Indian Postal History 1947-1997
by Ashok Kumar Bayanwala


15. 
15th September 1948, Express Inland Air Service

An Express Inland Air Service was introduced for speedy transmission of mail By Air. The fee was 2 annas for Letters and 1 anna for Post Cards.

"Sometimes, something happens, which should not have happened. Without beating around the brush, I must admit that I have forgotten from where I have taken this information, and now I am unable to find any supporting evidence to my claim. But one thing is definite that I have quoted this service, only when I have seen something in writing".

First, we should discuss, whether such service could have existed or not. In my opinion, this Express Inland air Service should have existed on and from 15th September 1948, because on this day a new AIR LETTER service was introduced for fast transmission with reduced weight. If a fight weight Air Letter will cost 2 annas (logical bifurcation is 1 anna + 1 anna Air Fee), an Express Air Mail Service post Cards may cost 1? annas (? a + 1 a) and for Envelopes may cost 3? annas (1? as. + 2 as). One should remember Air Fee for Envelope is double than Post Cards since 1st February 1938 when Air Fee on Post Cards was reduced to ? anna (6 pies) from 9 pies and 1 anna Air Fee remained for Envelope.

Now the question arise, if such Express air Service was there, examples should have existed. In my opinion, examples on Envelopes have mixed up with Express Delivery Service because the surcharge in both services was same, i.e. 2 annas. And this Express Inland Air Service was very short-lived i.e. 6? months because Air Surcharge was abolished on and from 1st April 1949.

Examples of 1? annas Post Cards are scarce but we do find Air Mail post Cards with 1 anna stamp along with ? anna printed stamp. Again this may be misleading because ? anna was Late Fee charge and ? anna was Air Fee charge. Now it is very difficult to decipher whether the Post Card in question has traveled with Late Fee, Air Mail or Express Air Mail.

Thus it appears that this service needs more investigations before my claim being accepted. I am showing 2 examples of Post Cards gone by Air Mail but without any remarks "Express or Late Fee", but payment is 1? annas.


Posted from Kalbadevi, Bombay on 25th November 1948 and reached Jodhpur on 26th November 1948.


Posted from Siliguri on 12th March 1949 and was delivered at Calcutta on 13th March 1949.

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