Tech magic: Philately now at your fingertips

TNN | Oct 31, 2016, 06

AHMEDABAD: Need to know how many stamps have been released on Mahat ma Gandhi or Sardar Pa tel by India Post so far? 

Want information on how many commemorative stamps were issued in a specific year? Or do you wish to verify details of any stamp before collection or purchase? 

Philately Reckoner India, an Android-based mobile phone application developed by Gujarat Philatelists' Association (GPA), aims to answer all these questions and much more. The developers said that it is India's first such app that has the record of over 3,000 postal stamps issued since 1947, with pictures and description. Mainak Kathiyara,the president emeritus of GPA, said that Gujarat is the state with one of the highest numbers of philatelists in the country with very diverse collection."Many a times, new collectors approach us with questions related to postal stamps such as the specific date or year of release or all the themes covered by the postal department so far," he said. "It gave us the idea for the app. We worked with philatelist Jatin Trivedi who developed it from scratch according to our vision."

The application has a list of stamps for each year, with photograph, release date, quantity and brief description. One can also search for specific stamps. 

The GPA officials clarify that the app is not for philatelists alone. 

They say that it is for students, researchers, historians, academicians, postal employees and public at large. "The small stamp contains a cache of information on society at large --dignitaries, historic events, flora and fauna, and international relations and so on," said an official."Thus, our effort is to put all the available knowledge at the fingertips of the user." 

Kathiyara said that the app will be ever-evolving."At the moment, we have sections such as commemorative stamps, definitive stamps, miniature sheets, sheetlets, and My Stamps issued by India Post," he said. "While many sections are up-to-date, others are being updated and all sections will be updated periodically with relevant information." 

Source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/