2010 Stamp Issue Review

2010 was a mixed year for stamp collectors -- there were 91 stamps , miniature sheets, 1 sheetlet released. Click here for all the stamp issues.

Here are the highlights:

1. Totally 91 stamps issued -- 88 stamps with 5 Rs denomination and 3 stamps with 20Rs denomination. Total cost of these stamps: 500 Rs
   
2. 12 miniature sheets were also released including few beautiful mini sheets like "sparrow and pigeon", "Puri Rath Yatra" and "India Mexico Joint issue". Other mini sheets are not that much impressive. Total cost: 265 Rs.
   
Miniature Sheets thro' years


2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010
3	0	4	9	7	3	6	11	16	13	12



3. Total cost for acquiring stamps, mini sheets, FDCs alone is 1385 Rs. This is comparatively better than previous year issues costing 1650 Rs. But I would like it to be under 1000 Rs.
   



2007	2008	2009	2010
1275	1650	X	1385



4. Personality issue wise, its a pathetic year. Total of 33 personality stamps were released (which is about 36% -- which according to Rule 72.11 should not exceed 25%). What is more disappointing is that -- most of the personality issues are on Tamil personalities. Sometimes it felt like Tamil Post instead of India Post. I wonder if having A. Raja at the top would have affected this.
5. Just 5 stamps on Flora and Fauna -- which is very much disappointing for me. On Indian heritage and culture 21 stamps were released -- which is nice to see but quality of the stamps on this theme could be improved.
6. Two stamps (XIX Commonwealth Games, Lalit Kala Academy) were issued with new Rupee symbol. I would like to see all the stamps from now one to be released with the new symbol.
7. Two premature issues -- Y.B. Chawan, Sekaranar Issues.
   

The high cost of stamps would not encourage young student collectors. Spending more than 100Rs per month from their pocket is not at all reasonable. I would like to see less number of stamps being issued -- and no stamps of denomination more than 5 Rs. I would recommend, like other philatelists, 48 stamps per year, 4 stamps per month, 4-6 miniature sheets and on the whole keeping the overall yearly expenditure on mint collection to be within 800 Rs.

I would like to see very less number of personality issues -- only issues on people who are known nation wide (just not inside their own community).

My other personal thoughts

• It was a birth centenary of Mother Terisa this year (2010). Many other counties released stamps on his occasion but not India. Even after suggestions by many philatelists, India post has not considered this. I would think as the biggest mistake by India Post.
• Postage stamp on Kumaraguruparar Swamigal was released on 25th June, 2010. I think, his achievements are only confined to religion. This is a gross violation of Rule 72.9

Stamp issue program for 2011: Click

Happy Collecting.

-Ahmed.