PAKISTAN ZINDABAD (Long Live Pakistan)

At the time of Independence of Pakistan on August 14, 1947, Pakistan does not have their own stamps and postal stationary. British Indian stamps and postal stationary were overprinted "PAKISTAN" at Nasik, India. The supply could not be met in time hence Pakistan have to use stamps and postal stationary without overprint on August 15, 1947, Pakistan Post Office issued different types of special postmarks with "PAKISTAN ZINDABAD" in Urdu and English in a rectangular box.

First slogan which issued by Pakistan Post. 

Date of Issue : August 15, 1947

British Indian stamps overprinted "PAKISTAN"

Initially, Pakistan continued to use Indian stamps without surcharge but from October 01, 1947 Indian stamps, both ordinary and service, overprinted "PAKISTAN"  were issued. There were overprinted by the Security Press at Nasik. Indian ordinary stamps remained valid for postage until November 01, 1947, date later extended to December 21, 1947.

It was originally the intention to recall all Indian stamps from the post office and treasuries and send them to Nasik for overprinting. The Nasik Press, however, was working overtime to cope with these and other orders and in about November 1947 a consignment of stamps to the Punjab was burnt  by a mob at Delhi Railway Station. It was apparently then decided to commence local overprinting for, on November 20, 1947 the Revenue Commission of North-West Frontier Province (N.W.F.P.) now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa recalled stocks of Indian service stamps from all the treasuries for overprinting in the Provincial Government Press.

Date of Issue: October 01, 1947

Air Letter

1947 - Air Letter sheet of British India was overprinted "PAKISTAN" by Nasik. The air letter originally issued on March 30, 1946 have the effigy of King George VI. The portrait was printed in a box 31.00 x 27.00 mm in turquoise blue. "Air Letter" and inscription "IF ANYTHING IS ENCLOSED THIS LETTER WILL BE SENT BY ORDINARY MAIL" printed in four lines followed by a 21.00 mm thick line. Four address lines on front. Three lines on back printed vertically for sender's address. Two closing flaps, one 22.00 mm, gummed. Various types of overprint exist, handstamped specimens are also known.

Date of Issue: 1947
Size of Air Letter: 270.00 x 185.00 mm
Denomination: 6 anna turquoise white on blue overlay, overprinted in black 13.50 x 2.00 mm

Registered Letter

Registered Letters of India were overprinted "PAKISTAN" in grey / black by Nasik. Originally released in 1941, these were printed in blue on heavy wove paper with linen enforcement inside. The front had two lines of inscriptions: the top line in block capitals reading REGISTERED LETTER, 87.00 x 5.00 mm, followed by (second line) "THE ADDRESS MUST BE WRITTEN ON THIS SIDE", 101.00 x 2.50 mm. Two thick lines crossing each other almost in the centre extending on the back as well. The back also had a two-line inscription: "THIS LETTER MUST BE GIVEN TO A OFFICER OF THE POST OFFICE TO BE REGISTERED, AND A RECEIPT OBTAINED FOR IT". It was all in block capitals using the same font as on the front. The lines had 13.00 mm space between them. Stamp impression, depicting the head of King George VI, was placed in double oval containing the inscription "Registeration Three Annas + Postage One and A Half Anna / India." Colourless portions were embossed. Imprint "S.P. INDIA" appears along the right side of the envelope under the flap. "S.P." stands for Security Press.

Date of Issue: October 01, 1947
Size of the Envelop: 189.00 x 112.00 mm
Size of overprint: 26.00 x 5.00 mm
Denomination: 4 1/2 anna blue on light cream

Registered Letter

Same envelope as before but overprinting in different size. Nasik print in black.

Date of Issue: October 01, 1947
Size of overprint: 16.00 x 1.50 mm
Denomination: 4 1/2 anna blue on light cream

Overprints in different sizes and colours are known. Provisional overprints, handstamped or rubber-stamped, offer interesting and rewarding study.

Post Card

Postcards of British India were overprinted PAKISTAN bilingually by Nasik Security Press, India. The overprinting in English was placed on the stamp impression and in Urdu manuscript above "POSTCARD". Two types of postcards were printed: singles and reply paid stereo postcards. Originally these were printed in India, on buff, dark buff, pale or brown surface.

The 1/2 anna postcard showing the portrait of King George VI, was first released on May 17, 1946. In earlier printing the "A" in the value tablet had its left thin, while in the second printing (1947) it was thick.

Date of Issue: October 01, 1947
Size of postcard: 138.00 x 89.00 mm
Size of overprint: 16.25 x 1.75 mm (English)
Size of overprint: 17.00 x 6.00 mm (Urdu)
Denomination: 1/2 anna light violet on buff