Timeless pieces, ageless memories

Chennai, July 2: Pens and bangles are dime a dozen. But a priceless golden pencil-pen and a pair of bangles made of white metal and silver take the cake for sheer antique value.

The more than 200-year-old pen, specially made to order by Parker, was presented by the then British Governor of Madras Grant Duff to Mr V Chandrasekharan in recognition of his proficiency in 21 languages.

Having been in the family for six generations, it is now in the 'prized' possession of Ms Sunitha Madhavan, a descendant of Mr Chandrasekharan. The name of the Governor was engraved on the pen.

The bangles were more than 120 years old and weighed about one kg. It was made in the mid 18th century (1855 to 1860) and was with Mr A Radhakrishnan, a rupee and coin dealer.

The priceless antiques were on public display at the Annual Stamps, Coins and Notaphilately Exhibition, organised by the South India Philatelic and Numismatic Dealers Association (SIPNDA) here.

A great granddaugther of Raj Bahadur V Venkayya, the first Indian Epigraphist under the Imperial Government, Ms Sunitha told UNI she had in her possession coins dating back to 220 BC to till date.

''I have vast collections of coins, dynasty-wise, rulers-wise, coins of colonial period, British India, Princely states and those belonging to Independent India.'' Among the antiques was the visiting card holder made of pure sandalwood used by Mr Venkayya, a 1897 post card dating back to the East India company era.

The 150-year-old card holder had ivory inlay and exuded sandalwood fragrance.

Ms Sunitha said she had put up a stall in the exposition to commemorate the 142nd birth anniversary of Mr Venkayya which fell yesterday. Apart from the sparkling bangles, Mr Radhakrishnan, an avid antique collector, also has a mini copper boiler dating to 1851 and a pair of nearly 75-year-old gold-coated anklets weighing about 200gm.

''I have a hobby of collecting coins, currencies, clocks. The emblems of successive British Kings from 1851 have been engraved on the boiler,'' he said.

On display were currencies belonging to British era, Hyderabad Nizam and erstwhile India-Pakistan-Burma currency besides, stamps, jewels and rings.

Among the coins of different shapes were 'world bi-metal coins,' 'world hole coins,' 'world plastic currency' and portrait queen's currency.

SIPNDA President V S K Jeyasingh told UNI that 100 dealers from all over India were displaying their valuable collections at the exposition, including more than 100 frames of stamps and 50 frames of coin collectons.

Coins straddling the BC period and the modern times, ancient coins, paper money belonging to Second World War period, fancy numbers, autographs of famous people, political leaders and freedom fighters and collection of stamps are some of the interesting exhibits at the exposition, which attracts about 1000 to 2000 visitors a day, including foreigners.

A special souvenir was brought out to mark the occasion. It was released by SIPNDA Patron Kishore Junjunwala and the first copy was received by Mr Dhananjay Desai, National Commission Member for Philately, Ahmedabad in the presence of Mr Jeyasingh and SIPNDA Secretary A V Jeyachandran.

UNI