Issued by Nepal

Issued on 2031 Paush 16 corresponding 31 December 1974

Issued by :
His Majesty’s Government,
Postal Services Dept.,
Nepal Philatelic Bureau,
Kathmandu

Designer : K. Karmacharya

Type : Stamps, Postal Used

Denomination :
a) Muktinath – 25 Paisa
b) Peacock window – 1.00 Rupee

Colour : 4 colours

Size : 38.34 x 28.50 mm

Perforation : 13 x 13½

Paper : Unwatermarked gummed Paper

Quantity :
a) Muktinath – 1000000
b) Peacock window – 500000

Sheet : 50

Process : Litho offset

Printer : The Pakistan Security Printing Corporation, Karachi

About : 

• Mukti Kshetra, one of the sacred Kshetras (places) of Nepal is situated at the height of more than 12,000 feet. It is 12 miles from Jomsom – a stol airport at Mustang district in Dhaulagiri Zone. This temple of Muktinath, built in a Pagoda style, is visited every year by several Hindus and Buddhists.
• This artistic peacock window was carved during the reign of King Vishwa Malla. It is taken from a monastery popularly known as Pujari Math, just beside the temple of Dattatraya at Bhaktapur.

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Issued by Nepal

Issued on 2031 Paush 13 corresponding to 28 Dec. 1974

Issued by :
His Majesty’s Government
Postal Services Dept.
Nepal Philatelic Bureau
Kathmandu

Designer : K. Karmacharya

Type : Stamp, Postal Used

Denomination : 25 Paisa

Colour : 2 colour

Size : 3.34 x 2.51 cm

Perforation : 13 x 13

Paper : Unwatermarked gummed paper

Quantity : 1,000,000 (one million)

Sheet : 50

Process : Litho Offset

Printer : The Pakistan Security Printing Corporation, Karachi, Pakistan

Name : Birendra Bir Bikram Shah

Born on Dec 28, 1945 at Kathmandu, Nepal

Died on Jun 1, 2001 at Kathmandu, Nepal

About : 

• “The political system of a country is a means, not an end. National development does not stipulate any particular ‘ism or institution.“ – HM King Birendra

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Issued by India

Issued on Dec 24, 1974

Issued for : The body of St. Francis Xavier was then exposed for public veneration since November 23, 1974 to January 5, 1975. The Posts and Telegraphs Department deem it their privilege to issue a commemorative stamp during this period in honour of this great Saint.

Description of Design : The design of the stamp shows the image of St. Francis Xavier. In the background can be seen the silver casket in which his body is interred. The colour transparency on the basis of which the design has been prepared is received by courtesy of the Taj Group of Hotels. The first day cover design shows a view of See Cathedral.

Type : Block of 4 Stamps, Mint Condition

Colour : Multicolour

Denomination : 25 Paise

Overall Size : 3.91 X 2.90 cms.

Printing Size : 3.36 X 2.54 cms.

Perforation : 13 x 13

Watermark : Unwatermarked paper

Number Printed : 40,00,000

Number per issue sheet : 35

Printing Process : Photogravure

Printed at : India Security Press

Name : Francisco de Jasso y Azpilicueta

Born on Apr 7, 1506 at Javier, Kingdom of Navarre [now in Spain]

Died on Dec 3, 1552 at Shangchuan Island, Chuanshan Archipelago, Taishan, China

About : 

• St. Francis Xavier was born in Navarre in Spain in the castle of Xavier on 7^th April, 1506. After elementary education in Spain, he joined the College of St. Barbara in Paris and took M.A. Degree in 1530. He was appointed teacher in the same college to teach Aristotelian philosophy. He was however moved by the words of Christ: “What does it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose the salvation of his soul ?“, quoted to him repeatedly by a companion of his, St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus. He, therefore, left the chair of Lecturer in Paris University and followed St. Ignatius.
• He came over to India in May 1542 at the instance of the King of Portugal and preached the Gospel of Christ for ten years. His fields of work were Goa, the coromandel coast and the west coast upto Cape Comorin. Living a life of strict austerity he set about serving the poor. He prayed much and set the example of Christ before all.
• St. Francis is acclaimed the second Apostle of India as he followed the footsteps of St. Thomas. St. Francis Xavier through his strenuous efforts revived the Gospel message. He spent himself to share his faith and conviction with the people of India who from time immemorial had been manifesting a deep appreciation for spiritual values. In 1545 he sailed to Malacca and therefrom to Japan in 1549. From Japan he went to China in 1552 and it was during this journey that he breathed his last in early December 1552. His body was buried in an island near the coast of China and later on removed to Malacca and finally in 1554 to Goa where it was interred in the Basilica of Bom Jesus.

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Issued by India

Issued on Dec 12, 1974

Issued for : The Indian P & T Department deems it a great privilege to bring out a commemorative stamp in honour of this great Italian scientist whose epoch-making invention has revolutionised the world of communications.

Description of Design : The design of the stamp is vertical and depicts the portrait of Marconi.

Type : Stamp, Postal Used

Colour : Grey

Denomination : Rs.2

Overall Size : 3.91 X 2.90 cms.

Printing Size : 3.56 X 2.54 cms.

Perforation : 13 x 13

Watermark : Unwatermarked paper

Number Printed : 20,00,000

Number per issue sheet : 35

Printing Process : Photogravure

Designed and Printed at : India Security Press

Name : Guglielmo Giovanni Maria Marconi

Born on Apr 25, 1874 at Palazzo Marescalchi, Bologna, Italy

Died on Jul 20, 1937 at Rome, Italy

About : 

• Guglielmo Marconi was born in the Italian town of Bologna on April 25, 1874. He had his early schooling in Bologna and Florence. Later he went to the technical school of Leghorn, where he studied Physics under Vincenzo Rosa and had the opportunity of investigating electromagnetic (or Hertzian) waves, following the earlier mathematical work of Maxwell and the experimental work of Hertz, Lodge and others.
• After conceiving the idea of using electro-magnetic waves for telegraphy, he carried out various experiments and finally in 1895 succeeded in transmitting signals over a distance of a few metres. Later, he was able to transmit Morse signals over distances of more than three kilo-metres. The following year he went to England to file his first patent in Wireless Telegraphy. A letter of introduction to William Preece, Engineer-in-Chief of the General Post Office, led to a series of demonstrations culminating in 1897 in a record transmission across 14 Kms. of the Bristol Channel.
• By the end of the century wireless communication had been adopted by the British and Italian Navies. Its value as a life saver was also quickly recognised by the merchant navy. Thanks to wireless, a number of lives were saved during the “Titanic” disaster in 1912.
• The year 1901 was a landmark in Marconi‘s life. Apart from the establishment of a wireless school (today’s Marconi College) and communicating over a distance of 319 Kms. between Isle of Wight and Lizard, he succeeded in his famous trans-Atlantic experiments conducted with the assistance of such noted persons as Dr. Fleming (inventor of the radio valve), George Kemp, P.W. Paget and others. He was able to receive signals sent from Poldhu Cornwall, across the Atlantic Ocean at St. John’s, New Foundland.
• Wireless soon became popular and was adapted to aeroplanes during the First World War. A further stride in wireless communications was made in 1919, when a Marconi engineer made the first east to west transatlantic telephony transmission, and the concept of broadcasting took shape at Marconi‘s Works in Chelmsford. In 1922, the British Broadcasting Company (which later became the British Broadcasting Corporation) was formed by Marconi‘s Works and five other manufacturers. In 1924, the British Government awarded a contract to Marconi for the formation of a wireless telecommunication network connecting countries in the British Empire, using shortwave directional transmission developed by him.
• In 1929, Marconi returned to Italy because of ill-health, but continued his work, as a result of which he installed the first microwave telephone link in 1932 and also demonstrated the principles of Radar in 1935. The Marconi EMI Ltd., in England had, in the meantime, introduced the world’s first high definition television service.
• The Nobel Prize for Physics awarded to Marconi in 1909 was one of the many honours he received during his life time. After the First World War during which he served in the Italian Army, he did intensive diplomatic work as a plenipotentiary delegate to the Paris Peace Conference. The great pioneer and inventor died in Rome on July 20, 1937. A fitting tribute was paid to him when wireless transmission all over the world was stopped for two minutes.

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Issued by India

Issued on Dec 8, 1974

Issued for : The P & T Department feels privileged to highlight the social problems of the mentally retarded by the issuance of a Commemorative postage stamp.

Description of Design : It is a combination of two illustration motifs, a red motif of a spiral symbolising a retarded mind and a realistic form of a child’s face given in silhouette.

Designed by : Shri Benoy Sarkar

Type : Stamp, Postal Used

Colour : Brilliant orange & black 

Denomination : 25 Paise

Overall Size : 3.91 X 2.90 cms.

Printing Size : 3.56 X 2.54 cms.

Perforation : 13 x 13

Watermark : Printed on unwatermarked adhesive stamp paper

Number Printed : 30,00,000

Number per issue sheet : 35

Printing Process : Photogravure

Printed at : India Security Press

About : 

• In an age characterised by prolific scientific advances, the products of the intellect, mental retardation is naturally, though unjustifiably, feared. It refers to children who learn more slowly and cannot do all the things that their peers can. Diminished mental ability may arise from many factors, including infection of the mother during pregnancy, trauma or disease in early childhood, malnutrition or simply an impoverished social environment. The number of these children in India is variously estimated but is perhaps not less than 20 lakh. Application of insights and techniques contributed by education, psychology, social work and other relevant disciplines have, however, opened up new possibilities of economic independence and social adequacy for many retarded children. Our unsophisticated rural environment makes adjustment for the retarded child easier.
• The goal of education and rehabilitation for these children is to optimise the development of their potential and this can be best achieved by heightening community awareness of this poignant social problem through every available means of communication.

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Issued by India

Issued on Dec 2, 1974

Issued for : During this period New Delhi was the venue for several complementary activities aimed at encouraging Dairying in India. The Posts and Telegraphs Department is happy to bring out a commemorative postage stamp to mark this occasion.

Design : The motif on the stamp is adopted from a Pechwai (hand-painted cloth hangings from Rajasthan) and shows part of a scene depicting Krishna as Gopal Bal going out with the cows.

Type : Stamp, Postal Used

Colour : Multicolour

Denomination : 25 Paise

Overall Size : 3.34 X 2.88 cms.

Printing Size : 2.987 X 2.524 cms.

Perforation : 14 x 13½

Watermark : Printed on unwatermarked adhesive stamp paper

Number Printed : 30,00,000

Number per issue sheet :42

Printing Process : Photogravure

Designed and Printed at : India Security Press

About : 

• The XIX International Dairy Congress being held in New Delhi from 2^nd to 6^th December, 1974, is one of the major world conferences convened in India.
• Every 4 years International Dairy Congress is held in different countries under the aegis of the International Dairy Federation. It has two objectives:
  • (1) world-wide recognition of the significance of the dairy sciences and of dairying as an industry; and
  • (2) international exchange of experience, ideas and information which is so valuable to those in the dairy sciences and the dairy industry.
• The theme of the present Congress is “Dairying as an instrument of social and economic change“. This is particularly appropriate because it is being held in India, a country which is seeking to bring about a new social and economic order in response to the aspirations of its people. It has been demonstrated that dairying can be instrumental in improving the quality of life for millions of rural people.

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Issued by Canada

Issued on Nov 29, 1974

Issued for : The Post Office will honour William Hamilton Merritt “the father of Canadian transportation” on the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the start of construction on his greatest project, the Welland Canal between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie.

Design : The stamp in honour of William Hamilton Merritt was designed by William Rueter. The portrait of Merritt is taken from an oil painting by Robert Whale (1805-1887). Whale painted this portrait around 1860 and it originally hung in his home “Oak Hill”. The painting is presently held at the St. Catharines Historical Museum. The view of the Welland Canal is a steel engraved interpretation of an original wood engraved illustration “Lock No. 23 Thorold”. The illustration is taken from George Monro Grant‘s “Picturesque Canada” published in 1882. This work was illustrated under the supervision of L. R. O’Brien and the wood engraving itself was executed by Schell & Hogan.

Type : Stamp, Postal Used

Colour : Multi colour

Denomination : 8 Cents

Dimensions : 40 mm x 24 mm (horizontal)

Perforation : 13 and 13.5

Paper Type : Uncoated

Gum Type : PVA

Quantity : 28,000,000

Pane Layout : 50 stamps

Printing Process : Lithography 5 colours plus steel engraved 1 colour

Printer :
Lithography – Canadian Bank Note Co.
Steel Engraving – British American Bank Note Co.

Name : William Hamilton Merritt

Born on Jul 3, 1793 at New York, United States

Died on Jul 5, 1862 at Ontario, Canada

About : 

• Merritt was born on July 3, 1793, at Bedford, New York. In 1796 his family settled in what is now St. Catharines. In 1811 he set up a general store and took up farming. The War of 1812 interrupted business, however, and Merritt joined the militia which he left in 1815 with the rank of Captain, after several campaigns and eight months of captivity by the Americans.
• The conflict with the Americans didn’t prejudice Merritt towards them and within three years of the war’s end, he set to work on what was to be his life’s ambition, “to make Canada the avenue of trade between Great Britain and the western states”. In 1818 he and some other St. Catharines‘ business men claimed in a petition to the legislature that a canal could easily be built to bypass Niagara falls. Upper Canada had long needed such a project to secure naval supremacy over the United States on Lake Erie and to avoid dependence on American trade routes. A slump in agricultural prices and a customs dispute between Upper and Lower Canada postponed the task until 1824 but by then Merritt, “the eager, pushing, incurably romantic promoter”, and his colleagues had raised enough money to begin the canal which, with plenty of support from the government and American investors, was ready for traffic by 1829. Monetary success was not immediately forthcoming. The Welland Canal depended heavily on local American traffic and was eventually nationalized in 1841 because of financial embarrassments. Canadians were not unanimous in their praise of the great achievement and William Lyon Mackenzie went so far as to accuse Merritt of charging his “expenses in London for clubs, theatre tickets, cigars and gin”, to the company. Whatever the initial reception, the canal eventually became the kingpin of the transport system linking the Great Lakes with the Atlantic.
• Taking the first step on the St. Lawrence Seaway was not Merritt‘s only contribution. He served in the legislature from 1832 until 1860 and his position helped him to boost dozens of schemes, both great and small, many of which his fertile brain had hatched. He wanted public support for schools and libraries. He favoured annexing Montreal to Upper Canada. From a letter describing a suspension bridge in Europe, he got the idea in 1844 of building a similar structure to the United States across the Niagara Gorge. The bridge was in place within five years due to his audacity and promotional skill. Merritt was probably the first to state clearly that closer economic ties (reciprocity) with the United States would prevent annexation to it. He also believed that reciprocity would divert American wheat and flour from the New York route to Europe into the St. Lawrence system. Always the enthusiast, he more than anyone else, organized the reciprocity movement, and as the political man of affairs, he could take much of the credit for the successful attainment of its aims.
• Merritt, although scornful of any “trumpery railroad” trying to compete with his beloved canals felt the two could complement each other, in securing “the trade as much as possible within our own country”. He therefore proposed “one continuous railway from the Atlantic” along “the north side of Lake Ontario…..to Detroit”. Such a railway, to be built by private enterprise bolstered with government assistance, would not only transport Canadian goods to the Maritime market but would also hasten the arrival of Canadian federation.

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Issued by Sweden

Issued on Nov 16, 1974

Issued for : Swedish Shipping Industry

Picture : Several pictures of Swedish Shipping Industry. 1k – Tanker, 1k – Liner “Snow Storm”, 1k – Ice Breakers Tor and Atle, 1k – Skane Train Ferry, Trelleborg–Sassnitz & 1k – Tugs in Stockholm Harbor.

Colour : Dark Blue

Type : Stamps, Postal Used

Watermark : No

Denomination : 1 krona each

Perforation : 12½ Horizontal

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Issued by India

Issued on Nov 16, 1974

Issued for : The Posts and Telegraphs Department have on various occasions highlighted the significance of the armed forces in the country’s service by issuance of commemorative postage stamps and they are proud to focus on the services rendered by the Territorial Army by bringing out a commemorative stamp on the occasion of its Silver Jubilee celebrations.

Design : The emblem of the Territorial Army has been adopted as the motif on the stamp.

Designed by : Shri Benoy Sarkar

Type : Stamp, Postal Used

Colour : Multicolour

Denomination : 25 Paise

Overall Size : 3.91 X 2.90 cms.

Printing Size : 3.56 X 2.54 cms.

Perforation : 13 x 13

Watermark : Printed on unwatermarked adhesive stamp paper

Number Printed : 30,00,000

Number per issue sheet : 35

Printing Process : Photogravure

Printed at : India Security Press

About : 

• The Territorial Army raised in 1949 is essentially a Citizen’s Army. It is composed of persons who are not professional soldiers, but civilians eager to contribute their spare time in the service of the country by enrolling themselves in the Territorial Army. This discipline is designed to give young persons an opportunity to receive military training in their spare time without disturbing their normal vocations and to familiarise them with the use of arms so that they will be in a position to join the rank of the combatants whenever called upon to do so.
• Being a second line of defence it has played during the 25 years of its existence a commendable role in the service of the country during peace and in war. Just as the trained and disciplined manpower of the Citizen’s Army is available for military service during a national emergency it is available in the aid of the civil administration in times of need.

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Issued by Japan

Issued on Nov 15, 1974

Type : Stamp, Postal Used

Colour : Multicolour

Denomination : 20 Yen

Size of impression : 25 mm x 35.5 mm

Quantity issued : 40,000,000 stamps

About : 

• As the fourth in the Nature Conservation Series, a 20 yen postage stamp depicting “Ogasawara Flying Fox” will be issued.
• Ogasawara Flying Fox (Pteropers pselaphon) is found distributed in the Ogasawara Islands and Iwo Islands. Due to the land development its number has recently been decreased. It measures about 20 cm in length with an expanse of wing-membrane measuring 130 cm across. Hanging downward, dark brown hairs grow long sticked on the body and about the breast silvery grey hairs are found mingled among them.
• It was designated as natural monument in 1969.

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