Hi ! Here is the beautiful stamp on Shimla GPO recently issued under series of Heritage Post offices of India on 13 May 2010. It is also the first issue of “Curtain raisers to Delhi 2011(World Philatelic Exhibition 2011)” I am very pleased to share these stamps with all of you as I have visited Shimla and Lucknow GPO many times and it’s a pleasure to see them on postage stamps. Though Shimla GPO is very small as compared to other post offices depicted on these stamps but its building has a wonderful architecture. A special cover was issued by HP Circle on Shimla GPO on 6 July 2008. I have already written about it earlier but I am giving its details again while sharing this nice stamp here. This is all for Today…..Till Next Post….Have a Nice Time !
Date of Issue - 13 May 2010
Shimla:India Posts has brought out a set of commemorative postage stamps on six postal heritage buildings, including Shimla GPO, Lucknow GPO, Delhi GPO, Nagpur GPO, Udagamandalam HPO and Cooch Behar HPO.All the stamps issued are in denomination of rupees five.
According to Ambesh Upmanya, director, postal services, HP circle, Shimla GPO building finds place in the set of these six postal heritage buildings. Shimla GPO was established in year 1883 in the heart of the city – the Mall. The site was initially known as ‘Conny lodge’ and was purchased from one Mr. Peterson at that time. Mr F Dalton was the first postmaster of the GPO whereas AK Hajari was the first postmaster of Indian origin of this GPO.
The building was mainly a timbered structure with a tin-roof. An interesting element about its design in large hollow pillars of stone and brick that transverse its height, making it an excellent example of English hill architecture. A fire broke out on the first floor of the building on September 21, 1972, in which most of the old records were brunt. The building was again renovated with its architectural features still preserved and in the year 1992, it was declared as one of the heritage post office buildings in the country.
http://www.himvani.com/news/2010/05/14/shimla-gpo-in-commemorative-postage-stamp/5205/
History of Shimla GPO
The General Post Office, situated on the Mall Shimla, is one of the oldest Post Offices in the country. The building known as Conny Cottage was purchased from Mr. Peterson, Manager of the Shimla Bank in 1883. Mr. F. Dalton is believed to have been the first Postmaster. Mr. L.G. Pigott was the last English Postmaster till December 1946. Mr. A.K. Hazari became the first Postmaster of Indian origin on 01.01.1947. The three - storeyed, mainly wooden, structure is a nice example of English hill architecture. Prior to acquisition for the Post Office, the building had some exclusive shops of some European tailors like Engelbad & Co. and the Coutts & Co. Some portion of the building, damaged by fire in the year 1972, was renovated, maintaining the original facade. In the year 1992, the GPO was declared as one of the Heritage Post Office Buildings in the country.
