Issued by India

Issued on Dec 19, 2025

Issued for : Department of Posts is proud to issue a set of Commemorative Postage Stamps honoring the treasures of nature and traditional knowledge of India, promoting well-being and health through vital medicinal plants like Shatavari, Mandukparni, Pippali, Guduchi and Ashwagandha.

Credits :
Stamps/Souvenir Sheet/FDC/Brochure/Cancellation Cachet : Shri Anuj Kumar

Type : Miniature Sheet, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 500 Paise (5)

Souvenir Sheet Price : 2500 Paise

Souvenir Sheets Printed : 1,11,000

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

About : 

• India’s geographical diversity has blessed it with an unparalleled wealth of medicinal plants, which form the bedrock of various traditional systems of Medicine. The following five plants, in particular, showcase the varied therapeutic potential and the targeted use of specific plant parts in healing practices:
  • Asparagus racemosus Willd. (Shatavari): The plant is a perennial, prickly climber and a highly branched undershrub found throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of India. It is used as an adaptogen to help the body manage stress, supporting reproductive health, digestion, immunity, and overall vitality.
  • Centella asiatica L. (Mandukparni): A perennial prostrate herb with creeping stems that root at the nodes, it has simple, reniform leaves with long petioles. The inflorescence is a loose, sub-capitate umbel. The dried whole plant is used for fever, itching, cough and anemia.
  • Piper longum L. (Pippali): A slender, aromatic, creeping perennial herb, the plant is used in dyspepsia, abdominal pain and diuretic splenopathy, anorexia, asthma and fever.
  • Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Miers ex Hook.f. & Thoms. (Guduchi): A large, extensively spreading perennial woody climber with succulent stems, its stem is used for treating fever, cough, gout, worm infestation, anemia and skin diseases.
  • Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal (Ashwagandha): A perennial herb and erect, branched undershrub growing up to 1.25 m in height. It is useful as a rejuvenator and promotes intellect, stability and strength.
• India is not only home to diverse medicinal plants but also a global centre of botanical knowledge, with traditional systems documenting nearly 8,000 plant-based remedies. A large share of the population, especially in rural areas, still depends on these accessible and time-tested natural medicines. Growing global preference for safe, holistic, plant-based products has further increased demand, making India one of the world’s leading exporters of medicinal plants and a key supplier to the herbal, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries.
• Text : Based on the content provided by National Medicinal Plants Board, Ministry of AYUSH.

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Issued by India

Issued on Oct 15, 2019

Issued for : Department of Posts is pleased to release a set of two fragrant Commemorative Postage Stamps each on Agarwood and Orange Blossom on the theme Indian Perfumes.

Credits :
Stamps/Miniature Sheet/First Day Cover/Information Brochure : Smt. Bharati Mirchandani
Cancellation Cachet : Smt. Nenu Gupta

Type : Miniature Sheet, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 2500 Paise (2) and 2500 Paise (2)

Stamps Printed : 8.0 Lakh each

Miniature Sheets Printed : 2.0 Lakh each

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

About : 

• Perfume basically refers to a scented mixture of essential oils, fixatives and solvents to provide an agreeable scent to the body, food, objects and living spaces. Etymologically speaking, the word “perfume” is derived from the Latin word, “per fumus” meaning through smoke. Perfume and perfumery finds prominence in the Indus Valley Civilization, which existed from 3300 BCE to 1300 BCE. One of the earliest references to distillation of perfume was in the Ayurvedic text Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita and deals mainly with the manufacturer of perfumes. It was also understood that perfumes attracted angels and warded off darkness or evil spirits. Saints and spiritual aspirants would adorn themselves with the finest scents to assist them in their journey towards enlightenment. Some of the prominent lovers of Indian perfumes, also called ittar, were the Mughal nobles of India.
• AGARWOOD perfume, also known as Oud, has a bitter sweet, woody and balsamic nuance. It is reputed to be one of the most expensive perfumes in the world. There are many names for the resinous, fragrant heartwood produced primarily by trees in the genus Aquilaria. Oil extracted from agarwood is used as a high-quality perfume. The Indian sub-continent was the main source of agarwood for many centuries. Today Agarwood plantations exist in a number of countries, including India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Thailand, Vietnam etc. The best quality oil comes out from the first distillation process and after this, the wood undergoes the second distillation. Hence, it is graded according to the number of times it is cooked. With its warm, smoky balsamic fragrance it is sure to calm, inspire and brighten one’s mood.
• ORANGE BLOSSOM is aromatic, sweet and elegant and is a highly coveted scent in perfumes. It is traditionally associated with good fortune and is often favoured by brides on their wedding day. It is the fragrant flower of Citrus sinensis (orange tree) and is one of the most popular flowers in perfume making. It came to India originally through Chinese travellers and traders and later through the Portuguese and Dutch. Today India, Brazil and China are the largest cultivators of the orange tree. Orange blossom essence is an important component in the making of perfume. The fragrant flower is used by many top perfumers and is usually combined with floral bouquets and oriental scents.
• Text : Shri Pallab Bose.

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Issued by India

Issued on Aug 1, 2019

Issued for : Department of Posts is pleased to release a set of two fragrant Commemorative Postage Stamps each and a Miniature Sheet each on Sandalwood and Jasmine as part of the series on Indian Perfumes.

Credits :
Stamps/Miniature Sheets/First Day Cover/Information Brochure : Smt Bharati Mirchandani
Cancellation Cachet : Smt Nenu Gupta

Type : Miniature Sheet, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 2500 Paise (2) and 2500 Paise (2)

Stamps Printed : 8.0 Lakh each

Miniature Sheets Printed : 2.0 Lakh each

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

About : 

• Indian perfumery dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization running through the Gupta period up to the Mauryan periods. The great poet Kalidas, makes detailed reference to the use of fragrances by the Protagonist of his plays. In 1469, a ruler Ghiyath Shah the Sultan of Malwa, patronised the book The Ni’matnama, or the Book of Delights, which records two of the ancient world’s most sophisticated traditions of perfumery: that emanating from Persia and Arabia, on the one hand and the ancient Indian tradition that goes back to the time of the Vedas on the other. In the heart of the old city of Delhi, in Chandni Chowk, as also in the old cities of Agra, Lucknow and Hyderabad, there still exist perfumers whose family had been engaged in perfumery and who continue the ancient Indian tradition of ittar-making: oil-based scent manufacturing.
• SANDALWOOD is heavy, yellow and fine-grained and unlike many other aromatic woods, it retains its fragrance for decades. Sandalwood oil is extracted from the woods for use. Both the wood and the oil produce a distinctive fragrance that has been highly valued for centuries in India. Warm, woody and comforting, sandalwood has a lingering quality that makes it the perfect sophisticated unisex fragrance. Its warm notes make it the ideal winter scent and, combined with floral accords, it adds a spicy quality to summer perfumes. Smooth, rich and essentially soft, its notes work well with accords of vanilla, amber, patchouli, lavender and cedar wood. Sandalwood oil has a distinctive soft, smooth, creamy and milky precious-wood scent. It imparts a long-lasting, woody base to perfumes. When used in smaller proportions in a perfume, it acts as a fixative, enhancing the longevity of other, more volatile, materials in the composite. Sandalwood is also a key ingredient in the floral fragrance family when combined with white florals such as jasmine, gardenia, plumeria, orange blossom, tuberose, etc. Sandalwood oil is widely used in India in the cosmetic and perfumery industry since ancient times.
• JASMINE is one of the oldest known and most widely-used botanical scents and is a popular household perfume. Jasmine ittar was the favourite perfume of the Nizams of the Hyderabad State. The perfume is derived from the flower of shrubs and vines in the olive family (Oleaceae). Indian Jasmine grows mainly in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Western Ghats and Southern India. It is known as Juhi (Hindi), Jui (Bengali), Usimalligai (Tamil) etc. and holds great significance in Indian culture. Jasmine has a sweet, warm, floral scent that can be both slightly heady and relaxing with fruity undertones. The fragrance of jasmine is synonymous with our culture in the forms of spirituality, tradition and also medicine. Jasminum sambac fragrance has rejuvenating, boosting and energizing properties, which makes it a natural fragrance, while Jasminum grandiflorum is one of the most prominent scents and it has highly unique and incredibly intense aroma. Essential oil in flowers is extracted through enfleurage/solvent methods which is widely used for production of jasmine perfume in India. The perfume is deep brown with a golden tinge with a thick consistency, having a strong aroma and generally blends well with all oils. Jasmine has been concluded as the “King of Oils”. It is also interesting to note that it takes 8,000 carefully hand-picked blossoms to produce 1 gram (about 1 ml.) of Jasmine Absolute.
• Text : Shri Pallab Bose.

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Issued by India

Issued on Apr 23, 2017

Issued for : Department of Posts is pleased to issue a Commemorative Postage Stamp on Coffee as a fragrance stamp.

Credits :
Miniature Sheet/FDC/Brochure/Cancellation Cachet : Smt. Alka Sharma

Type : Miniature Sheet, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 10000 Paise

Miniature Sheet Printed : 0.2 million

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

About : 

• Coffee is one of the important beverage crops of the world. Coffee is prepared from the seeds of the fruit obtained from the plant. The plant is 3-6 metres in height. It is native to the highlands of southern Ethiopia. Its name has been derived from a highland district of Kaffa, where it was originally grown. From here, it was taken to Yemen, on the south-western parts of Arabia by the Arab traders and was grown at Mocha in 575 A.D. Later from Arabia, coffee plants were taken to other parts of the world, where they were successfully grown. Today, many countries have become major producers of coffee. Coffee has come up as a popular drink for the people across the world.
• Coffee is a tropical plant. It can grow in the region around the equator due to its tropical climate. This region includes Central America, Northern South America, Africa, the Middle East, India and Indonesia. Coffee plants need warm climate and a moderate supply of moisture for its growth.
• The two main species of coffee are Arabica and Robusta. Coffee Arabia is grown in Yemen. Arabica is descended from the original coffee trees discovered in Ethiopia. These trees produce a fine, mild, aromatic coffee and represent approximately 70% of the world’s coffee production. The beans are flatter and more elongated than Robusta and lower in caffeine. It is of excellent flavour, aroma and taste.
• Robusta is primarily used in blends and for instant coffees. The Robusta bean itself tends to be slightly rounder and smaller than an Arabica bean. Robusta coffee packs 50% more caffeine, and a sharp bitter flavour. This is one reason why Arabica coffee is the more desirable of the two.
• Coffee is the second important beverage crop of India. It was during 18^th century that the commercial plantations of coffee were started by the British entrepreneurs. The constraints of agro-climatic environments have forced coffee plantations to be in a small area. It is grown under a canopy of thick natural shade in ecologically sensitive regions of the Western and Eastern Ghats. This is one of the 25 biodiversity hotspots of the world. Coffee contributes significantly to sustain the unique bio-diversity of the region and is also responsible for the socio-economic development in the remote, hilly areas.
• The state of Karnataka dominates in coffee production, followed by Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Coffee is also being grown in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and North Eastern States.
• The coffees of India are a diverse range of 16 coffees. Grown in different regions, at various elevations, nourished by many different soils and tended to by loving hands of various kinds of people, it is not surprising that the coffees are so different from each other.
• Coffee in India has traditionally been a staple beverage of southern states. Coffee making in these places has taken the form of a fine art and the traditional way of preparing coffee from coffee beans is much respected. However, with the size of instant coffee, its consumption has become more widespread where it is replacing tea as a regular beverage. Increasing global exposure has brought different varieties of coffee in the market. Thus, a cup of aromatic brew connects us to the millions of coffee lovers across the world.
• Text : Based on the material available on internet.

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Issued by India

Issued on Dec 19, 2011

Issued for : India Post is happy to issue a Postage Stamp to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Goa Liberation.

Credits :
Stamp/FDC : Kamleshwar Singh
Cancellation : Alka Sharma

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 0.3 Million

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : ISP Nashik

About : 

• The Portuguese advent in India gained momentum in 1510, with the invasion of the Western coast line and annexation of a few colonies including Goa. Though the people of Goa were peace loving they resented Portuguese occupation of their territory and the accompanying reprisal measures. They sought liberation. The first spark of the freedom movement was ignited by the Ranes when Dipaji Rane spearheaded a revolt in 1852. Another one followed in 1885, led by Dada Rane. The last rebellion took place in 1912, and the leaders at the forefront Morya Sawant, Jill Sawant and their companion Cutodio (Quistulo) were killed due to treachery. In all, there were 14 rebellions by Ranes but all of them were crushed. Consequently, activities of the freedom movement were shifted beyond the borders of Goa.
• Many organisations like National Congress Goa, Azad Gamantak Dal, United Front of Goans, Goa Liberation Council, Goan People’s Party, Quit Goa Organization and Goa Vimochan Sahayak Samiti were formed. Some believed in armed struggle. They infiltrated into Goa and attacked Portuguese troops and their supply positions.
• On 18^th June 1946 people assembled under the leadership of Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia to defy the curbs on civil liberties and chart out the future course of action towards freedom and democracy. A seminar on Portuguese colonialism was held in New Delhi in October 1961 in which the leaders from Africa called upon Jawahar Lal Nehru, the then Prime Minister to lead the struggle of liberating Portuguese colonies. At the end of the seminar there was a public meeting in Mumbai during which the Prime Minister declared : “We have to think afresh now because of the happenings in Goa. In the last three months, cases of torture have come to our notice besides terror that is spread there by the Portuguese. We will have to adopt other means to solve the problems. Goa will soon be free“.
• The Indian Army, assisted by Air Force and Navy, launched an armed action code named “Operation Vijay” on 18^th December 1961. The liberation of Goa from Portuguese occupation was completed on 19^th December 1961. On 20^th June 1962, the status of Union Territory was conferred upon Goa, Daman and Diu. In the opinion poll that took place during 1967, people of Goa firmly voted to retain their separate identity, rejecting merger with the State of Maharashtra. Finally, on 30^th May 1987, Goa was accorded statehood and Daman and Diu were bifurcated and accorded the status of Union Territory.
• Goa is situated along the Konkan coast of India. It has a coastline of 105 km, Six rivers, namely Mandovi, Zuari, Sal, Terekhol, Chaporaand, Talpona flow through the State. The climate of Goa is generally pleasant and equitable throughout the year. The beaches of Goa attract tourists from all over the world.
• Text : Based on the material provided by the proponent.

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Issued by India

Issued on Mar 6, 2009

Issued for : India Post is happy to issue a Commemorative Postage Stamp on Pterospermum Acerifolium.

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

Type : Stamp, Postal Used

Colour : Multi colour 

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 3.0 million

Printing Process : Wet–offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

About : 

• Pterospermum Acerifolium, commonly known as Bayur Tree, Dinnerplate Tree, Maple-leaved Bayur, Mayeng, Kanakchampa, Kaniar or katha champa reaches a height of 50-70 ft. Leaves are simple, alternate, have stipulate and are palmately ribbed. It has large fragrant nocturnal white flowers, occurring in auxiliary fascicle. Fruit is a reddish wood used for planking; often grown as an ornamental or shade tree. The name ‘pterospermum’ derived from two Greek words, ‘petron‘ and ‘sperma‘ that mean “winged seed”. The name of its family is ‘Stercullaceae‘. The origin of the beautiful tree is in the Northern parts of India, Assam and Burma. It remains a slim and high tree in those area, but in further south, it falls to achieve a great height.
• The Karnikar tree contains very large sized flowers and leaves, it looks outstanding and can become evergreen as well. The leaves of the Karnikar tree pale grey in colour underneath it. When the wind spins and twists them on their long stalks, they look most prominent. The bark of the tree is also grey in colour and soft. The twigs are feathery and are of rusty-brown colour. At the young age, the leaves also have this downy covering and when they develop, the covering drops on. The large, round leaves of this tree can make fine plates and can also be used to wrap up something. People lay down the leaves on roof from the under-surface in order to stop bleeding. The flowers of the tree have their respective medicinal uses as well. A good tonic can be prepared from them and can be used as a cure for inflammation, ulcers and tumours. It is used for planking, boxes, spars etc.
• The golden-hued flower has a beautiful tassel-like form which makes it look very ornamental. It has an intense fragrance, perceptible even from a great distance while it is on the tree. The fragrance starts fading the moment it is plucked. The golden pendant flowers of the karnikar adorn the ears of Sri Krishna in the Bhagavatam (karmayoh karnikaram).
• Text : Based on materials provided by the proponent.

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Issued by India

Issued on Dec 13, 2006

Issued for : Sandalwood is an integral part of the Indian heritage, which we need to treasure and conserve, and the Department of Posts is proud to issue a perfumed commemorative postage stamp on this national treasure. This stamp, with its unmistakable fragrance of Sandalwood, is the first perfumed stamp brought out by India Post.

Credits :
Stamp : Sankha Samanta (Based on the material provided by the ‘Cauvery‘ Karnataka State Arts and Crafts Emporium, New Delhi.
FDC : Sankha Samanta
Cancellation : Alka Sharma

Type : Miniature Sheet, Mint Condition

Colour : Multicolour

Denomination : 1500 paise

Stamps Printed : 3.0 Million

Printing Process : Photogravure

Printer : India Security Press, Nashik

About : 

• Prized since time immemorial for its fragrance and medicinal properties, Sandalwood enjoys a very special status in India. An intrinsic part of Hindu religious rituals and social customs, Sandalwood finds mention in Indian classical literature and scriptures dating back to 2000 BC, including the “Ramayana“, the poetry of Kalidasa, as also Buddhist texts which attribute it to the Bodhisatva Amitabha.
• The Sandalwood tree is currently found in India, Sri Lanka, Australia, China, Taiwan, Hawaii, and some other South Pacific islands. In India the tree grows in the southern deciduous forests of the Western Ghats and the Deccan plateau, mainly in the States of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Botanically known as “Santalum album” the Sandalwood tree belongs to the Santalacea family and is a hemi parasite. This means that the roots derive nutrition from neighbouring plants. Sandalwood is also known to be resistant to insects. As the tree grows, the essential oil develops in its roots and heartwood, which is the core of the sandalwood tree, and this can take upto 15 to 20 years. It is interesting to note that the sandalwood tree is not felled. Instead the tree is uprooted in the rainy season, when its roots are rich in the precious oil. It is said that one ton of the heartwood can yield upto 60 Kgs of oil.
• Apart from its oil, the sandalwood tree is also valued for its wood and bark. The powdered bark is an important ingredient in the making of “Agarbattis” or incense sticks, and the wood is used for carving. Skilled artisans work to fashion the wood into caskets and panels, statues and figurines of deities, and into temple doors. Although not commonly used as a construction material, Sandalwood has also been used to build temples and its aroma has lingered on through the centuries.
• Made into a powder or paste, the wood has been used in traditional medicine, along with the oil, to treat a variety of ailments ranging from snakebites, respiratory treat and digestive complications, to skin problems, and also to nourish and beautify the skin. The fragrance of sandalwood is useful in aromatherapy, to relieve stress and depression, alleviate anger and aggression, and to foster calm and tranquility. Above all the oil is prized for its wonderful fragrance. Its warm, sweet, slightly spicy woodnotes, are long-lasting and distinctive, yet mild enough to blend harmoniously with other aromas to create an endless variety of perfumes.
• Little wonder then that sandalwood is a very precious commodity. Commerce in sandalwood dates back to the beginnings of trade in India and Indian sandalwood is now quite rare and expensive. In 1792, the ruler of Mysore (part of present day Karnataka) had declared the sandalwood as a royal tree and, even today, no individual in India may own a sandalwood tree. All sandalwood trees in India are owned by the Government, and their harvest is strictly controlled. Nevertheless, it is a sad fact that the illegal felling and export of sandalwood is not uncommon, and this poses a serious threat to the tree and its habitat.

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Issued by India

Issued on May 29, 2006

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 1500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 0.8 Million

Miniature Sheets : 0.1 Million

Printing Process : Photogravure

Printer : India Security Press, Nashik

About : 

• Kurinji is the legendary blue and white flowers of the Western Ghats, is said to have given its name to Nilgiris (the blue hills around Ooty in Tamil Nadu and Wynad district in Kerala) and the plant itself is an indicator of the health of the ecosystem.
• Flowering in the wilder hilly areas of the Western Ghats, Sahyadri ranges and Kodaikanal mountains in high altitudes of about 1600 metres, the flower is exclusive to India and some species are known to flower once in twelve years.
• It is a gregarious shrub in the family of Acathancea, of the sub species of Strobilanthes group. The more important and famous among them is “Neela kurinji” or “Blue Flower”, “Strobilanthes kunthiranus“.
• The Kurinji plant occurs on the dry slopes and in gorges of the eastern side of the hills, where there is little or no tree forest. It is tall bushy shrub, sometimes eight to ten feet high, and is covered with a profusion of bright blue bell-like flowers. All of them have a periodicity from eight to 12 years. After blossoming, the plant wilts.
• The last blooming was recorded in 1994. Though it started blooming in December 2005, the flower in its gorgeous full bloom can be seen in 2006. The occasion of blooming attracts tourists from all over the world.
• It is said that in and around Munnar, the tribals, a majority of them Muduvas, calculate their age with the flowering kurinji. It is also believed that it has medicinal properties and is recognized in the Ayurveda system.
• Systematic record of its blooming has been kept since 1838 although Kurinji flower was first mentioned in the Tamil Sangam classics of 3-5 A.D., such as Akananuru, Purananuru and Madurai Kanchi. The plant is referred as “Karungal Kurinji“, meaning the black-stemmed flower. When Kurinji is in bloom, the honey gathered from the vicinity is said to be of special values.

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Issued by India

Issued on Sep 21, 2005

Issued for : India as a nation has always been a votary of peace and non-violence, and the Department of Posts is privileged to issue a commemorative postage stamp on the occasion of the United Nations International Day of Peace in 2005.

Design : The stamp designs for the UN International Day of Peace, 2005, have been prepared by children who participated in the United Nations global peace poster contest which was sponsored by the Lions Clubs International, who have given the United Nations Postal Administration the exclusive right to use the artwork for United Nations postage stamps. The United Nations in turn has allowed postal administrations around the world to use these designs from which a selection has been made.

Credits :
Stamp : Design given by UNPA Internet
FDC & Cancellation : Alka Sharma

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multicolour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 0.8 Million

Printing Process : Photogravure

Printer : India Security Press, Nashik

About : 

• The United Nations is the only organization in the world that is permitted to issue postage stamps though it is neither a country nor a territory. It is also the only postal authority to issue stamps in three different currencies, namely US Dollars, Swiss Francs and Austrian Schillings.
• The idea of the United Nations issuing its own stamps was first proposed by Argentina in 1947. An agreement with the United States Postal authorities was executed in 1951 and the first United Nations stamps were issued in US Dollar denominations on United Nations Day, 24 October 1951. The stamps were an immediate success and sold out within days. Similar postal agreements were subsequently made with the Swiss and Austrian authorities and since 1979, United Nations stamps are issued simultaneously at United Nations Offices in New York, Geneva and Vienna.
• In the 55^th Session of the United Nations General Assembly it was decided to observe 21^st of September of each year, as the International Day of Peace. Since then the United Nations Postal Administration has developed a unique concept which allows all Postal Administrations to participate and spread the message of peace throughout the world through postage stamps.
• Apart from being messengers of peace, the United Nations stamps also draw attention to significant world problems and the United Nations’ commitment to serve humanity by promoting improvements in areas like human rights, dignity of labour, child welfare, food for all, clean environment, health, world peace etc.
• The beauty, uniqueness and special significance of United Nations stamps, combined with their individual often intriguing histories, continue to be a source of fascination and make the stamps of great value for philatelists and collectors. The United Nations stamps are appreciated by the collectors not only for their innovative designs and universal themes, but also because it is possible to collect every United Nations stamp ever issued. The United Nations Postal Administration has issued over one thousand stamps till date.
• The future of philately, like the future of the world, rests with today’s youth. Keeping this in view, the United Nations Postal Administration is encouraging children to take up philately as a recreational hobby which will also help spread the message of the United Nations by introducing fun packs and special stamp albums for children.
• The United Nations stamps are miniature works of art which have won international design awards. They are created by professional artists as well as amateur and child artists from around the world, and are printed around the world in different countries.
• Text : Material provided by UNPA.

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Issued by India

Issued on Mar 24, 2005

Issued for : The Department of Posts is happy to issue a set of four postage stamps on the Flora & Fauna of North East India.

Credit :
Stamp & FDC : Sankha Samantha
Cancellation : Alka Sharma

Type : Miniature Sheet, Mint Condition

Colour : Multicolour

Denomination : 500 Paisa each

Stamps Printed : 3 Million each

Miniature Sheets : 0.1 Million 

Printing Process : Photo Gravure

Printer : India Security Press, Nasik

About : 

• The North-East India, a paradise of natural beauty is a home to rich bio-diversity. The Eastern Himalayas, marked by a sharp southward bend from the East-West trend of the Central Himalayas, are much greener due to high rainfall and present a rare physiographical picture. The Brahmaputra valley and the adjoining plains are as sharply contrasted from the Garo, Khasi, Jaintia, Lushai Hills as are the various tribes and non-tribal population. Their geographical isolation has resulted into evolution of exotic and rare plant and animal species.
• Department of Posts is issuing a set of four stamps depicting the flora & fauna of North-East India as described below.
• Clouded leopard [Nenfelis nebulosa (Griffith)]
  • The clouded leopard is found in the forests of Sikkim, Assam and adjoining Bhutan and Nepal. It is listed as endangered animal under schedule I, Wildlife Protection Act 1972. It is largely arboreal and inhabits dense evergreen forests where it hunts its prey by night. The Clouded pattern of the flanks is formed by dark blotches more or less lined with black and divided by paler interspaces. These characteristics differentiate it from other cat family animals. Its feet resemble those of the panther, tiger and the lion. The markings of the clouded leopard give it beauty and majesty.
• Mishmi Takin (Budorcas taxicolor Hodgson)
  • In India, takin is found only in the Mishmi hills and Arunachal Pradesh. It is also found in Bhutan Himalayas and in the mountains of the Salveen–Irrawaddy divide. It is listed as endangered animal under schedule I Wildlife Protection Act 1972.
  • They live in the steepest and most thickly wooded declivities of their native mountains. They are usually found in the dense bamboo and rhododendron jungle at altitude of 2100-3000 m. In the summer they can be seen in herd. The takin adult male is golden-yellow and young male is reddish brown in front merging into black.
• Dillenia Indica Linn. (Dilleniaceae)
  • A handsome evergreen tree upto 30-80 ft., is commonly seen along banks of forest streams, also found in the moist and evergreen forests of sub-Himalayan tract, Assam and Bengal.
  • Leaf is oblong – lanceolate, flowers large, white fragrant and solitary, fruit large and hard.
  • The timber is used in the form of planks & rafters and for making tool handles and bottoms of boats. The ripe fruit is used as flavouring in curries, jams and jellies. The bark and leaves are astringent. Dried leaves are used as a substitute for sand paper.
• The Pitcher plant (Nepenthes khasiana)
  • The Pitcher plant (Nepenthes khasiana) Hk is endemic to Meghalaya. It is found in the Jarain area of the Jaintia Hills and the Baghmara area of the Garo Hills as well as in the Khasi Hills.
  • The most interesting part of the Pitcher plant is its leaf. The leaf is modified into different parts – the lamina, the pitcher, the lid and the tendril. The Pitcher is the special modification designed to catch insects. At the apex of the pitcher is the lid which covers the pitcher. The Pitcher plant is unique in that it is an insectivorous plant, trapping insects in the pitcher for its nutrition.
  • The only Nepenthes species native to India, N. khasiana is a remarkably plastic plant, able to adjust to a wide variety of climatic conditions. It is considered the most cold-tolerant Nepenthes, and is reported to be able to withstand temperatures as low as -2 C. The size of the pitcher ranges between 2 inches to 10 inches.
  • The plant is called Tiew-Rakot, which means demon-flower by the Khasis while it is called Kset Phae by the Jaintias, Kset meaning net with a lid and Phare meaning fly. In the Garo Hills, it is called memang-Koksi, which translates as the basket of the devil.
  • The Pitcher plant  is an endangered species and its export is prohibited.
• Text : Based on material given by proponents.

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