Indian postal stationery
India's Meghdoot postcards are a common sight for any AIDS philatelist. These yellowish postcards a wide variety of AIDS messages. The name Meghdoot literally translates as "Cloud Messenger" and is the title of a play in Sanskrit written centuries ago. There's more to Indian AIDS stationery than the Meghdoots though.
Indian postal stationery comes in five types:
- Inland letter cards -- These are "pre-stamped letter-envelopes" folded from a single sheet of paper in which the letter is written on the back/inside. Customers write on one side, then fold it into a envelope for mailing. They can only be used for postage within the country.
- Stationery postcards -- These often bear small messages to the left of the stamp.
- Meghdoot postcards -- Pre-stamped postcards with an advertisement on half of one side. Postage costs are 50% a stationery postcard. The first of these were released in 2002.
- Aerogrammes -- Pre-stamped envelopes folded from a single piece of paper on which the letter is written on the back/inside. These are functionally identical to inland letter cards, except these are designed for international air-mail and have a higher postage cost.
- Registered letters -- Letters that must be mailed through a post office for people who want a proof of mailing and/or delivery. The receipient must provide a signature to collect the letter.
I have no idea when stationery postcards and inland letter cards came into use in India, but they started bearing small AIDS awareness messages in 1997. Meghdoot postcards debuted in mid-2002, with the first AIDS-themed design appearing the next year. There are about 140 AIDS-themed stationery releases in all, with half of those being Meghdoot postcards. The true diversity in messaging is perhaps 10-15% less, as sometimes releases are re-issued on multiple occasions.
Cataloging these releases is difficult because:
- Release dates -- Many pieces have two - the officially scheduled date and when it actually was released. The difference may be a matter of weeks, months, or even a year or more.
- Language -- The stationery is in eleven languages: Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, Oriya, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali, Punjabi, and English.
- Decentralization -- The design and sale of stationery is handled regionally. As such, there is no official source of postal information on the subject.
- No catalog -- I know of no publications that tracks modern Indian postal stationery releases.
In spite of these problems, I have been able to put together the below list. It is a work in progress so expect a lot of change over time.
Special acknowledgement should be made to the Stamps of India website, whose original list of AIDS-themed postal stationery formed the basis of this page. Their Meghdoot postcard gallery was critical as well. It should be noted that their list of AIDS-themed stationery ends in 2007 and contained several errors, so this page is now a more complete listing on the topic. Also, I do not know how they obtained their information.
Special thanks also to Surendra Kotadia and Arun Gandhi for their books, Indian Post Cards With Advertisements & Slogans and Indian Inland Letter Cards With Advertisements & Slogans. The books were invaluable in organizing the information on this page up to 2002.
Please e-mail me with translations, high-resolution scans, and/or any information you can provide on this topic. Please be patient if I take a while to respond - I tend to work on this website in periodic bursts.
Key: SPP/MSP/CSP/ISP = printing companies
#p (25p, 50p, etc.) = paise. 100 Indian paise = 1 Indian rupee = about US$0.02.
-H and -V were codes used on the original Stamps of India list for inland letter cards. They refer to two letter card formats -- horizontal and vertical. I haven't been able to discern from the below pictures what the difference is though.
1993
December 20, 1993 - Inland letter card-V, 75, MSP
Tamil: AIDS ribbon and text.
1997
March 31, 1997 - stationery postcard, 15, SPP, Print run: 1,000,000(?), Brown ink
Tamil: AIDS, Temptation leads to death, Prevention is better than the cure.
December 1, 1997 - Inland letter card-V, 100, CSP, Print run: 1,000,000(?)
Hindi and English: Prevent AIDS, Use a Nirodh condom. National AIDS Control Organization.
Note the small "CSP" at the bottom of the envelope. That's the printer, and the only difference between that envelope and the next listing.
December 1, 1997 - Inland letter card-V, 100, MSP, Print run: 1,000,000(?)
Hindi and English: Prevent AIDS, Use a Nirodh condom. National AIDS Control Organization.
This envelope has a small "MSP" at the bottom of the envelope. That's the printer, and the only difference between that envelope and the prior listing.
December 1, 1997 - Inland letter card-V, 100, CSP, Print run: 1,000,000(?)
Hindi & English: Mutually Faithful Sexual relations Prevent HIV Infections
This envelope has a small "CSP" at the bottom of the envelope. That's the printer, and the only difference between that envelope and the next listing.
December 1, 1997 - Inland letter card-V, 100, MSP, Print run: 1,000,000(?),
Hindi & English: Mutually Faithful Sexual relations Prevent HIV Infections
This envelope has a small "MSP" at the bottom of the envelope. That's the printer, and the only difference between that envelope and the prior listing.
December 1, 1997 - Inland letter card-V, 100
Hindi: AIDS is not a hereditary disease
1998
June 18, 1998 - stationery postcard, 25, ISP, Print run: ?
Tamil with Inscription: Be safe from AIDS, use condoms
June 25, 1998 - stationery postcard, 25, ISP, Print run: 1,000,000(?)
Hindi: Prevent AIDS, Use a (Nirodh) condom. National AIDS Control Organization.
See similar June 25, 1999 release. The 1999 release has simpler vertical text in the center.
June 25, 1998 - stationery postcard, 25
Hindi: AIDS is an incurable disease. Have sex with only one person. National AIDS Control Society.
Another translation: Mutually Faithful Sexual relations Prevent HIV Infections
See similar release on December 31, 1999. The 1999 release has simpler vertical text between halves.
1999
January 21, 1999 - Inland letter card-V, 150, MSP, Print run: 1,000,000
Tamil: Happiness given by wife then why search / AIDS ribbon
January 21, 1999 - Inland letter card-V, 150, MSP, Print run: 1,000,000
Tamil: Think for a minute, seek happiness / AIDS ribbon
August 16, 1999 - stationery postcard, 25, ISP, Print run: 5,000,000
Hindi: Unsafe sex is one of the causes of AIDS
August 16, 1999 - stationery postcard, 25, ISP, Print run: 5,000,000
English: Prevent AIDS, Use a condom.
August 16, 1999 - Inland letter card-H, 200, ISP, Print run: 10,000,000
Hindi: AIDS is not spread by meeting and eating together
August 16, 1999 - Inland letter card-H, 200, ISP, Print run: 10,000,000
Hindi: Prevent AIDS - Always use sterilized needles
December 31, 1999 - stationery postcard, 25, ISP, Print run: ?
Hindi: Prevent AIDS, Use a (Nirodh) condom. National AIDS Control Organization.
See similar release on June 25, 1998. The 1998 release has more complex vertical text.
December 31, 1999 - stationery postcard, 25, ISP, Print run: ?
Hindi: AIDS is an incurable disease. Have sex with only one person. National AIDS Control Society.
See similar release on June 25, 1998. The 1998 release has more complex vertical text between halves.
2000
August 28, 2000 - Inland letter card-H, 200, SPP, Print run: 1,000,000
Kannada: Prevent AIDS, Use a Nirodh condom.
August 29, 2000 - stationery postcard, 25, SPP, Print run: 5,000,000
Kannada: Prevent AIDS, Use a Nirodh condom.
September 20, 2000 - stationery postcard, 25, SPP, Print run: 10,000,000. Ad in Red,
Hindi: Use a condom to space childbirth and for safe sex. (Not sure what the word in red says.)
This may not be an exact translation. Other sites are saying "Keep space between chldren, use condoms". So this may be a family planning and not an AIDS issue. Currently working on getting an accurate translation.
September 21, 2000 - Inland letter card-H, 200, SPP, Print run: 10,000,000
English: Use a condom to space childbirth and for safe sex.
2001
February 25, 2001 - stationery postcard, 25, SPP, Print run: 1,000,000
Telugu: Eradication of AIDS - Everyone's Responsibility
February 20, 2001 - Inland letter card-V, 200, MSP, Print run: 1,000,000
Telugu: Let us work together Let us avert spread of AIDS. Beware of HIV/AIDS Caution others against AIDS.
March 30, 2001 - Inland letter card-H, 200, SPP, Print run: 2,000,000
Malayalam: Prevention is the only remedy, Condom is the shield
August 30, 2001 - Inland letter card-H, 200, SPP, Print run: 1,000,000
Tamil: Let us donate blood Let us save good lives.
While this is mostly about blood donation, notice that it has an AIDS ribbon and is sponsored by an AIDS organization.
October 9, 2001 - stationery postcard, 50, ISP, Print run: 1,025,000
Hindi: Masti Luxury Condom - Safety from AIDS, Freedom from Pregnancy
October 9, 2001 - Inland letter card-H, 200, ISP, Print run: 2,000,000
Hindi: Masti Luxury Condom - Safety from AIDS, Freedom from Pregnancy
2002
March 10, 2002 - stationery postcard, 50, SPP, Print run: 1,000,000
Tamil: AIDS, Give a little help, You will be blessed
March 10, 2002 - Inland letter card-H, 200, SPP, Print run: 1,000,000
Tamil: Beware of AIDS, Take Care. Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society
March 28, 2002 - Inland letter card-V, 200, MSP, Multicolor, Print run: 2,000,000
Malayalam: ABC of AIDS Prevention A - Abstinence, B - Be Faithful, C- Condom
August 25, 2002 - stationery postcard, 200, ISP, Print run: 400,000
English: Know AIDS for no AIDS. Love safely, live safely.
August 25, 2002 - Inland letter card-H, 250, SPP, Print run: 600,000
Hindi: AIDS not only happens to others, It can happen to us and ours
August 31, 2002 - stationery postcard, 50, SPP, Print run: 250,000
Tamil: Use of Condom
September 3, 2002 - Inland letter card–H, 250, SPP, Print run: 500,000
Tamil: AIDS, District AIDS Control Board, Tirunelveli
December 16, 2002 - stationery postcard, 50, SPP, Print run: 1,000,000
Kannada: (AIDS message)
December 16, 2002 - Inland letter card-H, 250, SPP, Print run: 1,000,000
Kannada: (AIDS message)
December 21, 2002 - stationery postcard. 50, SPP
Oriya: (AIDS message)
December 21, 2002 - stationery postcard. 50, SPP
English: (AIDS message)
December 22, 2002 - stationery postcard. 50, SPP
Tamil: (AIDS message)
December 22, 2002 - stationery postcard. 50, SPP
Telugu: (AIDS message)
2003
June 4, 2003 - Inland letter card-V, 250, ISP, Print run: 1,000,000
Tamil: Donate Blood = Save Lives. (need a translation of the rest)
June 9, 2003 - Meghdoot postcard, 25, SPP, Multicolor, Print run: 100,000
Telugu: Break the silence. Let us discuss AIDS. (More AIDS text)
This is the first Meghdoot postcard about AIDS.
June 9, 2003 - Inland letter card-V, 250, ISP, Print run: 2,000,000
Malayalam: Multicolor, AIDS is not spread by touching, sharing of food or clothes, or mosquito bites
June 10, 2003 - Inland letter card-V, 250, SPP, Print run: 2,000,000
Malayalam: (AIDS message)
September 10, 2003 - Meghdoot postcard, 25, SPP, Print run: 100,000
Tamil: By giving blood, gift a life. Show your humanity not by mere words but by donating blood. Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society.
??, 2003 - Inland letter card. 250, SPP
Language unknown: (AIDS message)
If the logo says ASACS, it probably refers to Assam, a state in Eastern India. It's my understanding that the language of the area is Bengali, which is not common on AIDS postal stationery.
2004
January 6, 2004 - Meghdoot postcard, 25, SPP, Print run: 100,000
Hindi: Come home, but don't bring AIDS. Bihar State AIDS Control Committee
Originally scheduled for December 15, 2003, hence the 2003 next to the vertical line.
See similar cards: March 1, 2004 and October 17, 2004.
According to my research, this was originally intended to be a December 2003 release but was not ready in time.
March 1, 2004 - Meghdoot postcard, 25, SPP, Print run: 200,000
Hindi: Come home, but don't bring AIDS. Bihar State AIDS Control Committee
See similar cards: January 6, 2004 and October 17, 2004.
The January 6 release sold out, so an identical card was created with double the print run. No new official issue date was announced, as the postal service considered this to be an extension of the same release and did not announce it in philatelic publications. Philatelists noted that it said 2004 instead of 2003 on the card, and thus was cataloged as a different card on our end.
March 3, 2004 - stationery postcard, 50, Print run: 1,300,000
Hindi: Be Informed, Prevent AIDS(?), Haryana AIDS Control Society
July 7, 2004 - Meghdoot postcard, 25, SPP, Print run: 100,000
Hindi: HIV/AIDS can be spread by: Unsafe sexual contact, Using used syringe/needle, Infected mother to unborn child, Transfusion of contaminated blood. Jharkhand State AIDS Control Committee.
See similar cards: June 5, 2005 and ??, 2007.
July 9, 2004 - Inland letter card, 250, ISP, Multicolor, Print run: 1,000,000
Tamil: (AIDS message)
August 16, 2004 - stationery postcard, 50, SPP, Print run: 3,000,000
Hindi: With the use of condoms you can prevent AIDS. Rajasthan State AIDS Control Society for Public Welfare.
September 20, 2004 - Meghdoot postcard, 25, SPP, Print run: 500,000
Hindi: These cause HIV: Unsafe sexual contact, Using used syringe/needle, Transfusion of contaminated blood, Infected mother to unborn child. National AIDS Control Organization.
September 20, 2004 - Meghdoot postcard, 25, SPP, Print run: 500,000, color
Hindi: (AIDS message). National AIDS Control Organization.
September 20, 2004 - Meghdoot postcard, 25, SPP, Print run: 500,000, color
Hindi: (AIDS message). National AIDS Control Organization.
October 1, 2004 - Inland letter card, 250, ISP, Color, Print run: 2,000,000
Malayalam: (AIDS message - something about "Be away from AIDS, not away from people with AIDS.")
October 1, 2004 - Inland letter card, 250, SPP, Print run: 2,000,000
Malayalam: (AIDS message)
October 17, 2004 - Meghdoot postcard, 25, SPP, Color, Print run: 200,000
Hindi: Come home, but don't bring AIDS. Bihar State AIDS Control Committee
See similar cards: January 6, 2004 and March 1, 2004
The prior two versions of this card sold out, so a second reprint was made. Philatelists may not have noticed, except the style changed on postal cards and the vertical line was shortened. The size of the line is how you differentiate between the March 1 and October 17 versions (1st vs. 2nd reprints).
2005
January 10, 2005 - Meghdoot postcard, 25, SPP, Print run: 200,000
Oriya: Color, (AIDS message)
February 15, 2005 - stationery postcard, 50, SPP, Print run: 1,000,000
Oriya: (AIDS message)
February 15, 2005 - Inland letter card, 250, SPP, Print run: 1,000,000
Oriya: (AIDS message)
March 10, 2005 - Meghdoot postcard, Print run: 100,000
Tamil: (AIDS message) Tamil Nadu AIDS Initiative Voluntary Health Services
March 31, 2005: Meghdoot postcard, 25, SPP, Color, Print run: 100,000
Marathi: HIV/AIDS-free Maharastra. Talk and discuss HIV/AIDS. If you know about AIDS, you can adopt the means to prevent it. Make everybody aware about HIV/AIDS. To know about AIDS and its treatment, contact your nearest health center. Maharashtra State AIDS Control Society.
April 30, 2005 - stationery postcard, 50, ISP, Print run: 2,000,000
Marathi: (AIDS message) Maharashtra State AIDS Control Society.
April 30, 2005 - Inland letter card, 250, SPP, Print run: 2,000,000
Marathi: (AIDS message) Maharashtra State AIDS Control Society.
May 15, 2005 - Meghdoot postcard, 25, SPP, Print run: 100,000, Color
Kannada: (AIDS message). Karnataka State AIDS Prevention Society.
June 2, 2005 - Meghdoot postcard, 25, SPP, Print run: 100,000, Bihar
Hindi: HIV/AIDS can be spread by: Unsafe sexual contact, Using used syringe/needle, Infected mother to unborn child, Transfusion of contaminated blood. Bihar State AIDS Control Committee.
See similar card: July 7, 2004 and ??, 2007.
June 2, 2005 - Meghdoot postcard, 25, SPP, color, Print run: 100,000
Hindi: Correct and complete information, self-control, and fulfillment in your relationship keep away AIDS. Bihan State AIDS Control Society.
See similar card: ??, 2007.
October 3, 2005 - Inland letter card, 250, SPP,
Tamil: (AIDS message)
?? 2005 - Meghdoot postcard, 25, SPP, Print run: 100,000
Hindi: HIV/AIDS spreads from: Unsafe sex with an HIV/AIDS-infected person, HIV-infected blood / blood products, Use of HIV-infected needles (injections and syringes), HIV-infected mother to her child during pregnancy or at time of delivery or breastfeeding. Remember... Shaking hands, having meals together, and meeting HIV-infected people do not spread HIV. Madhya Pradesh State AIDS Control Committee.
?? 2005 - Meghdoot postcard, 25, SPP, Print run: 100,000, Color.
Hindi: Think before sexual relations. Prevent HIV/AIDS.
English: HIV/AIDS: Prevention is better than cure. National Rural Health Mission. Ministry of Health & Welfare. Goverment of India.
Note: One site reported that a printing error occurred on some of these postcards. If you look at the logo in the lower-left, you might notice double-printing because the colors were not printing in exactly the correct location.
?? 2005 - Meghdoot postcard, 25, SPP, Print run: 100,000, Color, Andhra Pradesh
Telugu: (AIDS message)
?? 2005 - Meghdoot postcard, 25, SPP, Print run: 100,000
Hindi: Safe lives built a safe society. Come forward. Donate blood voluntarily. Bihar State AIDS Control Committee.
?? 2005 - Meghdoot postcard, 25, SPP, Print run: 100,000
Hindi: Knowledgeable people donate blood. Blood donation is a big donation. Bihar State AIDS Control Committee.
?? 2005 - Meghdoot postcard, 25, SPP, Print run: 100,000
Hindi: Healthy boys donate blood. Blood donation is a big donation. Bihar State AIDS Control Committee.
?? 2005 - Meghdoot postcard, 25, SPP, Print run: 100,000
Hindi: Intelligent girls donate blood. Blood donation is a big donation. Bihar State AIDS Control Committee.
?? 2005 - Meghdoot postcard, 25, SPP, Print run: 100,000
Hindi: In India there are approximately 5.1 million HIV/AIDS-infected people. HIV/AIDS spreads from: Unsafe sexual contact, Use of an un-boiled needle or previously used needle, Transfusion of HIV infected blood, HIV-infected mother to her child. Himachal Pradesh State AIDS Control Section.
?? 2005 - Meghdoot postcard, 25, SPP, Print run: 100,000
Hindi: Color, (AIDS message) Chandigarh
2006
July 5, 2006 - Inland letter card,
English: ABC to stop HIV/AIDS. A - Abstinence. B - Be faithful partners, and C - Correct and consistent condom use.
Note: This and the July 31 ILC might be the same thing. I saw one reference to this being July 5, and another to a Hindi ILC existing on July 31. These reports might be confusing the same ILC though.
July 31, 2006 - stationery postcard,
Hindi: Make a promise to control AIDS. Fulfill your promise by preventing AIDS. Goa State AIDS Control Society.
July 31, 2006 - Inland letter card, SPP, Print run: 1,000,000
See note under July 5, 2006. They might be the same card.
Hindi: (AIDS message)
August 5, 2006 - stationery postcard, ISP.
Gujarati. Self-control is protection. It saves you from AIDS. Gujarat State AIDS Control Society.
See similar cards: January 20, 2008 and January 10, 2009.
August 5, 2006 - Inland letter card
Gujarati. (AIDS message)
?? 2006 - Meghdoot postcard, 25, SPP, Print run: 100,000
Punjabi: Abstain from sex until marriage. Be faithful to your spouse. Condom use. Break the silence talk about AIDS.
English: Follow ABC to prevent AIDS. A. Abstain from Sex until marriage. B. Be faithful to your Spouse. C. Condom use. Break the silence talk about AIDS. Prevention of HIV/AIDS is everyone's responsibility. Punjab State AIDS Control Society.
?? 2006 - Meghdoot postcard, 25, SPP
Telugu: (AIDS message)
?? 2006 - Meghdoot postcard, 25, SPP
Gujarati: HIV/AIDS can spread by: Unsafe sexual contact, Infected mother to unborn child, Transfusion of contaminated blood, Using a used syringe/needle. Gujarat State AIDS Control Society.
See similar card: ??, 2007.
?? 2006 - Meghdoot postcard, 25, SPP
Gujarati: (AIDS message). Gujarat State AIDS Control Society.
See similar card: ??, 2007.
?? 2006 - Meghdoot postcard, 25, SPP
Gujarati: (AIDS message). Gujarat State AIDS Control Society.
See similar card: ??, 2007.
?? 2006 - Meghdoot postcard, 25, SPP
Gujarati: (AIDS message). Gujarat State AIDS Control Society.
See similar card: ??, 2007.
?? 2006 - Meghdoot postcard, 25, SPP
Gujarati: (AIDS message). Gujarat State AIDS Control Society.
See similar card: ??, 2007.
?? 2006 - Meghdoot postcard
Telugu: Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Limited & (AIDS message)
Odd that a fertilizer ad would contain an AIDS message, but note the red ribbon at the bottom.
?? 2006 - Meghdoot postcard, SPP
Telugu: Make a promise. Let us eradicate AIDS. Get HIV testing done with confidence. It can be done in any government hospital. All pregnant women should get tested for AIDS. Use a condom properly to prevent AIDS. Doctors, teachers, youth, and all members of society should treat HIV-infected people with respect. Andhra Pradesh State AIDS Control Society.
The below picture says it was printed in 2006, but does not have a listing above.
??, 2006 - Meghdoot postcard, SPP
Bengali: (AIDS message)
2007
March 15, 2007 - stationery postcard, SPP, multicolor
Tamil: (AIDS message)
March 15, 2007 - stationery postcard, ISP, multicolor
Marathi: Kept promises keeps AIDS away. An AIDS free Maharastra is our dream. Maharashtra State AIDS Control Society.
March 30, 2007 - Inland letter card
Marathi: Take the oath. Avoid AIDS. (Not sure about the bottom two lines.)
July 1, 2007 - Inland letter card
Hindi: (AIDS message)
?? 2007 - Meghdoot postcard, multicolor,
Hindi: Knowledge is Safety. HIV/AIDS can spread due to the following reasons: Transfusion of contaminated blood; Unsafe sexual relations; HIV-infected mother to child; Use of infected needles, syringes, and pointed instruments. Uttarakhand AIDS Control Committee.
?? 2007 - Meghdoot postcard
Hindi: Correct and complete information, self-control, and fulfillment in your relationship keep away AIDS. Bihan State AIDS Control Society.
See similar card: June 2, 2005
?? 2007 - Meghdoot postcard
Hindi: HIV/AIDS can be spread by: Unsafe sexual contact, Using used syringe/needle, Infected mother to unborn child, Transfusion of contaminated blood. Bihar State AIDS Control Committee.
See similar cards: July 7, 2004 and June 2, 2005.
?? 2007 - Meghdoot postcard, multicolor
Hindi: (AIDS message)
?? 2007 - Meghdoot postcard, multicolor
Hindi: (Hindi AIDS message).
English: No condom no sex. Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. National Rural Health Mission.
?? 2007 - Meghdoot postcard
Hindi: Reasons for the spread of HIV/AIDS: Unsafe sexual relations with more than one person, Transfusion of untested blood, Use of an infected needles/syringe, Infected mother to child. HIV/AIDS can be prevented by: Regular use of a condom, Use of HIV-free blood, Use of a new needle or reuse a needle after boiling for 20 minutes, Infected pregnant women should consult a doctor. Uttar Pradesh AIDS Control Society.
?? 2007 - Meghdoot postcard, multicolor
Hindi: You, me, and we all have an obligation to prevent AIDS. The AIDS patient can live a normal life with a doctor's help. With a doctor's consultation a pregnant woman can deliver a healthy child. For an HIV/AIDS consultation, contact the distrct hospital. Uttar Pradesh State AIDS Control. Uttar Pradesh AIDS Control Society.
See similar card: ??, 2007 (different drawing, identical text)
?? 2007 - Meghdoot postcard, multicolor,
Hindi: You, me, and we all have an obligation to prevent AIDS. The AIDS patient can live a normal life with a doctor's help. With a doctor's consultation a pregnant woman can deliver a healthy child. For an HIV/AIDS consultation, contact the distrct hospital. Uttar Pradesh State AIDS Control.
See similar card: ??, 2007 (different drawing, identical text)
?? 2007 - Meghdoot postcard, multicolor,
Gujarati: (AIDS message). Gujarat State AIDS Control Society.
See similar card: ??, 2006.
?? 2007 - Meghdoot postcard, multicolor,
Gujarati: (AIDS message). Gujarat State AIDS Control Society.
See similar card: ??, 2006.
?? 2007 - Meghdoot postcard, multicolor,
Gujarati: HIV/AIDS can spread by: Unsafe sexual contact, Infected mother to unborn child, Transfusion of contaminated blood, Using a used syringe/needle. Gujarat State AIDS Control Society.
See similar card: ??, 2006.
?? 2007 - Meghdoot postcard, multicolor,
Gujarati: (AIDS message) Gujarat State AIDS Control Society.
See similar card: ??, 2006.
?? 2007 - Meghdoot postcard, multicolor,
Gujarati: (AIDS message) Gujarat State AIDS Control Society.
See similar card: ??, 2006.
?? 2007 - Inland letter card, multicolor, ISP
English: Join the Campaign Against AIDS
See similar Aerogramme below.
?? 2007 - Aerogramme, multicolor, ISP
English: Join the Campaign Against AIDS
See similar Inland letter card above.
2008
January 14, 2008 - Inland letter card, SPP,
Gujarati: (AIDS message)
See similar letter: January 10, 2009
January 20, 2008 - stationery postcard, ISP,
Gujarati. Self-control is protection. It saves you from AIDS. Gujarat State AIDS Control Society.
See similar cards: August 5, 2006 and January 10, 2009.
August 15, 2008 - Inland letter card, SPP,
Oriya: (AIDS message)
October 31, 2008 - Inland letter card, ISP,
Hindi: (AIDS message)
?? 2008 - Meghdoot postcard, multicolor,
Hindi: If you know about HIV you will always remain smiling. Consultations and treatment center. Consltation, safety, sexuality. All government hospitals give free services.
English: Delhi State AIDS Control Society. Government of Delhi.
?? 2008 - Meghdoot postcard, multicolor,
Telugu: (AIDS message)
?? 2008 - Meghdoot postcard, multicolor,
Telugu: (AIDS message)
?? 2008 - Meghdoot postcard, multicolor,
Telugu: (AIDS message). Andhra Pradesh State AIDS Control Society.
?? 2008 - Meghdoot postcard, multicolor
Telugu: (AIDS message)
?? 2008 - Meghdoot postcard, multicolor
Telugu: (AIDS message)
?? 2008 - Meghdoot postcard, multicolor
Oriya: (AIDS message)
?? 2008 - Meghdoot postcard, multicolor
Telugu: (AIDS message). Andhra Pradesh State AIDS Control Society.
?? 2008 - Meghdoot postcard, multicolor
Telugu: (AIDS message). Andhra Pradesh State AIDS Control Society.
?? 2008 - Meghdoot postcard, multicolor,
Telugu: (AIDS message). Andhra Pradesh State AIDS Control Society.
?? 2008 - Meghdoot postcard, multicolor
Hindi: (AIDS message)
?? 2008 - Meghdoot postcard, multicolor
Gujarati: (AIDS message). Gujarat AIDS Control Society.
?? 2008 - Meghdoot postcard, multicolor
Gujarati: (AIDS message). Gujarat AIDS Control Society.
?? 2008 - Meghdoot postcard, multicolor,
Gujarati: (AIDS message). Gujarat AIDS Control Society.
?? 2008 - Meghdoot postcard, multicolor,
Gujarati: (AIDS message). Gujarat AIDS Control Society.
?? 2008 - Meghdoot postcard, multicolor,
Hindi: (AIDS message)
?? 2008 - Meghdoot postcard, multicolor,
Marathi: (AIDS message). Maharashtra State AIDS Control Society.
?? 2008 - Meghdoot postcard, multicolor,
Marathi: (AIDS message)
?? 2008 - Meghdoot postcard
Hindi: Your Safety is in your Hands. Keep these points in mind to avoid HIV: Avoid unsafe sexual relations, Encourage pregnant women for HIV testing, Always use a new needle, Always use tested blood. Uttar Pradesh State AIDS Control Society.
?? 2008 - Meghdoot postcard, multicolor,
Hindi: Donate blood today, save a precious life. Any healthy person between 18 and 60 years of age can donate blood. Four times in a year. Blood donation is a painless procedure. Blood donation facilities are available in Blood Banks of all government hospitals and medical colleges. Uttar Pradesh State AIDS Control Society.
?? 2008 - Meghdoot postcard, multicolor,
Hindi: (AIDS message)
2009
January 10, 2009 - stationery postcard, SPP,
Gujarati. Self-control is protection. It saves you from AIDS. Gujarat State AIDS Control Society.
See similar cards: August 5, 2006 and January 20, 2008.
January 10, 2009 - Inland letter card, SPP,
Gujarati: (AIDS message)
See similar letter: January 14, 2008
January 28, 2009 - stationery postcard, ISP, multicolor,
Marathi: (AIDS message)
May 27, 2009 - stationery postcard, ISP,
Marathi: (AIDS message)
May 27, 2009 - Inland letter card, SPP,
Marathi: (AIDS message)
?? 2009 - Meghdoot postcard, multicolor,
Telugu: (AIDS message)
2010 and beyond
The have been no postal stationery releases about AIDS since 2009.
Indeed, here have been very few postal stationery releases on any topic. The increased availability of e-mail, text messaging, and private courier services have put the entire system of Indian postal stationery into decline. What once sold in massive amounts now barely sells.
Indian postal stationery will continue be available for years, especially the postcards printed in larger volumes. The earlier ones are already becoming scarce, a trend that will only continue to grow.
Unknown
These six registered letters were released in... 2007? Hard to say, although the third letter below resembles an inland letter card and Aerogramme released that year, so it's as good of a guess as any.
An unusual postcard
This postcard is... well, a quasi-cinderella issue. The postcard was originally sold by the postal service with the green ink only. An enterprising Indian bought a bunch of these and printed on the free half with varying messaages. I'm told most were about Gandhi. He then sold them online to collectors for a profit. So the AIDS issue here was not an official postal release other than the original postcard. It does have an interesting quirk though. The rule in India is that if you print a message on the side (as opposed to using a hand-written message) then it costs an additional fee when you mail the postcard. The card does not have the extra postage though, so the guy probably bought and requested the postal service cancel a bunch of these on December 1, 1997, then later went and printed the AIDS awareness message on them.
So it has no real place in an collection of AIDS postal stationery from India unless you're interseted in including an related postcard with an interesting story.
