Scinde Dawk

Bartle Ferere, the Commissioner of Sind, introduced paper stamps in token of prepayment of postage in 1852. These were the first stamps in Asia and are called "Scinde Dawks". The stamps bore the East India Company mark. The Red Coloured Scinde Dawk is shown in the stamp. These stamps were on brittle paper and therefore later replaced by white on white and later still in blue *.

• The first stamps of India issued just before 1854 came to be known as “Scinde Dawks”, as they were issued in the Province of Sindh . “Scinde” was how the British spelt the province of Sindh and “Dawk” is the anglicized spelling of the Hindustani word “Dak” or Post. And so, to this day, India ’s first stamps are referred to simply as The Scinde Dawks **.
• After the Scinde Dawk, Colonel Forbes of Calcutta Mint came up with an essay for a postage stamp. It showed a Lion and Palm tree. This stamp was never printed, as the colonel could not ensure an adequate supply with the limited machinery at his command *.

From* http://www.geocities.com/dakshina_kan_pa/art6/history.htm From** http://www.gatewayforindia.com/articles/postal.htm