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Monday 31 October 2016

390) 50 Years of Pink Floyd: Two Commemorative Stamp sets (Presentation Set) brought out by the Royal Mail, UK on 07.07.2016: 1) 50 Years of Pink Floyd: A set of six stamps issued, their most popular studio albums 2) Legendary Live Performances: A set of four stamps issued, depicting four of their memorable tours:



390) 50 Years of Pink Floyd: Two Commemorative Stamp sets (Presentation Set) brought out by the Royal Mail, UK on 07.07.2016:

1)  50 Years of Pink Floyd: A set of six stamps issued, their most popular studio albums

2)  Legendary Live Performances: A set of four stamps issued, depicting four of their memorable tours:


“Few bands in history of rock have managed to carve out a career as rich and expansive as that of the English Rock Band, Pink Floyd. From their blues-based psychedelic roots, the members of the Cambridge-formed outfit have created some of modern music’s most totemic and inspirational albums. With ground breaking live performances to match”.
The enduring fascination:

If one listens to Pink Floyd’s 15 studio albums sequentially, one gets an insight into the group’s musical development and their popularity in the music culture of all time.

The band’s 1967 debut, “The Piper at the Gates of Dawn”, is a perfect example of psychedelic adventure and whimsy, with topics ranging from that era’s fascination with space travel (as on the titanic opener, “Astronomy Domine” to Syd Barrett’s internalised nostalgia (evinced on the warm fantasia of “Matilda Mother”).

In many aspects, it is a duality – the questing, bigger issues and the obliquely personal ones – the lies at the core of Pink Floyd’s world view and their music.

If “Piper” was defined by Syd Barrett’s personality, then his departure from the group in March 1968, following increasing bouts of depression and mental instability, proved traumatic.

Bolstered by the arrival of guitarist David Gilmour – who initially joined to work as a fifth member of the band alongside his former Cambridge Tech friend, Barrett – the founding trio of bassist Roger Waters, drummer Nick Mason and keyboard player Richard Wright struggled to fill the song-writing void left by Syd.

Out of their uncertainty, however, came further experimentation, the double album released in 1969 “Ummagumma”, underlined this well, with the split between live performance (on Record One) and studio recordings (Record Two), featuring tracks written individually by all four band members.

The albums that followed –“Atom Heart Mother” (1970), “Meddle” (1971) and “Obscured by Clouds” (1972) – saw the band’s sound truly come into its own, paving the way for the all-conquering “The Dark Side of the Moon” (1973) .

 I was in Class IX when the album “The Dark Side of the Moon” came out. LPs ( or “Long Playing” Records as they were called then) cost a sum of Rs.40/- in those days, when most of us were getting pocket money of Rs.10/- to 25/- a month (unimaginable sums of pocket money today), so a lot of my friends contributed two to five rupees each and we managed to get hold of an album of the “The Dark Side of the Moon”, to listen to on my HMV 20-20 Stereo at full blast, under psychedelic lights, which one of my class-mates had installed, which is when I was introduced to the music of Pink Floyd and became an instant fan.

The Dark Side of the Moon” was the eighth album by released by Pink Floyd which was originally released on 01.03.1973 on the label “Harvest”. This album built on the ideas explored in the band’s earlier recordings and live shows, but was markedly different in its approach from the instrumental thematic by Syd Barrett one of the group’s founder members.

This album explored themes including conflict, consumerism greed, passage of time and mental illness (partially inspired from Barrett’s deteriorating mental state). Some of the most advanced recording techniques of the time including “multi-track recording, tape loops and Analogie synthesizers were used. The album is notable for its use of “Musique concrete” (meaning “concrete music”) and conceptual, philosophical lyrics, which is the hallmark of the band’s other work.

The successor to this album – “Wish You Were Here” (1975) is no less majestic and is again influenced by Syd’s absence.

Pink Floyd’s sweeping art rock and cerebral lyricism chimed with an audience increasingly disenchanted with the failed optimism of the 1960s.

Indeed, disillusionment also pervades Pink Floyd’s album “Animals (released in 1977), which set the tone for the conceptual brutality of “The Wall” (1979) and its successor, “The Final Cut” (1983).

Following Roger Walter’s departure in the mid-1980s, Pink Floyd went on to issue two more records under David Gilmour’s leadership – “A Momentary Lapse of Reason” (1987) and “The Division Bell” (1994).

Two decades later, a few years after the passing away of Richard Wright on 15.09.2008, came the band’s swan song “The Endless River”, which is a contemplative record, brought to a close the career of band whose work has been immersive and whose music continues to astound and inspire, no matter which of their album one listens to first.

Stamp Set I 50 Years of Pink Floyd – Studio Albums:
   The Set of Six Stamps depicting six of Pink Floyd's extremely popular/iconic albums
The individual stamps:



“THE PIPER AT THE GATES OF DAWN” (EMI Columbia, 1967) Pink Floyd’s psychedelic debut is named after Chapter 7 of Kenneth Grahame’s classic children’s novel, “the Wind in the Willows”, one of the front-man Syd Barrett’s favourite books. The image on the stamp is of the album cover, with the album disc partially pulled out of the cover



“ATOM HEART MOTHER” (Harvest, 1970). Pink Floyd’s fifth album provided them with their first UK Number One. It was also the first of their LPs not to feature the band’s name on the front of the sleeve, thus setting the tone/trend for subsequent albums

“THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON” (Harvest, 1973). With sales in excess of 50 million copies worldwide, “Dark Side” remains in the Billboard chart in America over 40 years after its release and has been entered into the Guinness Book of Records as the longest-charting album


“WISH YOU WERE HERE” (Harvest, 1975). Legendary jazz violinist Stephene Grappelli was invited to play on the album’s title track. His violin is inaudible on the song and he was uncredited on the album sleeve but paid for his services
 ANIMALS (Harvest/EMI, 1977). ANIMALS was released as punk raged. While Johnny Rotten wore a T-shirt with the slogan “I hate Pink Floyd”, Nick Mason busied himself producing “The Damned’s Music for Pleasure”
 THE ENDLESS RIVER (Parlophone, 2014). Ostensibly a tribute to the late Richard Wright and described as a “headphones” album by David Gilmour, “THE ENDLESS RIVER” beat all records in the volume of online pre-orders.

The Technical Data for the "50 Years of Pink Floyd stamps" - Studio Albums is:

Issuer: Royal Mail, UK

No. of stamps: Six

Date of Issue: 07.07.2016

Denominational Value: three stamps 1st mail; three stamps 1.52 Pounds

Design: Royal Mail Group Ltd. based on an original design by Studio Dempsey; Magpie Studio.

Pack Design: Royal Mail Group Ltd. 2016

Printer: International Security Printers

Process: Gravure

Format: Landscape

Size: 34 mm x 32 mm including disc

Perforations: Die-cut simulated

Number per sheet: 25/50

Phosphor: bars as appropriate

Gum: self-adhesive

Pack Number: 528

Words: Phil Alexander

The above chart shows the entire list of Pink Floyd's albums year-wise - The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1967), A Saucerful of Secrets (1968), More (1969), Ummagumma (1969), Atom Heart Mother (1970), Meddle (1971), Obscured by Clouds (1972), The Dark Side of the Moon (1973), Wish You Were Here (1975), Animals (1977), The Wall (1979), The Final Cut (1983), A Momentary Lapse of Reason (1987), The Division Bell (1994), The Endless River (2008).

Pink Floyd Art:

The graphic design pair of Storm Thorgerson and Aubrey Powell, who formed a design company they named “Hipgnosis” were friends of Pink Floyd back in Cambridge and began contributing to their visuals in 1968, working on the art-work to their second album, “A Saucerful of Secrets”. If their creation of the prism that graces “The Dark Side of the Moon” is an iconic moment of understatement, then it is an exception to the rule.

In fact, these two designers liked nothing more than to create monumental pieces of work, along with packaging that even today remains outlandish. While their work with Pink Floyd echoed the band’s thematic and musical developments, their contribution to rock’s iconography as a whole remains “sans pareil”.


For example, for the cover of the 1994 album “THE DIVISION BELL”, Storm Thorgerson came up with many different visual ideas before settling on the concept of two heads coming together as one (as shown in an early sketch. 

The heads were then constructed on a large scale in both stone and metal, installed in a field near ELY and photographed.

                                        The final iconic image

 This was a time for sonic experimentation:

The Beatles were the first to experiment in the studio by creating a world of their own. In the summer of 1967, both bands –The Beatles and Pink Floyd – recorded together at London’s Abbey Road.

Even when the Beatles stopped recording together around 1970, Pink Floyd took this concept even further and they sculpted their studio sound for the next four decades, the innovation they witnessed that summer, working with The Beatles, providing eternal inspiration.

The Azimuth Co-ordinator:

Pink Floyd’s sonic adventurism was typified by their attempts to pioneer the concept of “surround sound” during their “Games for May” show at London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall on 12.05.1967.

Deploying speakers in the four corners of the auditorium, Richard Wright controlled the sound from the stage using the Azimuth Co-ordinator, a joystick device designed to Floyd’s specification by EMI technical engineer Bernard Speight. This fanciful machine remained a part of the band’s live show for years.

Some legendary live performances:

While their work in the studio had always been all-important, Pink Floyd have been constantly defined by their live performances. Their early shows in 1966, at London’s UFO Club married the use of pioneering liquid light effects that matched the psychedelic Sturm und Drang (meaning “Storm and Stress”) of the music itself.
 The Dark Side of the Moon” Tour began in 1972 in the UK, prior to the release of the album in March the following year. Numerous dates in Asia, North America and Europe followed.

By 1973, the band’s stage set was further expanded to mirror the dramatic sensibilities of the music: the tension that pervades “The Dark Side of the Moon” was reflected by lighting director Arthur Max’s innovative work, which included a 15 foot model plane flying over the audience, crashing on stage in sync with the explosion during the track “On the Run”.

The “In The Flesh” Tour (aka “the Animals Tour”) of 1977 continued that pattern of spectacle through the use of inflatables (pigs included), and saw Pink Floyd make US stadiums their own.

The theatrical elements would escalate further, most specifically during the staging of “The Wall” from February 1980 to June 1981. With the album’s central premise based around Water’s ideal of alienation between band and audience (not to mention a wider view of “self” versus “state”), the band’s show saw the building of a physical wall during the performance itself. Staging costs were exorbitant and technology was still in its infancy, leading to a problematic tour that lasted only 31 shows – meagre by today’s standards. 
 The cost of staging “The Wall” Tour was estimated at $1.5 million prior to the show hitting the road. The stage set was designed by Mark Fisher who had worked at Pink Floyd’s “Animals” Tour and involved 420 “bricks”.



On 5th July 1989, as part of the gargantuan “A Momentary Lapse of Reason” Tour, Pink Floyd played a logistically challenging but spectacular show in Venice to about 200,000 fans watching in Plazza San Marco.
 The “Division Bell” Tour was aimed at stadiums, with the band playing to an average of 45,000 people per night. In London, however, Pink Floyd returned to Earl’s Court, playing 15 nights at the 20,000 capacity venue to packed houses.

Spectacular stadium shows had by now, become the norm, with Pink Floyd underlining their status as the pioneers during the “Division Bell Tour”, captured to stunning effect on the Pulse DVD and beating all records in terms of gate receipts.

Despite the size and scale of these shows, Pink Floyd’s true live impact was evident when Gilmour, Mason, Waters and Wright walked onto the stage together for the first time in 24 years, nor did they need one.

Stamp set II:

The Set of Four Stamps – “Legendary Live Performances:

Four stamp set - Legendary Performances - from the beginning to scaling the glorious heights of becoming legends


Pink Floyd – performing at the UFO Club, 1966

Pink Floyd –   “THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON” Tour, 1973

                          Pink Floyd – “THE WALL” Tour, 1981

Pink Floyd – “THE DIVISION BELL, Tour, 1994

The Technical Data for the Legendary Live Performances stamps is:

Issuer: Royal Mail, UK

No. of stamps: Four

Date of Issue: 07.07.2016

Denominational Value: two stamps 1st local; two stamps 1.52 Pounds

Design: Royal Mail Group Ltd. based on an original design by Studio Dempsey; Magpie Studio.

Pack Design: Royal Mail Group Ltd. 2016

Printer: International Security Printers

Process: Lithography

Format: Landscape

Sheet Size: 192 mm x 74 mm

Size: 60 mm x 30 mm

Perforations: 14.5 x 14.5

Phosphor: bars as appropriate

Gum: PVA

Pack Number: 528

Words: Phil Alexander

Card Design: Royal Mail Group Ltd.





(The above Stamp sets are from the collection of Jayant Biswas. Images of stamps scanned and Post compiled by Rajeev Prasad) 








Links:

Bank of England Banknotes:

1) A Ten Pounds Banknote issued on Charles Dickens (Writer) also depicting a cricket match from his novel "The Pickwick Papers"

2) A Ten Pound Banknote issued on Charles Darwin (English Naturalist) also depicting the HMS Beagle, Darwin's magnifying glass, a humming-bird & flora that he may have seen on his voyage.

3) A Five Pounds Banknote issued on George Stephenson (an Engineer) also depicting "Rocket" his Railway Locomotive and Skeene Bridge on theStockton Darlington Railway (1825) - since withdrawn

4) A 20 Pounds Banknote issued on Michael Faraday (a Scientist) issued in 1991, since withdrawn from circulation in 2001 

5) Great Britain's first circulating polymer Banknote issued by the Bank of England in the denomination of 5 Pounds on 13.09.2016

Inspirations from Scottish History (Clydesdale Bank Banknotes): 

1) The Legend of King Bruce & the Spider on Banknotes
  
2) Commemorating Sir William Arrol and his creation the Forth Rail Bridge by issues of Britain's first ever 5 Pound Polymer Banknote

Banknotes from Bank of Scotland:

1) The Ryder Cup Commemorative Banknote: A 5 Pounds Banknote issued by the Royal Bank of Scotland in 2014 

British Crown Dependencies:

1) Specimen Banknotes from the States of Jersey

2) Coinage and Currency from the States of Jersey

3) Currency & Coinage of the Bailiwick of Guernsey

4) Currency & Coinage of Gibraltar : An Overseas Territory of Great Britain

5) Coinage of Gibraltar: (A British Overseas Territory): An Uncirculated Decimal Coin Collection Set minted by the Tower Mint, UK in 2010
  
6) The Isle of Man: An Uncirculated Decimal Coin Collection Set minted by Pobjoy Mint, UK in 2015

7) The Centenary of the ill-fated Titanic (15.04.1912 - 15.04.2012): An Alderney Five Pound Coin Commemorating the Maritime Legend

8) "Man of Steel": A Superman Movie: A set of stamps brought out in 2013 by Jersey post, the States of Jersey, commemorating Henry William Dalgliesh Cavill who played Superman in the Movie

9) Coins & Currency of Bermuda

10) The Bailiwick of Jersey - Presently circulating coinage - Pounds and Pence 

11) St. Helena & Ascension Islands: An Uncirculated Coin Set from 2003 

12) The Legend of the "HMAV Bounty" is interwoven with the heritage of the Pitcairn Islands: An uncirculated coin set from Pitcairn Islands in 2009 depicting the icons/relics of the Bounty minted by the New Zealand Mint

13) Currency of the Falkland Islands: A British Overseas Territory (BOT) Pounds & Pence

Famous Battles

1) Bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo and Napoleon's Exile to St. Helena: (Part I): A One Crown Commemorative coin issued by the Ascension Island (minted by Pobjoy Mint UK) 

2) Bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo and Napoleon's Exile to st. Helena: (Part II) 1) A 5 GBP Coin issued by the Royal Mint UK. 2) A"Drie Landen Zilverset" ( ot the "Three Lands Silver set") containing coins issued by the Royal Dutch Mint including coins of Netherlands, Belgium and UK

3) Commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain by issuing a 50 Pence coin by the Royal Mint UK

Gold Coins:
  
1) Gold Sovereigns issued in 2013 & 2014 by MMTC-PAMP in India under licence from the Royal Mint, UK, carrying the "I" Mint Mark

2) Gold Half-Sovereigns minted by MMTC-PAMP in India in 2014 under licence from the Royal Mint UK bearing the "I" Mint Mark 

Silver Coins:

1) A 20 Pound Silver coin minted for the first timr by the royal Mint UK: reverse design carries the famous St. George slaying the dragon design found on Gold Sovereigns 

British India Coinage:

 1) East India Company Quarter Anna Copper Coin which is one of the first issues under the Coinage Act 1835

2) Victoria Coinage: When she was Queen and afterwards Empress

3) Edward VII: King & Emperor  Coinage

4) George V King Emperor Coinage

5) George VI: The last of the British India Emperors Coinage 

Other British Royalty: 

1) Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee Celebrations (1952-2012): A Five Pound Commemorative coin issued by the Royal Mint, UK

2) Commemorating Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation in 1953: A Five Pound Coin minted by the Royal Mint UK in 2013, depicting the Imperial State Crown

3) The Royal Coat of Arms of the UK: Great British 2012 Coin Set (Uncirculated) issued by the Royal Mint UK

4) Prince George's Christening Ceremony celebrated with coins issued by the Royal Mint UK in 2013

5) The British Empire:  A Case of Numismatic "segregation": (Guest Post by Rahul Kumar)

6) 1) The Portrait Collection: Various Portraits of Queen Elizabeth II on Coinage 2) The Fourth & Final Circulating coinage of the Portrait designed by Ian Rank-Broadley and the First Edition of the portrait of the Queen made by Jody Clark

 British Coinage:

1) The contribution of the Great British One-Pound coins in keeping alive the historical legends/emblems/heritage of the UK (1983 onwards)

2) Transformation of a Five shilling Coin (Crown) into the UK Twenty-five Pence & then the Five Pound Coin

3) Transformation of the Two Shilling Coin (Florin) Coin into the UK Ten Pence

4) The 350th Anniversary of the Guinea: A Two Pound Coin issued by the Royal Mint UK celebrating the milestone

 Commemorative British Coinage:

 1) Commemorating the Bicentenary of Charles Dickens: A Two pound coin celebrating his literary contributions during the Victorian Era

 2) Commemorating 50 Years of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) - presently called the World Wide Fund for Nature by issue of a Fifty Pence coin by the Royal Mint, UK

3) Coins commemorating London Olympics & Paralympics (2012)

4) Commemorating 150 Years of the London Underground : Two pound Coins minted by the Royal Mint UK, showing the "Roundel" logo and a train emerging from a tunnel 

5) Commemorating the 100th Birth anniversary of Christopher Ironside with his" Royal Arms" design on a 50 Pence coin issued by the Royal Mint, UK 

Postage Stamps:

1) 800th Anniversary of the Magna Carta - the Universal Guidepost to Liberty and Freedom

 2) "Man of Steel": A Superman Movie: A set of stamps brought out in 2013 by Jersey post, the States of Jersey, commemorating Henry William Dalgliesh Cavill who played Superman in the Movie

3) Celebrating the Centenary of Agatha Christie's first Crime Novel and 40th Anniversary of her passing away by issue of a set of 6 stamps by Royal Mail, UK 

4) 50 Years of Pink Floyd: Two sets of stamps - commemorating iconic Albums and Live Tours 

Links to posts on Indian Post-Cards:

1) Historical First Day Covers on Post Cards compiled by Karnataka Postal Circle on Post Independence India

2) For Part I of the DYKS (32) "Birds of the Himalayas", please click on the following link: ("Birds of the Himalayas" (Part I) - Description of 16 birds with picture postcards)

3) For Part II of DYKS (32): "Birds of the Himalayas", please click on the following link: ("Birds of the Himalayas" Description of 16 Birds with picture postcards)

4) For Part III of DYKS (32): "Birds of the Himalayas" please click on the following link: ("Birds of the Himalayas" Description of 16 Birds with picture postcards)

5) Two Series of Postage Stamps issued during the reign of George V: Inauguration of New Delhi in 1931 and Silver Jubilee of the reign of George V in 1935 compiled by Karnataka Postal Circle   

6) Aero India 2015: Asia's Premier Air Show: A set of 10 Post cards issued by Karnataka Postal Circle, India Post in 2015. 

7) Himalayan Lakes: Chanratal, Roop Kund, Sela, Tsangu and Tsomo Riri: A set of five post cards issued by India Post in 2015 

8)  Incredible India: (Part I) A set of 48 Post Cards issued by India Post in 2015
9) Incredible India: (Part II) A set of 48 Post cards issued by India Post in 2015
10)   Incredible India: (Part III): A set of 48 Post cards issued by India Post in 2015
 11) Olympic Events: A set of 12 Post cards issued by the Karnataka Postal Circle, India Post on 11.07.2016  

12) "Orchids": A set of 12 postcards issued by the Karnataka Postal Cicle of India Post, with designs inspired by 6 Stamps on Orchids issued by India Post on 21.10.1991 and 6 Stamps issued on 08.08.2016 

13) Legendary Women (of India): A set of 10 Post-cards issued by Karnataka Postal Circle of India Post in 2015 

14) Sundarban (Part I): A set of 48 Post Cards brought out by Karnataka Postal Circle of India Post in 2015 

15) Sundarban (Part II): A set of 48 Post cards brought out by Karnataka Postal Circle of India Post in 2015 

16) Sundarban (Part III): A set of 48 Post Cards brought out by Karnataka Postal Circle of India Post in 2015 

17) Football Legendaries: A set of 18 Postcards issued by Karnataka Postal Circle of India Post in 2015 

18) Wild India - Mammals: Part I): A set of 48 Post Cards issued by Karnataka Postal Circle of India Post in 2015 

19) Wild India - Mammals (Part II): A set of 48 Post Cards issued by Karnataka Postal Circle of India Post in 2015 

20) Wild India - Mammals Part III): A set of 48 Post Cards issued by Karnataka Postal Circle of India Post in 2015 

21) Butterflies of India (Part I): A set of 48 Post Cards issued by Karnataka Postal Circle of India Post in 2016 

22) Butterflies of India (Part II): A set of 48 Post Cards issued by Karnataka Postal Circle of India Post in 2016 

23) Butterflies of India (Part III): A set of 48 Post Cards issued by Karnataka Postal Circle of India Post in 2016 

24) Beetles: A set of five stylised Post Cards issued by the Chennai Postal Circle of India Post
  
Maximum or Maxim Cards: 

1) Did You Know series (33): 1) Maxim or Maximum Cards 2) A set of 5 Maximum Cards issued by the Department of Posts, India to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the Establishment of the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad 

2) Orchids: A set of six Maxim or Maximum Cards issued by the Karnatala Postal Circle, India Post on 08.08.2016

3) Exotic Birds: A set of six Maxim Cards issued by India Post on 05.12.2016 

4) Nature: India: A set of six Maxim Cards issued by India Post on 25.01.2017 

5) Headgears of India: A set of 16 Maxim Cards issued by Chennai Postal Circle of India Post on 10.02.2017 

"My Stamps" Albums:

1) "Ajanta & Ellora Caves": "MyStamps" (issued by India Post): Sumita and Rajeev

 2) "Ghats of Varanasi": "MyStamps" (issued by India Post): Sumita

3) "Sun Temple, Konark": "MyStamps" (issued by India Post): Rajeev 

4) "Fairy Queen": "MyStamps" (issued by India Post): Rajeev 

5) "Mahabodhi Temple": "MyStamps" (issued by India Post): Rajeev 
  
 6) "Port Blair Island": "My Stamps" (issued by India Post): Rajeev

 Links to other Commemorative Stamps posts on Indian Stamps issued during 2017:

1) Splendour of India: Happy New Year: A set of 12 Stamps issued by India Post on 01.01.2017

2) 350th Prakash Utsav: Guru Gobind Singh Ji: A commemorative Stamp of Rs.10/- brought out by India Post on 05.01.2017

3) India-Portugal: Joint Issue: A set of two Stamps commemorating the Dandiya and Pauliteiros Dances issued by India Post on 07.01.2017 

4) Dr. M.G. Ramachandran (or MGR) Birth Centenary : A Commeorative Postage stamp issued by India Post on 17.01.2017 

5) Nature: India: A set of six commemorative Stamps issued by India Post on 25.01.2017 

6) India Post Payments Bank (IPPB): A commemorative stamp of Rs.5/- brought out by India Post on 30.01.2017 

7) Headgears of India: A set of 16 stamps issued by India Post on 10.02.2017 

8) Bicentenary of the Raising of the Poona Horse Regiment  (July 1817 - July 2017): A Commemorative 500 Paise or Rs.5/- stamp issued by India Post on 11.02.2017 

9) Centenary of Ramjas College: A Commemorative Stamp of 500 Paise or Rs.5/- brought out by India Post on 13.02.2017 

10) Ladybird Beetle: A set of four Stamps brought out by India Post on 23.02.2017 

11) Yogada Satsang Society of India Centennial Celebrations: A 00 Paise or Rs./ stamp issued by India Post on 07.03.2017

Links to other Commemorative Stamps posts on Indian Stamps issued during 2016:

1)  Special India Post Cover  carried in a dedicated Hot Air Balloon flown during the II International Hot Air Balloon Festival held in Pollachi, Tamilnadu, released by Tamilnadu Circle of India Post in January 2016

2) "Vibrant India": Postage Stamps issued by India Post on this theme

3) MAHAPEX - 2016 held at Nasik from 16-18.01.16: (Part 1) Spl. Covers on Pandu Leni Caves and Smt. Kusum Dhirubhai Mehta released by Maharashtra Postal Circle on 16.01.2016 

4) MAHAPEX - 2016 held at Nashik from 16-18.01.2016: (Part 2) Spl.Covers on Kalaram temple and Nashik "Grape City & Wine Capital of India" released by Maharashtra Postal Circle on 17.01.2016 

5) MAHAPEX - 2016 held at Nashik from 16-18.01.16: (Part 3) Spl. Covers on "Nashik Dhol" and "Dr. Anand Gopalrao Joshi" released by Maharashtra postal Circle on 18.01.2016 

6) International Fleet Review - 2016 (IFR - 16) held at Vishakhapatnam from 04.02.16 to 08.02.16: Commemorative Postage stamps issued by India Post 

7) Celebrating 75 Years of setting up of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal : Commemorative Postage Stamps brought out by India Post. 

8) PUNPEX - 16 held at Chandigarh from 06 - 09.02.2016: (Part 1): Spl. Covers on "Indian Dak Runner" & "The PUNPEX-16 logo" released by Punjab Postal Circle on 06.02.2016 

9) PUNPEX - 16 held at Chandigarh from 06-09.02.2016: (Part 2): Spl. Cover on "Butterflies of Chandigarh" released by Punjab Postal Circle on 07.02.2016 

10) PUNPEX - 16  held at Chandigarh from 06-09.02.2016: (Part 3): Spl. Cover on "Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary, Chandigarh" released by Punjab Postal Circle on 07.02.2016 

11) PUNPEX - 16 held at Chandigarh from 06-09.02.2016: (Part 4): Spl. Cover on "Migratory Birds of Sukhna Lake, Chandigarh" released on 07.02.2016 

12) "Gurudwara Shri Paonta Sahib": Spl. Cover released by HP Postal Circle, of India Post 

13) India's First International Fleet review held on 18.02.2001 at Mumbai 

14) "Jal Mahotsav" on the River Narmada from 12-21.02.2016: Spl Cover issued by the Department of Posts, India 

15) "Simhasth Kumbh Mahaparv", Ujjain 22.04.2016-21.05.2016: MAPPEX-2016 Spl Cover released by Postmaster General, Indore Region, India Post on 07.02.2016 

16) Unique Handicrafts of Madhya Pradesh: MAPPEX 2016: A Special Cover issued by the Postmaster General , Indore Region, Indore, on 05.02.2016 

17) Golden Jubilee of The Statesman Vintage & Classic car Rally": Special Cover issued by the Delhi Postal Circle, New Delhi on 28.02.2016 

18) Mahamaham Kumbha Mela Festival, Kumbhakonam, Tamil Nadu: February 13-22, 2016. Special Cover issued by the Postmaster General Tamilnadu Circle, Chennai, India Post. 

19) "Maharaja Agrasen ki Baoli " in New Delhi: "UTSAV 2016"- A Special cover issued by the Delhi Postal Circle on 17.02.2016 

20) Archbishop Benedict Mar Gregorios Birth Centenary celebrations : A Special Cover issued by Delhi Postal Circle, New Delhi, India Post on 15.02.2016

21) Shri Lakshmi Narayan Temple: UTSAV 2016: A Spl Cover issued on 17.02.2016 by Delhi Postal Circle, New Delhi 

22) National Science Centre Delhi: UTSAV 2016: A Spl Cover issued by the Delhi Postal Circle, New Delhi , Department of Posts, India on 16.02.2016 

23) Commemorating the Birth Centenary of Vasantrao Srinivassa Sinai Dempo: A Rs.5/- Stamp issued by  India Post on 04.03.2016 

24) 150th Anniversary of the Allahabad High Court : Commemorative Stamps & Coins issued by the Department of Posts, India & India Government Mint, Mumbai respectively 

25) National Archives of India (Part 1): 125th Anniversary Celebrations: Commemorative Stamps issued by the Department of Posts, India on 13.03.2016 

26) The Gilgit Record (Manuscripts): National Archives of India (Part 2) A 30 paise Stamp issued in 1979,  by the Department of Posts, India. 

27) "A Minor Rock Edict" of Samrat ashok found in Gujarra , Distt. Datia M.P. : A Special Cover issued by the Indore Region, MP Postal Circle, Deptt. of Posts, India

28) "Batesara Group of Temples": A Special Cover issued by Indore Region, M.P. Postal Circle, Deptt. of Posts, India 

29) "India-UN Women HeForShe Programme": Commemorative Stamps issued by India Post  

30) Fire Services of India: A Rs. 5/- Stamp issued by the department of posts, india to honour the "Fire Services of India

31) Govardhanram Tripathi: Commemorative Rs.5/ Stamps brought out in his honour by the Department of Posts, India. 

32) The "Everlasting Flame international Programme 2016": A Special Cover issued by Delhi Postal Circle, Department of Posts, India. 

33) "Ahimsa Ball": Commemorating the 10th Installation Ceremony of the Ball: A Special Cover issued by the Delhi Postal Circle on 26.04.2016 

34) "BRICS Friendship Cities Conclave 14-16 April 2016, held at Mumbai: A Special Cover issued by the Maharashtra Postal Circle on 14.04.2016 

35) "25th Shukla Day Coin and Philately Fair" held from 22-24.04.2016 at Mumbai: A Special Cover issued by the Maharashtra Postal Circle, India Post on 22.04.2016 

36) "Indian Coast Guard Air Station Chennai Silver Jubilee": A Special Cover issued by Tamilnadu Postal Circle of India Post on 07.03.2016 

37) Swami Chidananda: A Rs.5/- Commemorative stamp issued by India Post on 21.05.2016, celebrating his Birth Centenary. 

38) "Brave Fighter Narvir Shivaji Kashid: A Special Cover issued by Maharashtra Postal Circle on 05.05.2016 

39) Tata Power: Commemorating the centenary of the establishment of The Company by India Post, by issuing Rs.5/- stamps on 10.06.16 

 40) "Surya Namaskar": The theme of second International Day of Yoga: Commemorative stamps issued by India Post on 21.06.2016

41) Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose in Jharkhand: DEOPEX:2016: A Special Cover issued by the Jharkhand Postal Circle, India Post on 18.03.2016 

42) "Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar": DEOPEX-2016: A Special Cover issued on him by Jharkhand Postal Circle, India Post on 18.03.2016 

43) "Philatelic Seminar, Jaipur": A Special Cover issued by the Rajasthan Postal Circle, India Post on 28.02.2016 

44) "Shantheyanda Okkada Hockey Namme - 2016": A Spcial Cover issued by Karnataka Postal Circle, India Post on 03.05.2016 

45) The Indian Institute of Architects: Commemorating the Centenary year of the Institute by issuing a Special Cover by Maharashtra Postal Circle, India Post on 12.05.2016  

46) Indian Naval Air Squadron 300 (INAS 300): A Special Cover issued on the Induction of MiG-29Ks and de-induction of Sea Harriers in the Squadron, by the Maharashtra Postal Circle of India Post on 11.05.2016 

47) State Trading Corporation : Celebrating 60 Glorious Years: A Special Cover issued by the Delhi Postal Circle, India Post on 18.05.2016 

48) Christ Church Fort Teppakullam, Tirichirappalli: 250th Anniversary Celebrations: A Special Cover issued by Tamilnadu Postal Circle, India Post on 17.05.2016 

49) "BSE" (formerly Bombay Stock Exchange): Commemorating the 140th Year of its establishment: A Rs.5/- commemorative stamp brought out by India Post on 09.07.2016 

50) "VIKAS PARV - CHHAU DANCE": A Special Cover issued by Jharkhand Postal Circle on 17.06.16 

51) 65th Plenary of the North Eastern Council held on 26-27 May 2016 at Shillong: A Special Cover brought out by the NE Postal Circle of India Post, on 03.06.2016 

52) Platinum Jubilee of the First Philatelic Bureau set up in Mumbai: A Special Cover issued by Karnataka Postal Circle, India Post on 21.06.2016 

53) Chennai Book Fair: A Special Cover issued by the Tamilnadu Postal Circle of India Post on 01.06.2016

54) Chennai Book Fair (Part II) A.K. Chettiar : One of 6 eminent Tamil writers on whom Tamilnadu Postal Circle has issued Special Covers on 10.06.2016 

55) Chennai Book Fair (Part III): T.Janakiraman: One of 6 eminent Tamil writers on whom Tamilnadu Postal circle has issued Special Covers on 10.06.2016 

56) Chennai Book Fair (Part IV): P.V. Akilandam: One of 6 eminent Tamil writers on whom Tamilnadu Postal Circle has issued Special Covers on 10.06.2016 

57) Chennai Book Fair (Part V): D. Jayakanthan: One of 6 eminent Tamil writers on whom Tamilnadu Postal Circle has issued Special Covers on 10.06.2016 

58) Chennai Book Fair : (Part VI): Pudhumaipithan: One of Six Eminent Tamil writers on whom Tamilnadu Postal Circle has issued Special Covers on 10.06.2016 

59) Chennai Book Fair: (Part VII): Va Ramasamy: One of six eminent Tamil writers on whom Tamilnadu Postal Circle has issued Special Covers on 10.06.2016 

60) Tadoba Andhari National Park: Commemorative stamps brought out by India Post on "International Tiger Day" at Nagpur on 29.07.2016 

61) Tara Mata Temple Shimla: Famous Temples of Himachaal Pradesh Series: A Special Cover issued by HP Postal Circle of India Post on 29.04.2016 

62) Bagla Mukhi Temple, Bankhandi, Kangra: Famous Temples of Himachal Pradesh Series: A Special Cover released by the H.P. Postal Circle of India Post on 29.04.2016  

63) Chintpurni Temple , Chintpurni Una, HP: Famous temples of Himachal {radesh Sries: A Special Cover released by H.P.Postal Circle of India Post on 29.04.2016 

64) Ter-Centenary of the martyrdom of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur: A Special Cover brought out by Delhi P0stal Circle of Indiapost on 20.06.2016 

65) "Rio 2016" Summer Olympics: Commemorative Stamps and booklets issued by the Department of Posts, India on 05.08.2016

66) "Orchids": A set of 6 Commemorative postage stamps brought out by India Post on 08.08.2016  

67) Indian Metal Crafts: A set of six Stamps issued by India Post on 26.08.2016 

68) Independence Day - Tourism in India: A Rs. 25/- Commemorative Stamp issued by India Post on 15.08.2016 

69) "Kargil Diwas" - A Special Cover brought out by Karnataka Postal Circle of India Post on 26.07.2016 

70) Jagadguru Shri Shivrathri Rajendra Swamy : A Commemorative Rs.5/- Stamp brought out on his Birth Centenary on 27.08.2016 

71) Lady Hardinge Medical College: Commemorating the Centenary of establishment of LHMC by issue of Rs.5/- stamps by India Post on 23.09.2016 

72) Swachh Bharat Mission: Second set of Commemorative Stamps issued by India Post on 02.10.2016

73) Induction of C-130: A commemorative stamp of 500 Paise issued by India Post on 06.10.2016 

74) Central Water and Power Research Station, (CWPRS) Pune: A commemorative Rs.5/- stamp issued by India Post commemorating the Centenary Celabrations of establishment of the CWPRS

75) Kanger Valley National Park, Jagdalpur: A Special Cover brought out by Chhattisgarh Postal Circle, India Post on 26.06.2016 

76) Jagadish Chandra Bose (Great Scientist): A Special Cover brought out by the Jharkhand Postal Circle, India Post on 15.02. 2016 

77) "Near Threatened Birds": (Series I): Stamps issued by India Post to create awareness about four Near Threatened (NT) Bird species on 17.10.2016 

78) "Varanasi City": A set of Commemorative Stamps brought out by India Post on 24.10.2016

79) National Unity Day (or Rashtriya Ekta Diwas): Salute to the Unifier of India: A Commemorative postage stamp brought out on Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel by India Post on 31.10.2016 

80) 50 Years of Haryana: A Commemorative Postage stamp issued by India Post on 01.11.2016 

81) Mahseer: A Special Cover issued by the Indore Region of the Department of Posts, in coordination with the Forest Department Madhya Pradesh on 09.09.2016 

82) Third Battalion:The Garhwal Rifles: A Commemorative postage stamp issued to celebrate the Centenary of the Battalion's Raising day in 1916. Stamp issued by India Post on 19.11.2016 

83) "Picnic": The theme of Children's day 2016: Two commemorative stamps brought out by Indiapost in the denominations of 1500 Paise or Rs.15/- each on 14.11.2016 

84) Nobel Prize Winners of India: A Special Cover brought out by Rajasthan Postal Circle of India Post in co-ordination with the Philatelic Society of India and St. Xavier's School, Jaipur on 21.10.2016 

85) Chilika Lake: A Special Cover issued by the Odisha Postal Circle of India Post at the National Philatelic Exhibition on Nature and Environment - 30.09.2016 to 02.12.2016 on 30.09.2016 

86) Exotic Birds: A set of six Commemorative stamps brought out by India Post on 05.12.16 

87) Akshardham Temple and Pramukh Swami Maharaj: A set of two stamps issued by India Post on 07.12.2016 

88) AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences): A Rs. 5/- commemorative stamp issued on the occasion of the Diamond Jubilee (60 years) of establishment of AIIMs on 03.12.16

89) Season's Greetings: A set of two Commemorative Stamps issued by India Post on 23.12.2016 

90) Samrat Vikramadittya: A Commemorative Rs.5/- Stamp brought out by India Post on 22.12.2016 

91) 150 Years of setting up of the first building of Hardayal Heritage Public Library in 1866: Commemorative stamp issued by India Post on 26.12.16 

92) Personality Series: Bihar: A set of 8 Commemorative stamps issued by India Post on 26.12.2016 

93) Deendayal Upadhyaya: Birth centenary commemoration (1916-2016) A Commemorative stamp of Rs.10/- issued on him by India Post on 29.12.16 

94) Legendary Singers of India: A set of 10 stamps issued by India Post on 30.12.2016 

95) State Bank of Mysore (SBM): A Special Cover issued by Karnataka Postal Circle of India Post on 16.12.2016 

Links to other Commemorative Stamps posts on Indian Stamps issued during 2014 and 2015:

1) 2014 FIFA World Cup held in Brazil - A set of four stamps issued by India Post.

2) Commemorative Stamps on "Swachh Bharat" Mission

3) Commemorative Stamps on "Project Rukmini"

4) Commemorative Stamps on "Indian Ocean & Rajenda Chola I"

5) International Day of Yoga - "Commemorative Stamps & Coins" 

6) India-France - 50 Years of Space Co-operation - Commemorative Stamps

7) Commemorative Stamps on 50 years (Golden Jubilee) of "Engineers India Limited"

8Bicentenary of the "Old Theological Seminary" (OTS) Kottayam, Kerala

9Commemorative stamps issued on Nabakalabera (Jagannath Temple, Puri)

10) Commemorative stamps issued on an Indian Game called "Sagol Kangjei" originated in Manipur, from which Polo was adapted all over the World  

11) Samrat Ashok - Commemorative Stamps issued on the legendary Emperor of Ancient India 

12) Women Empowerment - Commemorative Stamps

13) Baba Amte - Commemorative Stamps 

14) Did You Know Series (4): A sample of the beautiful stamps brought out by Department of Posts, India 

15) 10th World Hindi Conference held at Bhopal - Commemorative Stamps issued by Department of Posts India

16) 50th Anniversary of the 1965 Indo-Pak War: Commemorative stamps issued by Department of Posts, India. 

17) Commemorating the 125th Anniversary of the Birth of Dr. B.R. Ambedker by Department of Posts, India with a stamp titled "Dr B.R. Ambedkar and the Indian Constitution" 

18) The "Charkha" or the Spinning Wheel: Commemorative stamps issued by the Department of Posts, India 

19) Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam - Commemorative Stamp issued by the Department of Posts, India 

20) 50th Anniversary of the Border Security Force (BSF): Commemorative Stamp issued by the Department of Posts, India 

21) 3rd India- Africa Forum Summit at New Delhi - Commemorative Stamps issued by Department of Posts, India 

22) Commemorating the Golden Jubilee of Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL): Commemorative Stamps issued by India Post.

23) Commemorating the Bicentenary of the Raising Day of the First and Third Gorkha Rifles: Commemorative stamps issued by India Post.  

24) India-Singapore Joint issue: 50 Years of Bilateral Relationship: Two Commemorative Stamps issued by India-Post. 

25) Celebrating 60 years (Golden Jubilee) of EEPC India: Commemorative stamps issued by India Post. 

26) Centenary of the setting up of the Zoological Survey of India: Commemorative stamps issued by India Post 

27) Celebrating Children's Day on November 14th - Commemorative Stamps issued by India Post. 

28) Musicians of India - Commemorating Classical Musicians of India by issue of Stamps by India Post. 

29) Sumitranandan Pant (poet and writer) : Commemorative postage stamps issued on him by India Post 

30) Golden Jubilee of the Establishment of the IDSA, New Delhi: Commemorative stamps issued by India Post 

31) 100 Years of Return of Mahatma Gandhi to India in 1915: Commemorative postage stamps issued by India Post 

32) Commemorating Alugumuthu Kone, one of the first Freedom Fighters against the British: Commemorative Stamps issued by India Post

33) Centennial of the Patna High Court of Judicature: Commoemrative Stamps issued by India Post  

34) Gaiety Theatre Complex, Shimla: A Commemorative 500 Paise Stamp issued by India Post on 20.06.2014 

35) Commemorating 150 Years of the Kuka Movement: A commemorative Stamp brought out by India Post on 24.12.2014

List of Commemorative Stamps Posts on stamps issued in 2013: 

1) Commemorative Postage stamps on the "Wild Flowers of India" issued by India Post.

2) 100 Years of Indian Cinema: 50 commemorative stamps issued by India Post. 

3) INS Vikramaditya: Celebrating the induction of the Aircraft Carrier into the Indian Navy: A Commemorative stamp issued by India Post on 04.12.2013

4) 50 Years of Nagaland: A commemorative stamp of 500 Paise or Rs.5/- brought out by India Post on 01.12.2013 

List of Commemorative Stamps Posts on Stamps issued in 2012:

1) Shekhawati and Warli Paintings (Part I) - Warli Paintings - Commemorative postage stamps brought out by India Post in 2012

2) Shekhawati and Warli Paintings (Part II) - Shekhaati Paintings - Commemorative postage stamps brought out by India Post in 2012 

List of Commemorative Stamps Posts  on Stamps issued in 2011:

1) Commemorative Postage Stamp of Rs.100/- issued on Mahatma Gandhi on Khadi Cloth for the first time ever by India Post.

2) Commemorating 100 Years of the Establishment of the ICMR: A Commemorative stamp of 500 Paise or Rs.5/- brought out by India Post on 08.11.2011 

List of Commemorative Stamps Posts  on Stamps issued in 2010:

1) Princely States of Indore, Sirmoor, Bamra and Cochin : Commemorative Stamps issued by India Post

2) Crafts Museum, New Delhi: A set of two Commemorative stamps brought out by India Post on 21.12.2010 

3) Lalit Kala Akademi: A Rs.5/- stamp brought out by India Post on 31.12.2010 

4) C.Subramanium and the Indian Green Revolution: A Commemorative Stamp of 500 Paise or Rs.5/- brought out by India Post on 28.11.2010

5) Central Bank of India: A Commemorative stamp of 500 Paise or Rs.5/- celebrating the Centenary of the establishment of the Bank brought out by India Post on 23.12.2010 

List of Commemorative stamps Posts on Stamps issued in 2009:

1) The Silent Valley: Commemorating the Silver Jubilee (25 Years) of setting up the Silent Valley National Park by issue of a stamp on 15.11.2009 

2) Pterospernum acerifolium (or Muchkunda): A commemorative stamp of 500 Paise or Rs.5/- brought out by India Post on 06.03.2009 

3) C.Subramanium and the Indian Green Revolution: A Commemorative stamp of 500 Paise or Rs.5/- brought out by India Post on 28.11.2009 

List of Commemorative Stamps Posts issued in 2008: 

1) Centenary of the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru: Commemorative Stamps brought out by Indiapost in 2008

2) Standard Chartered Bank: Commemorating 150 Years of Banking in India: A Rs.5/- Commemorative Postage Stamp issued depicting the SCB Mumbai Heritage Building 

3) "Aldabra Giant Tortoise": A commemorative postage stamp brought out by India Post in 2008 

List of Commemorative Stamps issued posts in 2007:

1) 2550 years of Mahaparinirvana of the Buddha: Commemorative stamps issued by India Post  

2) International Day of Disabled Persons (Since renamed as International Day of Persons with Disabilities): A Commemorative Stamp of 500 Paise or Rs.5/- issued by India Post on 03.12.2007 

List of Commemorative Stamps issued posts  in 2005:

 1) Celebrating 200 years of exciting heritage of State Bank of India

List of Commemorative Stamps issued  posts in 1964:
 
1) Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose & the INA: Commemorative stamps issued by India Post on 23.01.1964

Commemorative stamps issued in 1931, 1947 and 1950:

1) Three Series of original Indian stamps which depict : Inauguration of New Delhi (1931), First Independent India postage stamps (1947) and Republic of India Inauguration (1950)

 Postage Stamps from Thailand depicting Buddhist Jataka Tales:

1) Thailand postage stamps commemorating Buddhist Jataka Tales & celebrating Magha Puja Day (Part I)

2) Thailand Post stamps commemorating Buddhist Jataka Tales & celebrating Asalha Puja Day (Part II)  

3) Thailand Post stamps commemorating Buddhist Jataka Tales & celebrating Visakha Puja Day (Part III)

4) Postage stamps from Thailand commemorating Buddhist Jataka Tales

Other Postage stamps from Thailand:

5) "Nang Yai" (or Shadow Play Puppets"): International Letter Writing Week - 2008: Commemorative Postage Stamps issued by Thailand Post on 04.10.2008

Forever Stamps from United States Postal Service (USPS):

1) Forever Stamps: A Series of Stamps commemorating the "US Civil War 1861-1865"

2) Forever Stamps: The Hindu Festival of Lights - Diwali (2016) 

Postage Stamps from the Bailiwick of Jersey

1) "Man of Steel": A Superman movie. Jersey post stamps commemorating a local lad Henry William Dalgliesh who played Superman in the Movie 

Postage Stamps from Gibraltar:

1) 800th Anniversary of the Magna Carta - the Universal guidepost/landmark in Liberty and Freedom: A miniature stamp sheet issued by the Gibraltar Philatelic Bureau

Postage Stamps from Great Britain/UK: 

1) Celebrating the Centenary of Agatha Christie's first Crime Novel and 40th Anniversary of her passing away by issue of a set of 6 stamps by Royal Mail, UK

 2) 50 Years of Pink Floyd: Two sets of stamps - commemorating iconic Albums and Live Tours
 
Postage Stamps issued by Hongkong Post:

1) Working Dogs in Government Service: A sheetlet showing six dogs issued by Hongkong Post in June 2012

Postage Stamps issued by New Zealand Post

1) ICC Cricket World Cup - 2015 14 Commemorative Stamps issued with the theme "Have A Ball"

International Philately Exhibitions :

1) World Stamp Show New York 2016

2) Thailand 2016 - FIAP 32nd Asian International Stamp Exhibition 10-15 August 2016