My idea is of developing an organized stamp market in India through "Philsensex" and I have decided to pursue this mission of updating the price movements of India Post Independence mint stamps through Stamps of India Collectors Companion.

In this connection, I would like to quote from the bulletin published by the Investment Department of Stanley Gibbons of London for the benefit of the collectors and to understand why I venture into this idea?

“The value of stamps as an investment has been highlighted by many investment institutions. A Salomon Brothers study of commodities, currencies and bonds from 1907 to 1990 gave stamps the 4th highest rate of return at 10% per year, ahead of both bonds at 9.6% and Foreign Exchange at 4.4%.”

The above enticed me into starting this monthly column since I feel the Indian post Independence mint stamps have not got the rightful place it deserve both in terms of price and demand. The major reason I attribute is lack of knowledge of the intricacies or the unavailability of data of these issues to both collectors and dealers. I remember seeing in 1969 SG British Commonwealth specialized catalogue the quantity printed for 14 annas Buddha Jayanti issue of 1956 was mentioned as 200,000. But this issue is presently being traded at much lower prices in Indian market compared to other issues released during this period having larger printing quantity.

I appeal to the Indian stamp collecting fraternity to take this data purely for the promotion of Indian stamps. I am neither a dealer nor a trader in stamps. My mission simply is to promote and create a broader base of collectors for the Indian stamps and to see that these find their rightful places. Yes, I am subject to mistakes and I welcome corrections, criticisms, and comments. The prices and the information collected are based on the overall market movements during the last month and I have not taken any stray instances while compiling this data.

To begin with I am releasing the first "Philsensex" data covering pre-decimal issues. It will be gradually built up for other years in few months’ time.