page_title: Postage stamps and postal history of India
section_title: The Reforms of 1866 and the Provisionals
hierarchical_section_title: Postage stamps and postal history of India / Postal history of India / The Reforms of 1866 and the Provisionals
caption_attribution_description: Deutsch: Briefmarken, lose in einer Schachtel aufbewahrt (pro Konvolut ein Umschlag). Die Postewertzeichen sind von unterschiedlichem Aussehen und Wert. Insgesamt 16 Marken, davon 22 Marken aus Indien, 20 Marken vom Kap der Guten Hoffnung in Südafrika 5 Marken aus Hong Kong, 4 Marken von Gibraltar und jeweils eine Marke von Malta, Zypern und den Fidjiinseln. Alle zeigen König Eduard VII. von England. Einige Marken sind noch mit einem ausgeschnittenen Stück eines Briefumschlages verbunden, acht der indischen Marken kleben auf einem komplett erhaltenen Umschlag. Die meisten sind einem Stempel versehen. Briefmarken: 2 × Two Anna in Blau 4 × One Anna in Lila 2 × Half Anna in Grün Poststempel: Jal Cooper Type 34, Square Cancellation, O - Lucknow (Oudh Circle) ([1]). Text: On Her Majesty's Service. No. Mr. Charles Awdry 186 Strand W.C. London England No 87 Ostindien
context_page_description: This is a survey of the postage stamps and postal history of India.
  Indian postal systems for efficient military and governmental communications had developed long before the arrival of Europeans. When the Portuguese, Dutch, French, Danish and British displaced The Marathas who had already defeated the Mughals, their postal systems existed alongside those of many somewhat independent states. The British East India Company gradually displaced other powers and brought into existence a British administrative system over most of India, with a need to establish and maintain both official and commercial mail systems.
  Although the Indian Post Office was established in 1837, Asia's first adhesive stamp, the Scinde Dawk, was introduced in 1852 by Sir Bartle Frere, the British East India Company's administrator of the province of Sind. The Indian postal system developed into an extensive, dependable and robust network providing connectivity to almost all parts of India, Burma, the Straits Settlements and other areas controlled by the British East India Company.
context_section_description: The volume of mail moved by the postal system increased relentlessly, doubling between 1854 and 1866, then doubling again by 1871. The Post Office Act XIV introduced reforms by 1 May 1866 to correct some of the more apparent postal system deficiencies and abuses. Postal service efficiencies also were introduced. In 1863 new lower rates were set for "steamer" mail to Europe at 6 annas 8 pies for a 1/2 ounce letter. Lower rates were introduced for inland mail, as well.
  New regulations removed the special postal privileges which had been enjoyed by officials of the East India Company. Stamps for official use were prepared and carefully accounted for to combat the abuse of privileges by officials. In 1854 Spain had printed special stamps for official communications, but in 1866 India was the first country to adopt the simple expedient of overprinting 'Service' on postage stamps and 'Service Postage' on revenue stamps. This innovation became widely adopted by other countries in later years.
  Shortages developed, so these stamps also had to be improvised. Some of the "Service Postage" overprinted rarities of this year resulted from the sudden changes in postal regulations. New designs for the 4 annas and "6 annas 8 pies" stamps were issued in 1866. Nevertheless, there was a shortage of stamps to meet the new rates. Provisional six annas stamps were improvised by cutting the tops and bottoms from a current Foreign Bill revenue stamp, and overprinting "POSTAGE".
  Another four new designs appeared, one at a time, between 1874 and 1876.
  A complete new set of stamps was issued in 1882 for the Empire of India that had been proclaimed five years earlier, in 1877. The designs consisted of the usual Victoria profile, in a variety of frames, inscribed "INDIA POSTAGE". The watermark also changed to a star shape. These stamps were heavily used and are still quite common today.
  Three stamps, featuring a detail from Heinrich von Angeli's 1885 portrait of Queen Victoria, in 2, 3 and 5 rupee denominations, were introduced in 1895. Other existing designs were reprinted in new colours in 1900.
caption: An official letter with
  Half, One and Two Anna stamps.
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