Complete Set of 2 nos of postage stamp on the Centenary of the Philatelic Society of India (PSI) (1897-1997) :

Issued by India

Issued on Mar 27, 1997

Credits :
Text, Cancellation & FDC : The Philatelic Society of India
Stamp : J. P. Irani

Type : Stamps, Postal Used

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 200 Paise each

Overall size : 3.91 x 2.90 cms.

Printing size : 3.55 x 2.55 cms.

Perforation : 13.5 x 13.5

Paper : Matt Chromo

Stamps Printed : 0.7 Million each

Number per issue sheet : 40

Printing Process : Photo–offset

Printer : Calcutta Security Printer Ltd. Kanpur

About : 

• The Philatelic Society of India was established in March 1897 at Calcutta by a band of fifty Englishmen stationed in India. The first President of the Society and Editor of this journal was Mr. C. Steward Wilson (later Sir) who later became the Director General of Posts & Telegraphs. It has a distinguished record of service to the cause of Indian Philately for a 100 years, being one of the ten oldest philatelic societies in the world and probably the oldest in Asia. The first Indian member of the Society was Mr. C.K. Dutt of Calcutta who joined in the year 1907.
• It has various activities in the field of philately, and publishes ‘The Philatelic Journal of India‘, devoted to philately. It holds regularly fortnightly meetings at present in the GPO, Bombay by the courtesy of the Deptt. of Post.
• As part of its Centenary celebrations, it is held a National Philatelic Exhibition – CENTIPEX–97, with the support of the Department of Post, the patronage of the Philatelic Congress of India, and the support of the leading Philatelic Societies in India.
• Five Presidents of India have been the Society’s patrons, and its Office Bearers included inter alia Sir Norman Macleod, Chief Justice of Bombay and Field Marshal Sir William Birdwood, the Commander-in-Chief. Its first Indian President was Shri Chunilal D. Desai, a distinguished philatelist, who took over the post in 1946.
• It is one of the founder members of the Philatelic Congress of India, the Apex body, and has always supported its various activities by the participation of its members in different capacities.
• It has brought out over thirty publications which have been acknowledged as standard works of reference. Most of the research work in the Indian Lithographs and the Indian States, both Convention and Feudatory, was published by the Society. While Exhibitions were held by the Society way back in Calcutta in the last century, an International Exhibition DIJUPEX–57 was organised to mark its Diamond Jubilee followed by PLAJUPEX–72 to mark its Platinum Jubilee. NAPEX, a National Exhibition and PHILEX–83, a competitive Exhibition for members, were also held. The Society held PHILEX–96 a non-competitive Exhibition on a modest scale restricted to its members in March 1997 to celebrate its Centenary in a befitting manner. Souvenirs containing articles of interest have also been published on these occasions.
• The Society’s members have participated in various World, International, National and State level Exhibitions, and earned high awards.
• The Society’s journal, the Philatelic Journal of India, has published many research articles by distinguished students of Indian Philately. Mr. L.E. Dawson, who held the editorial chair for about 34 years, nurtured the Journal by contributing many valuable articles.

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