From The Hindu Archives, March 17, 1976: A stamp not officially released

Mangalore, March 15: A stamp of Param Vir Chakra not officially issued by Postal Department, but stated to have leaked out prematurely, has become the star attraction in Mangalapex 76, the first ever district-level Philatelic Exhibition held here between March 12 and 14, sponsored by the P and T department.

The 25-paise denomination stamp was to have been officially released by the P and T Department on last Republic Day but was postponed, and the definite date of release is not fixed yet.

Meanwhile, the stamp has been issued from some post offices in the country and one stamp bearing a postmark of a post office in Tamil Nadu on Feb. 9 was on display from out of the collections of Dr. V.S. Prabhu of Mangalore and has been attracting attention of philatelists here. It was later found that Dr. K.S. Prabhakara Rao, founder President of the Philatelic Association of South Kanara, was also among those who has one such ‘Param Vir Chakra’ stamp having been defaced on March 12 from Belgaum.

Leading philatelists who are attending the Exhibition differ in their views regarding the philatelic value of such prematurely issued stamps.