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Stamps No. SG
259 to 268 and
269a to 277
(King George VI)
Indian postage
stamps were
overprinted by
Litho at Nasik
as type 1 = 3p.
to 12a (No. 1 to
12) and type2 =
14a to Rs.25.00
(No. 13 to
19).Since
Pakistan was a
part of India
until 14th of
August 1947,
stocks of Indian
stamps had
already
been distributed
throughout the
country.
Initially,
Pakistan
continued to use
Indian stamps
without
surcharge but
from 1st of
October 1947,
Indian stamps,
both ordinary
and service,
overprinted
“Pakistan” were
issued. These
were overprinted
by the Security
Press at Nasik.
Indian ordinary
stamps remained
valid for
postage until
1st of November
1947, date later
extended to 21st
December 1947.
Indian stamps
could be
exchanged for
Pakistan stamps
for three months
after that date
at face value
and still later
at a discount.
Service stamps
were to be exchanged
by 31st December
1947 but the
date was later
extended until
15th February,
1948 and
ultimately to
31st March,
1948.
It was
originally the
intention to
recall all
Indian stamps
from the post
office and
treasuries and
send them to
Nasik for
overprinting.
The Nasik Press,
however, was
working overtime
to cope with
these and other
orders and in
about November
1947 a
consignment of
stamps to the
Punjab was burnt
by a mob at
Delhi railway
station. It was
apparently then
decided to
commence local
overprinting
for, on 20th
November 1947
the Revenue
Commissioner
North West
Frontier
Province
recalled stocks
of Indian
service stamps
from all the
treasuries for
overprinting in
the Provincial
Government
Press.
Owing to the
inexorable march
of events,
arising out of
the incredible
sufferings and
hardships of
millions who
migrated to
Pakistan massive
shortages of
stamps occurred
in many places.
It was therefore
necessary to
supplement the Nasik prints by
overprinting
locally in
Pakistan.
Machine printed,
hand stamped,
typewritten and
manuscript
overprints thus
appeared in many
places and under
varying
conditions. Some
were sanctioned
by the Central
or Provincial
Governments and
others by lesser
authorities down
to the village
postmaster.
They all,
consistently,
defrayed postage
on both internal
and foreign mail
for many months
and thus had as
world-wide
franking power
as the
definitive
issues, with the
added attraction
of the poignant
human interest
which formed
the
background.
Though locally
overprinted they
are thus not
locals in real
sense of the
word.
It is impossible
to discuss all
these issues,
and varieties
in the catalogue. The
collector’s
interested in
detail study may
refer to the following
books. |
