists of all ages to capture their essence in poetry and art. It is unfortunate, however, that many species of butterflies are in danger of extinction due to the ruthless devastation of their habitat by man. It is with a sense of grave concern for them that the P & T Department brings out a set of stamps on four of the several species of butterflies endemic to the Indian Subcontinent.
  
• 1. Stichophthalma camadeva. This lovely large butterfly, sometimes referred to as the ‘Northern Jungle Queen‘, measures 90 square centimeters in good specimens. It frequents the forested hilly regions of Sikkim from May to September. Being powerful, Camadeva holds its own against small predators. The markings and colours on its wings are predominantly shades of brown on the upperside and yellow on the under. Though normally conspicuous, they provide camouflage near the ground and among the dense vegetation where it flies.
  
• 2. Cethosia biblis. This glorious butterfly is popularly known as the ‘Red Lace Wing‘ because of the intricate patterns on its wings. It is found in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Assam, Sikkim and the adjoining regions, at elevations up to 2100 meters. From March to December, and abundantly during the wet weather, it is seen on flowers within forests and along their borders at river edges. An inedible species, it has a fearless demeanour and indulges in the luxury of slow flight, during which it flashes its underside warning colours of red and orange at any predator. The food plant is the passion-flower, whose blooms are as gorgeous as the butterfly itself.
  
• 3. Cyrestis achates. This is a well known number of the ‘map‘ butterflies, so named because the wing-markings simulate the lines of latitude and longitude of a world map. It settles on the underside of leaves with wings spread like a grounded aeroplane, a habit common in a moth but unusual in a butterfly. It lays eggs on the underside of banyan and related species of Ficus, on which the larvae feed in large groups. This species is common in Karnataka and the adjoining regions.
  
• 4. Teinopalpus imperialis. Popular as Kaiser–e–Hind, this butterfly is a renowned member of the Swallowtail group so called because the protuberances on the hindwings remind us of the forked tail of a swallow. A swift flier, the double-brooded ‘Kaiser-e-Hind‘ can be seen from April to May again from August to September in Sikkim, Assam and the adjoining areas at altitudes of 1,980 to 3,050 metres. It prefers open mountains surrounded by thick forests, and often keeps to tree-tops, through on a fine sunny day it may come down in the early and mid-morning. The females, with a wing-span of 11-12 cms., are slightly larger than the males and have three wing-tails instead of one. The food-plants are Daphne species, including the Nepal paper-plant.
  
• The first Day Cover depicts Papilio buddha, or the Malabar Banded Peacock, a member of the Swallowtail group. Unlike the closely related Indian species Papilio blumei, ‘ranked among the most delightful butterflies of the world’, the Buddha renounced showmanship and is much admired by butterfly-lovers. It flies quickly and high, and can be seen throughout the year, except in June and July, in the hill regions of southern India. The green caterpillars feed on Zanthoxylum rhetsa.
  
• Consultant for text : S. N. Tata.

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Issued by Great Britain

Issued on May 13, 1981

Issued for : Butterflies

Picture : Different Butterflies : 14p – Small Tortoiseshell, 18p –  Large Blue, 22p – Peacock and 25p – Checkered Skipper

Colour : Multicoloured

Type : Stamps, Mint condition

Denomination : 14, 18, 22 & 25 Pence

Perforation : 14 x 14½

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Issued by Japan

Issued on Aug 2, 1980

Issued for : In commemoration of the 16^th International Congress of Entomology, 50 yen postage stamp has been issued on August 2, 1980.

Colour : Multicolour

Type : Stamp, Postal Used

Denomination : 50 Yen

Stamp Size : 22.5 mm x 36.0 mm

Quantity Issued : 26,000,000 stamps

Perforation : 13½

About : 

• The International Congress of Entomology has been held quadrennially with the participation of world entomologists since the first congress at Brussels, Belgium.
  
• The 16^th International Congress of Entomology was held in Kyoto from 3^rd through 9^th August, 1980, as the first congress to be held in Japan. Approximately 3,000 participants from about 80 countries are expected to get together and various events such as special lectures, symposiums and other lectures are scheduled.

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Issued by Japan

Issued on May 18, 1977

Issued for : As the 14^th of the Nature Conservation Series, a ¥50 postage stamp will be issued having for its subject “Mikadoageha”.

Colour : Multicolour

Type : Stamp, Postal Used

Denomination : 50 Yen

Printing Process : Photogravure & Engraved

Perforation : 13

About : 

• “Mikadoageha” (Mikado swallowtail).
  
• “Mikadoageha” belongs to Papilonidae, Lepidoptera, and is a large butterfly.
  
• When spreaded, its wings are about seven centimeters; there are blue-white spots on the black body. Yellowish orange-colored spots are on the rear side of the back wings. Butterflies seen in the Shikoku area have red spots.
  
• The butterfly lives widely in the Oriental tropical region. In Japan, it can be seen in the southern areas of Shikoku and Kyushu and the southern and eastern areas of the Kii Peninsula. It is interesting that the rare butterfly which lives in the tropical region is also distributed in the subtropical areas.
  
• In Japan, it is born some time between late in April and May, and some in the middle of August.
  
• “Mikadoageha” of Kochi City, Shikoku, and its habitat are designated as Special Natural Monuments.

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