The Stamps and Postal History of Poonch

Book excerpt: Poonch lies on the western side of Kashmir. It is separated from Srinagar by the Pir Panjal moutain range with several passes exceeding 11,000 feet.Capt. S.H. Godfrey, who was the Assistant Resident in Kashmir and an early writer and collector of Poonch stamps and postal history noted, "the Poonch Post Office was one of the most honest administration in the world...." The stamps were issued for legitimate postal purposes to meet the necessity of improved communication with British India and Jammu and Kashmir. The first issues were no longer in use, years before their existence was known to collectors in Europe. The first envelope known with Poonch stamps was mailed in 1878; the State Post Office merged into the British India postal system at the end of 1894. Poonch stamps were individually printed on sheets using dies cut from either green-colored stone or brass. The published literature on Poonch stamps and postal history consists nearly exclusively of a relatively small number of journal publications and the author's website: www. poonchstamps.com which forms the basis of this book.The stamps of Poonch are not only collected by those interested in the stamps, their history and exotic local, but also by art collectors who are attracted to their bold use of color and abstract designs.