''Penny Black'' to be displayed in Phitatelic Exhibition

Bhubaneswar, Oct 24 (UNI) ''Penny Black'', the first postal stamp of the world issued in 1840 in the United Kingdom, will be exhibited in the two-day Philatelic exhibition being organised by the Eastern India Philatelists Association (EIPA) here tomorrow and on October 26.

EIPA president Bijoyshree Routray told newspersons here that the people of the state would also get an opportunity to have a glimpse of the first stamp issued in the pre-Independence and post-Independence eras of the country.

''Sindh Dak'', the first postal stamp issued by the East India Company in 1852, and ''Konark Ghoda'', a stamp issued in 1948, would also be exhibited during the two-day festival.

A postal stamp issued by the king of the princely state of Bamara in 1892 would find a place in the exhibition. Besides, more than 50,000 rare philatelic stamps would be showcased during the exhibition.

However, Mr Routray regretted that though Orissa has a vast heritage and produced a host of eminent personalities the state had been very poorly figured in issuance of stamps.

Out of the total 2,500 stamps released so far, only 35 were based on Orissa. This year the department is going to issue 117 stamps but Orissa does not figure anywhere, he remarked.

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