Complete Set of 2 nos of commemorative postage stamps on the First Asian International Stamp Exhibition (ASIANA 77), Bangalore :

Issued by India

Issued on Oct 19, 1977

Issued for : The Indian Posts & Telegraphs Department is happy to bring out two special postage stamps on the occasion of the First Asian International Stamp Exhibition, or briefly called, ASIANA-77.

Design : The stamp in Re. 1 denomination depicts a pair of a famed Red Scinde Dawks of 1852 (the first stamp in Asia). The stamp in Rs 3/- denomination shows foreign mail arriving at the Ballard Pier in Bombay in 1927. It is adapted from a photograph appearing in the Annual Report of Indian Posts & Telegraphs Department for the year 1926-27.

Colour : Multicolour

Type : Stamps, Postal Used

Denomination : 100 & 300 Paise

Overall size : 3.91 X 2.90 cms.

Printing size : 3.55 X 2.54 cms.

Perforation : 13 x 13

Watermark : Printed on unwatermarked adhesive stamp paper

Number printed : 20,00,000 each

Number per issue sheet : 35

Printing process : Photogravure

Designed and printed at : India Security Press

About : 

• The First Asian International Stamp Exhibition briefly called ASIANA-77 was held at Bangalore from October 19 to 23, 1977. The exhibition had been organised by the Philatelic Congress of India, an apex federated body of all the Philatelic Societies and Clubs in India, with the active participation and assistance of the Indian Posts and Telegraphs Department and also the Government of Karnataka. The exhibition was exclusively for the Asian and Australasian countries and under the patronage of the Inter-Asia Philatelic Federation (FIAP) which is the Asian chapter of the Federation Internationale de Philatelie (FIP).
• FIP was founded in 1926 by representatives from 7 European countries to safeguard the interests of stamp collectors at international level. At present, there is hardly any National Philatelic Federation of a country which is not affiliated with the FIP. The FIP has set up standard rules for holding the International Exhibitions under their patronage. The FIP has categorized harmful, improper and undesirable stamp issues which they have banned for exhibiting in any of the International Exhibitions under their patronage.
• FIAP was organised in 1975 to strengthen the philatelic activities among Asian and Australasian countries. To increase the participation of Asian countries in International Exhibitions, the idea of Regional Exhibitions was mooted.
• ASIANA-77 was a landmark in the philatelic history of India as not only the country had the honour to hold the First Asian International Stamp Exhibition but also some of the rarest stamps was on display in this exhibition for the first time in India. The response both in the competitive and non-competitive groups was more than what was expected. This exhibition gave an opportunity to the stamp lovers of India to see the choicest and prize winning exhibits of the world at one place.

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