2016-09-02 Fri

The “Lion and Palm” stamp would have been the first public stamp of India, but they were cancelled from circulation.

After the success of Scinde Dawn Stamps East India Company decided to issue stamps for the whole India. The first effort was a design of the "Lion and Palm tree". Made by Colonel Forbes this design was copied from a Gold Mohur issued by East India Company. This essay, however, was never used, as the Mint could not promise a sufficient supply as well as the process was to take a long time. Hence the idea was cancelled.

The stamps were supposed to be printed in single colour and were planned to bear a design of a lion with a palm tree in the background. They were decided to be issued in multiple colours.

This failure led the Government approach Captain H. L. Thuillier who also prepared few designs which like the previous plan were rejected. Thus, the “Lion and Palm” stamp never came into the circulation.

India Post has issued an Rs.2 stamp depicting this essay stamp in 1977 during “Indipex” – a renowned philatelic Exhibition.