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{{Use Indian English|date=May 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
The '''Azad Hind stamps''' are a set of prepared but never issued [[Postage stamp|stamps]] for the planned [[Azad Hind|Provisional Government of Free India]] under [[Subhas Chandra Bose]]. All stamps were printed by [[photogravure]] in sheets of 100 at the [[Reichsdruckerei]], the Government Printing Bureau in [[Berlin]].<ref name="free">Andrew Freeston: ''The Azad Hind and Chalo Delhi Stamps of the Indian Legion and Indian National Army of Subhas Chandra Bose 1941–1945.'' Waikawa Beach, New Zealand: 1999, p. 9.</ref>
[[File:Stamps Azad Hind SmIssu per.jpg|thumb|200px|The smaller nominal values of the Azad Hind stamps. The lower three stamps without surcharge were planned for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands]]

== Background ==
The "Provisional Government of Free India" was founded by Subhas Chandra Bose as a [[government in exile]] with the support of [[Empire of Japan|Japan]] during the [[Second World War]]. For this government, stamps were planned, which were manufactured in [[Nazi Germany]]. The stamps were commissioned by Bose himself during his stay in Berlin in early 1943.<ref>*{{cite web | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/12/03/style/pastimes-stamps.html| title=Barth Healey: Pastimes;stamps| work=[[The New York Times]]| accessdate=2020-04-17}}</ref>

== The stamps ==
A total of ten different stamps were produced:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Michel No. !! Stamp !! Nominal value !! Colour !! Description
|-
|style="text-align:center; font-size:120%;"| '''I'''||style="text-align:center;"| [[File:Azad Hind 1+1 Annas.jpg|100px]]||1+1 [[Indian Anna|Anna]]||Dark brown||[[Sikhs|Sikh]] with a German [[MG 34]] machine gun
|-
|style="text-align:center; font-size:120%;"| '''II'''||style="text-align:center;"| [[File:Azad Hind 2+2 Annas.jpg|100px]]||2+2 Annas||Crimson||Ploughing farmer in front of a mountainous landscape. In front of it a plough and [[Sheaf (agriculture)|sheaves]]
|-
|style="text-align:center; font-size:120%;"| '''III'''||style="text-align:center;"| [[File:Azad Hind 2 5+2 5 Annas.jpg|100px]]||2½+2½ Annas||Dark blue||Indian woman at a [[spinning wheel]]
|-
|style="text-align:center; font-size:120%;"| '''IV'''||style="text-align:center;"| [[File:Azad Hind 3+3 Annas.jpg|100px]]||3+3 Annas||Red||Nurse with a wounded man
|-
|style="text-align:center; font-size:120%;"| '''V'''||style="text-align:center;"| [[File:Azad Hind 8+12 Annas.jpg|rand|120px]]||8+12 Annas||Blue-violet||Broken chain and [[dagger]]s in front of a map of [[British Raj|British India]]
|-
|style="text-align:center; font-size:120%;"| '''VI'''||style="text-align:center;"| [[File:Azad Hind 12 Annas+1 Rupie.jpg|120px]]||12 Annas + 1 [[Indian rupee|Rupee]]||Lilac purpur||Broken chain and daggers in front of a map of British India
|-
|style="text-align:center; font-size:120%;"| '''VIII'''||style="text-align:center;"| [[File:Azad Hind 0 5 Annas.jpg|100px]]||½ Anna||Dark yellow-green||For the Andaman and Nicobar Islands without surcharge: Ploughing farmer in front of a mountainous landscape. In front of it a plough and sheaves
|-
|style="text-align:center; font-size:120%;"| '''IX'''||style="text-align:center;"| [[File:Azad Hind 1 Anna.jpg|100px]]||1 Anna||Lilac red||For the Andaman and Nicobar Islands without surcharge: Ploughing farmer in front of a mountainous landscape. In front of it a plough and sheaves
|-
|style="text-align:center; font-size:120%;"| '''X'''||style="text-align:center;"| [[File:Azad Hind 2 5 Annas.jpg|rand|100px]]||2½ Annas||Orange red||For the Andaman and Nicobar Islands without surcharge: Indian woman at a spinning wheel
|-
|style="text-align:center; font-size:120%;"| '''VII a'''||style="text-align:center;"| [[File:Stamp Azad Hind.jpg|120px]] ||1+2 Rupees||Black/Orange/[[Emerald]] green||Three [[Indian Legion|Indian soldiers]] flying the flag of "Free India", framed by two daggers. There are variants in black and black/orange as well as proofs
|}
The stamps were designed by the graphic artist couple [[Werner von Axster-Heudtlaß|Werner]] and [[Maria von Axster-Heudtlaß]], who designed numerous stamps for the [[Reichspost]] and later for the [[Deutsche Post]] between 1925 and 1949.<ref name="freid">Herbert A. Friedman: ''"Azad Hind" and "Chalo Delhi" Stamps.'' Jal Cooper, Bombay 1972, p. 12.</ref> According to propaganda philately specialist Dave Ripley, the soldiers on the 1+2 rupees stamp represent three of India's best-known freedom fighters at the time (from left): [[Sukhdev Thapar]], [[Bhagat Singh]] as standard-bearer and [[Shivaram Rajguru]]. They were hanged by the British authorities on March 23, 1931.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.psywar.org/stamps.php| title=Herbert A. Friedman: Propaganda and Espionage Philately| publisher=psywar.org| accessdate=2020-04-17| archive-date=7 February 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207193700/https://www.psywar.org/stamps.php| url-status=dead}}</ref> 1 million copies of each stamp were printed. Exceptions were those planned for the [[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]] without surcharge, which were only issued 500,000 times. A very small number were produced of the higher values 1+2 rupees, which exist in three different varieties. Due to the fact that this value was manufactured in a multicolour print, unfinished variants were discovered later. At the end the flag should be illustrated in orange, white and green colours. Unfinished prints in black and black/orange have been preserved. Of the black version the found quantity was 4500 pieces, of the black-orange 2000 pieces and of the final, finished version 7000 pieces. Except for the higher rupees values (only imperforated), all stamps exist both perforated and in practically the same number imperforated. The stamps planned for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands were perforated L 10½. All other small nominal values were perforated differently, so there were issues with the following variants: L 9½:10½, 10½, 10½:9½ and 11:10½. There are often stamps with irregular perforations.

A large part of the 1+2 rupees stamp in black/orange exists only without gum. Of the 1+2 rupees stamp, very rare proofs have survived, including two sheets of proofs with dark purple instead of black tones and one sheet of proofs on cardboard paper with [[Optical brightener|brightener]]. This cardboard was provided with advertising on its reverse side. Moreover there exist proofs that were made on paper dyed orange on the front side. There are rupee stamps on which the colours appear blurred or have been printed in the wrong place (sometimes twice). There is a conspicuous plate error of the 3+3 annas stamp, which partly has a larger white, round spot left of the nurse's head.

<gallery class="center" caption="1+2 rupees stamps (inclusive proofs)">
Stamp Azad Hind.jpg|1+2 rupees black/orange/green (VII a)
Stamp Azad Hind black.jpg|1+2 rupees black (VII b)
Stamp Azad Hind orange.jpg|1+2 rupees black/orange (VII c)
Stamp Azad Hind Orange paper.JPG|Proof on orange coloured paper
Azad Hind Karton.png|Proof on cardboard paper with optical brightener
Azad Hind violett.png|Proof with dark purple tones
</gallery>
<gallery class="center" caption="Varieties and special features">
Stamp PF Azad Hind 3a.png|3+3 annas stamp with a striking plate error
Azad Hind gruen verschoben.png|Genuine 1+2 rupees stamp with shifted green colour
Azad Hind orange verschoben.png|Genuine 1+2 rupees stamp with shifted orange colour
Azad Hind Sample print back side.png|Reverse side of the proof on cardboard paper
</gallery>

== Cataloguing and publications ==
[[File:Stamps Azad Hind Adaptation.png|thumb|180px|A "modern" design of Azad Hind stamps in a publication of the ''Netaji Birth Place Museum'' (India)]]
[[File:Azad Hind stamps released by Indian National Army in display at Netaji Birth Place Museum, Cuttack, Odisha, India.jpg|thumb|left|175px|Azad Hind stamps exhibited at the ''Netaji Birth Place Museum'' (India)]]
The stamps of Azad Hind are listed in the [[Michel catalog|Michel Germany catalogue]] under "Nationales Indien" ("National India") and bear the designations I to X ( perforated and imperforated). Of No. VII (1+2 rupees) the varieties a, b and c are named.

The [[Indian Post]] has published the Azad-Hind stamps in a book entitled ''India's Freedom Struggle through India Postage Stamps''.<ref>*{{cite web | url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-miscellaneous/tp-others/footprints-of-history/article28060995.ece| title=S. THEODORE BASKARAN: Footprints of history| publisher=thehindu.com| accessdate=2020-04-17}}</ref>

In 2016, the [[Netaji Birth Place Museum]] in [[Cuttack]] ([[India]]) published a brochure in which, among other things, the Azad Hind stamps were shown in "free interpretation". Original stamps are also displayed in the visitor rooms.<ref>{{cite news | title=Rare Netaji photos in booklet | url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/odisha/rare-netaji-photos-in-booklet/cid/1472548 | date=7 January 2016 | newspaper=The Telegraph | location=India | first=Vikash | last=Sharma | accessdate=17 April 2020 }}</ref>

== Forgeries ==
[[File:FDC India 1964 Bose Azad Hind.png|thumb|180px|left|First day cover of the Indian Post with an added and then cancelled Azad Hind stamp]]
[[File:Azad Hind Fake Stamps.png|thumb|180px|Faked 1+2 rupees stamps]]

As the [[market value]] of the 1+2 rupees stamps has increased considerably over the years due to their rarity, [[Forgery|forgeries]] are produced. These can usually be recognized by an unclear and washed-out looking print, as they are often produced using [[offset printing]] instead of photogravure. There are also imitations that are produced with [[inkjet printer]]s.

As the stamps have not been issued, it is not possible that they exist with a real [[Cancellation (mail)|cancellation]]. In 1964 Subhas Chandra Bose was honoured in India by the Indian Post with two stamps. On this occasion [[first day cover]]s with Bose stamps were also published. On some of these letters, as a "mixed franking", Azad Hind stamps were additionally attached and then cancelled. Also cancellations of exclusively used Azad Hind stamps on first day covers are known.<ref>*{{cite web | url=https://www.stampcircuit.com/de/stamp-Auction/todywalla-auctions/4897949/lot-358-india-azad-hind-stamps-todywalla-auctions-stamp| title=Todywalla auctions| publisher=stampcircuit.com| accessdate=2020-04-17}}</ref> The same was done with Indian first day covers from 1968.<ref>*{{cite web | url=https://www.roots.sg/learn/collections/listing/1315434| title=First Day Cover issued in commemoration of the 25th Anniversary of the Azad Hind| publisher=roots.sg| accessdate=2020-04-17}}</ref>

== See also ==
*[[Azad Hind]]
*[[Indian National Army]]
*[[Cinderella stamps]]

== Sources ==
* ''Michel Deutschland-Spezial 2018.'' Schwaneberger Verlag GmbH, München 2018.
* [http://axis101.bizland.com/IndianStamps.htm ''Indian Legion Stamps and Postal History''] in ''Introduction to Foreign Legion Stamps and Postal History''.

== References ==
<references responsive="0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Azad Hind Stamps and History |url=https://www.azadhindstamps.com/stamps}}</ref>
{{Azad Hind Fauj}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Azad Hind Stamps}}
[[Category:Azad Hind]]
[[Category:Indian National Army]]
[[Category:Subhas Chandra Bose]]
[[Category:Cinderella stamps]]
[[Category:Philately of India]]

Azad Hind stamps - Revision history

Bot at 01:35, 26 October 2022