Priceless stamps

THE STAMP collection of H. Mohammed Salahudeen was the cynosure of all eyes at the TIEPEX 2001 Stamp Exhibition. Organised by the South India Philatelists' Association and the Department of Posts, the exhibition will be open at the Lalit Kala Akademi till September 23.

Mohammed's father Mr. M.K. Hameed Jalal recalls the world's first stamps issued - the Blue Penny and Black Penny and two pence stamps. He says stamp collection became his hobby from school and now his sons have also taken over from him. ``What drives you to collect stamps?'' he is asked and the answer is ``Not money, we in fact spend Rs. 15,000 per year on the hobby. It's just that we get hooked to it.''

Other priceless stamps on display are the pre-1845 models of common stamps, explains Mr. S.K. Lakshmanan, member of the Association. Though the exhibition is on Transportation, Information Technology, Entertainment and Pollution Control, the 250 frames displaying 16 sheets each, many stamps in other areas like Mahatma Gandhi and the Indian presidents also find a place.

Among the rarer ones are stamps without perforations, which have to be cut with scissors and pasted, square, diamond, round and hexagonal cancellations used to deface the stamps, Indian stamps used abroad, stamps on Cochin State, stamps of Mahatma Gandhi issued by the countries of the world, aerogrammes and postal stationery, besides old stamp paper used in Cochin.

Mr. D. Hemachandra Rao, who specialises in ships says, stamp collection is a hobby which begins with school children and when the student graduates into college, some develop the hobby with pen friendship but new friends and fads make many forget. But taking this to the final lap when they become senior citizens, no one can separate the collector and his stamps, he asserts.

Mr. P.S. Sheshadri, member of Rotary and Stamps Fellowship has his display on Rotary. Besides common themes of butterflies, wildlife, vehicles among other, some rare stamps are on larger topics like global warming and protection of the oceans.

The stamps on Transport feature a first day cover with Mahatma Gandhi in an eco-friendly mode - on a bicycle.

Dr. U. Srinivasaraghavan, Chief Postmaster General, Tamil Nadu Circle and Patron, TIEPEX - 2001 released the Special Cover and Mr. M.A. Alagappan, Vice-Chairman, Tube Investments of India inaugurated the exhibition.

By Akila Dinakar

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