The Azad Hind stamps are a set of prepared but never issued stamps for the planned 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.[1]
The "Provisional Government of Free India" was founded by Subhas Chandra Bose as a government in exile with the support of 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.[2]
A total of ten different stamps were produced:
| Michel No. | Stamp | Nominal value | Colour | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | 1+1 Anna | Dark brown | Sikh with a German MG 34 machine gun | ||
| II | 2+2 Annas | Crimson | Ploughing farmer in front of a mountainous landscape. In front of it a plough and sheaves | ||
| III | 2½+2½ Annas | Dark blue | Indian woman at a spinning wheel | ||
| IV | 3+3 Annas | Red | Nurse with a wounded man | ||
| V | 8+12 Annas | Blue-violet | Broken chain and daggers in front of a map of British India | ||
| VI | 12 Annas + 1 Rupee | Lilac purpur | Broken chain and daggers in front of a map of British India | ||
| VIII | 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 | ||
| IX | 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 | ||
| X | 2½ Annas | Orange red | For the Andaman and Nicobar Islands without surcharge: Indian woman at a spinning wheel | ||
| VII a | 1+2 Rupees | Black/Orange/Emerald green | Three Indian soldiers flying the flag of "Free India", framed by two daggers. There are variants in black and black/orange as well as proofs |
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 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.
The stamps of Azad Hind are listed in the 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.[5]
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.[6]
As the market value of the 1+2 rupees stamps has increased considerably over the years due to their rarity, 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 printers.
As the stamps have not been issued, it is not possible that they exist with a real cancellation. In 1964 Subhas Chandra Bose was honoured in India by the Indian Post with two stamps. On this occasion first day covers 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.[7] The same was done with Indian first day covers from 1968.[8]