Azad Hind (postage stamps)
The Azad Hind (Stamps) are a set of prepared but not issued stamps for the planned Indian National Government under Subhas Chandra Bose . All stamps were printed in 1943 in the Reichsdruckerei Berlin using the gravure printing process in sheets of 100.
background
The "Provisional Government of Free India" was founded by Subhas Chandra Bose as a government in exile with the support of Japan during World War II . Postage stamps that were produced in Nazi Germany were also planned for this government . The brands were commissioned by Bose himself during his stay in Berlin in early 1943.
Products
A total of ten different brands were produced:
| Michel No. | brand | Face value | colour | description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I. |  |
1 + 1 Anna | Dark brown | Sikh on a German MG 34 machine gun |
| II |  |
2 + 2 Annas | Carmine | Plowing farmer in front of a mountain landscape, in front of it a plow and sheaves |
| III |  |
2½ + 2½ annas | Dark blue | Indian woman at the spinning wheel |
| IV |  |
3 + 3 Annas | red | Nurse with wounded man |
| V |  |
8 + 12 annas | Blue violet | Broken chain and daggers in front of a map of British India |
| VI |  |
12 annas + 1 rupee | Purple | Broken chain and daggers in front of a map of British India |
| VIII |  |
½ Anna | Dark yellow green | For the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (no surcharge): plowing farmer in front of a mountain landscape, in front of it a plow and sheaves |
| IX |  |
1 Anna | Purple red | For the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (no surcharge): plowing farmer in front of a mountain landscape, in front of it a plow and sheaves |
| X |  |
2½ annas | Orange red | For the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (no surcharge): Indian woman at the spinning wheel |
| VII a |  |
1 + 2 rupees | Black / orange / emerald green |
Three Indian soldiers showing the flag of “Free India” framed by two daggers. There are variants in black and black / orange as well as test prints |
The stamps were designed by the graphic artist couple Werner and Maria von Axster-Heudtlaß , who designed numerous postage stamps for the Reichspost and later for the Deutsche Post between 1925 and 1949 . They obviously used contemporary photos from the Indian Legion as templates . According to the propaganda philately specialist Dave Ripley, the soldiers on the 1 + 2 rupee stamp represent three of India's most famous freedom fighters at the time (from left): Sukhdev Thapar , Bhagat Singh as the standard bearer and Shivaram Rajguru . These were hanged on March 23, 1931 by the British authorities. The circulation of the stamps was 1 million per stamp. Exceptions to this were the no-surcharge brands that were planned for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands . Only 500,000 of these were printed each time. The higher rupee values of 1 + 2 rupees, which exist in three different varieties, had a very limited edition. Since this value was produced in a multi-color print, there are also unfinished variants. So the flag should finally be shown in orange-white-green. Unfinished prints in black and black / orange have been preserved. The found edition was 4500 copies of the black version, 2000 copies of the black and orange and 7000 copies of the final, finished version. With the exception of the higher rupee values (only imperforated ), all postage stamps are both perforated and in practically the same amount imperforated. The stamps planned for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands received the perforation L 10½. All other small face values were perforated differently, so there were issues with the following variants: L 9½: 10½, 10½, 10½: 9½ and 11: 10½. There are often brands with strong teeth .
A large part of the 1 + 2 rupee stamp in black / orange only exists without gum . From the 1 + 2 rupees brand are very rare proofs have been preserved, including 2 sheets proofs with dark purple instead of black colored base tones, 1 sheet proofs on the back with advertising (sometimes only white area) printed cardboard paper with brighteners and proofs on the front side orange colored paper . There are rupee stamps where the colors appear blurred or have been printed in the wrong place (sometimes twice). There is a conspicuous plate flaw from the 3 + 3 Annas stamp, which partly shows a larger white, round spot to the left of the nurse's head.
- 1 + 2 rupee stamps (including proofs)
1 + 2 rupees black / orange / green (VII a)
1 + 2 rupees black
(VII b)
1 + 2 rupees black / orange (VII c)
Test print on orange colored paper
Test print on cardboard with brightener
Proof with violet instead of black coloring
- Variants and peculiarities
3 + 3 Annas stamp with a conspicuous plate flaw
Real 1 + 2 rupee stamp with a shifted green print
Real 1 + 2 rupee stamp with a shifted orange print
Back of the test prints on cardboard
Cataloging and publications
Azad Hind's stamps are listed in the Michel Germany catalog under “National India” and are labeled I to X (perforated and imperforated). From No. VII (1 + 2 rupees) the varieties a, b and c are mentioned.
The Indian Post has the Azad Hind brands in a book titled India's Freedom Struggle through India Postage Stamps released.
The Netaji Birth Place Museum in Cuttack ( India ) published a brochure in 2016 in which, among other things, the Azad Hind brands were depicted in "free interpretation". Original brands are also on display in the visitor rooms.
Fakes
Since the market value of the 1 + 2 rupee stamps has increased significantly over the years due to their rarity, counterfeits are produced. These can usually be recognized by an unclear and washed-out-looking print, as they were often produced using offset printing instead of using gravure printing. There are also counterfeits that are produced with inkjet printers .
Since the stamps were no longer issued, real cancellation is not possible. In 1964, Subhas Chandra Bose was honored with two stamps by the Indian Post in India. First day covers with Bose stamps were also published on the occasion . Azad Hind stamps were also stuck on some of these letters as " mixed postage " and then stamped. Cancellations of Azad Hind stamps used exclusively on first day covers are also known. The same was done with Indian first day covers from 1968.
See also
swell
- Michel Germany Special 2018. Schwaneberger Verlag GmbH, Munich 2018.
- Indian Legion Stamps and Postal History in Introduction to Foreign Legion Stamps and Postal History .
Individual evidence
- ^ Andrew Freeston: The Azad Hind and Chalo Delhi Stamps of the Indian Legion and Indian National Army of Subhas Chandra Bose 1941–1945. Waikawa Beach, New Zealand: 1999, p. 9.
- ↑ Barth Healey: Pastimes; Stamps . In: The New York Times . December 3, 1989 ( nytimes.com ).
- ^ Herbert A. Friedman: "Azad Hind" and "Chalo Delhi" stamps. Jal Cooper, Bombay 1972, p. 12.
- ^ A b Herbert A. Friedman: Propaganda and Espionage Philately . psywar.org. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
- ^ S. Theodore Baskaran: Footprints of history. In: The Hindu. December 16, 2000 ( hindu.com ). Retrieved December 30, 2009.
- ↑ Rare Netaji photos in booklet: telegraphindia.com
- ↑ stampcircuit.com
- ^ First Day Cover issued in commemoration of the 25th Anniversary of the Azad Hind: roots.sg