The idea of issuing postage stamps originated with Sir Rowland Hill at whose suggestion, the first postage stamp in the world now known as 'Penny Black' was brought out in England on he 6th May 1840. Other countries followed in quick succession. India brought out her first postage stamp. The famed "Scinde Dawks" in 1852. Two years later, in 1854, the first stamp for use all over India was issued. It is not known with certainty when stamp collecting as a hobby actually started but evidently it must have been immediately after the issue of the first postage stamp in 1840. For nearly two decades, stamp collecting as a hobby was confined mostly to schoolboys and enthusiasts who were called uncomplimentary names such as 'Timbromaniacs'. By 1863, however, the hobby had made inroads into the hearts of serious-minded people.

They found in stamps, apart from their illustrative and pictorial value, sufficient interest to justify the study of their specialties. They found the history of every design worth facing through the various mutations of shade, paper, watermark and perforation. Thus, stamp collecting took a new trend towards study and grouping of stamps on a scientific basis. It also acquired a reputable and new name of 'Philately' from the combination of the Greek words 'Philos' (fond of) and 'Atelia' (exemption from tax). Philately being a social hobby, it did not take long for clubs and societies to be organised as the interest in philately grew. With the formation of philatelic clubs and societies, the need for exhibiting individual collections by stamp collectors was strongly felt. Thus, started philatelic exhibitions.

At first, this was confined to the members of societies and clubs but soon it spread over t national and international fields. On the occasion of 50th anniversary of the first postage stamp, the first International Exhibition was held in London in 1890. Other International Exhibitions at Paris, Hague, Amsterdam, Vienna followed in quick succession. The first International Philatelic Exhibition in U.S.A. was held in 1913. We are now having International Exhibitions practically every year in one country or the other. In addition, National Philatelic Exhibitions are being held in almost every country regularly. In India, Philatelic Exhibitions are known to have been held in the later decade of the last century. An International Postage Stamp Exhibition (Indipex) was orgainsed by the P & T Department in 1954 at the time of the postage stamp centenary. Several competitive exhibitions have been held in India since INDIPEX at various places, such as Bombay, Madras, Calcutta, Banglore, Hyderabad, Trichi, Jullundur, Kanpur etc.

The India National Philatelic Exhibition 1970 however is the first of its kind being held in India in recent years. The exhibition is being organised to inculcate public interest in philately, particularly in the younger generation to encourage stamp collecting as a profitable hobby with great educational interest and promote the study of serious aspects of the hobby by advanced collectors. A Philatelic Exhibition, like any other exhibition, will admittedly bring more and more new comers and enthusiasts to the hobby. The exhibition will display some of the rare and valuable collections not only of the Department but of the various collectors and philatelists which have never been seen before by many collectors. These will include Indian classics, proofs and essays of many of its issues.

Indian stamps used abroad, Indian cancellations, Indian States (Convention and Feudatory), Indian Air Mails, postal stationary, and literature. A good collection of stamps of other foreign countries will also be shown by reputable collectors and philatelists in India. The Thematic Section of the Exhibition will be really eye-catching with themes like animals, wild life, flowers, scouts, space flight, evolution of flying wings on stamps etc., training of family planning, Red Cross, and various other subjects. On this great occasion, the P & T Department is happy to bring out two special stamps of denominations 20 paise and Re. 1/- to commemorate the India National Philatelic Exhibition, 1970 to be held from the 23rd December, 1970 to 6th January, 1971 on the themes of stamp collecting.

In addition to usual First Day Covers, which are being brought out, the Department has arranged to provide separate cancellations on each day at the site of the Exhibition P.O.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India