1974 (17 Commemoratives, 1 SS, 2 Definitives and 2 SERVICE overprints)
10 Feb 1974 - First Census of Bangladesh
These are the centre colours of the 28 February 1974 ‘First Census’ set of three stamps. To complete the full set of progressive proofs, I would still need the orange map colours, as well as the various shade stages of each of the three frame colours shown here
28 February 1974 – First Census Issue Set of Three Stamps
Additional Information: Progressive Proofs of Each Value (Recorded Types)
74-1 – 20p Family, map and chart – greenish-blue & deep orange
• a. imperforate
74-2 – 25p Family, map and chart – blue & deep orange
• a. imperforate
74-3 – 75p Family, map and chart – red & deep orange
• a. imperforate
Total stamps: 3
CCMs: —
Plate number: —
Perforation: —
Sheet format: 50
Quantity printed: 1,000,000 of each value
(Later quantities overprinted for the 6 March 1981 Second Census issue:
20p – 30,050; 25p – 150,050; 75p – 40,050.)
Designer: K. G. Mustafa
Printer: Bradbury Wilkinson & Co. Ltd., UK
First Day Cover: Yes – with commemorative postmark
Postmarks recorded: Chittagong, Dacca, Dacca Sadar, Khulna, Mymensingh
Insert: Bi-fold, light-grey paper, printed in black; cover page printed in green and olive-tan.
Cover with the gold color shifted to the left and another missing the gold color. There is no gold Post Office logo on the back flap as well
Additional: Progressive Proofs (Recorded Types)
20p – Green frame with white outline of Bangladesh
25p – Blue frame with white outline of Bangladesh
75p – Red frame with white outline of Bangladesh
22 July 1974 - 500th Birth Anniversary of Nicolus Copernicus
Two Copernicus First Day Covers bearing different postmarks. The lower cover is a privately produced generic cachet inscribed ‘BANGLADESH’ and ‘FDC
A proposed and unaccepted design for the 25p Copernicus stamp, prepared by Bradbury Wilkinson & Co., Ltd. of London. The red colour is printed on clear plastic, with all other colours printed on the underlying paper.
74-4 – 25p Chart of universe and Copernicus – violet & purple
• a. imperforate
74-5 – 75p Chart of universe and Copernicus – emerald & green
• a. imperforate
Total stamps: 2
CCMs: —
Plate number: —
Perforation: —
Sheet format: 50
Quantity printed: 500,000 of each value
Designer: K. G. Mustafa
Printer: Bradbury Wilkinson & Co. Ltd., UK
First Day Cover: Yes – commemorative postmark
Postmarks recorded: Dacca, Khulna, Rajshahi
Insert: White card stock, printed in purple. The designer’s name is not mentioned, likely indicating it was produced in-house by Bradbury Wilkinson & Co.
25 Sep. 1974 - Bangladesh in UNO
Imperforate pairs from the United Nations issue are shown
A privately produced cover posted at the United Nations on 17 September 1974, the date Bangladesh was admitted to the UN.
74-6 – 25p UN Headquarters and flag – lilac & multicoloured
• a. imperforate
• b. downward shift of red printing
74-7 – Tk.1 UN Headquarters and flag – blue & multicoloured
• a. imperforate
Total stamps: 2
CCMs: Yes
Plate number: No
Sheet format: 50
Quantity printed: 250,000 of each value
Designer: Ahmed F. Karim
Printer: Bradbury Wilkinson & Co. Ltd., UK
First Day Cover: Yes – commemorative postmark
Postmarks recorded: Dacca, Dacca Sadar
Insert: White card stock, printed in blue; the insert lists the release date as 17-9-74.
The red printing is shifted downward, most noticeable along the bottom of the design and on the band encircling the UN building at the center of the stamp.
9 Oct. 1974 - UPU Centenary
Generally missing from the set of four stamps issued for the Universal Postal Union (UPU) Centenary is the 25p value, which is the most expensive of the group. The reason most collectors do not have this value is that Mr. Mondal, an Indian dealer who faked many covers during the War of Liberation, came to Bangladesh and purchased as many of the imperforate stamps as he could. He then sold the three other values but withheld the 25p. Later, he offered this single value at a very high price, making it difficult for most collectors to complete the set. In terms of the total number of stamps printed, the 25p value is probably equal to the others, but its high price has kept it out of reach for most collectors. This set was issued on 9 October 1974. Collectors are advised to acquire imperforate stamps as margin singles or in pairs to ensure they are not single stamps cut from the souvenir sheet.
Privately produced generic cachet for the UPU Centenary stamp set. See 31 December for the same cachet used with the souvenir sheet. The cancellation on this cover is the standard ‘First Day of Issue’ canceller available at the Philatelic Bureau for FDCs. Both this standard cancellation and the commemorative cancellation for the issue exist. The commemorative cancellation is considered more desirable, though it is not necessarily of higher monetary value
74-8 – 25p UPU emblem
• a. imperforate (most difficult to locate)
• b. shade variety – yellow at bottom appears darker
74-9 – Tk.1.25 Postal runner
• a. imperforate
74-10 – Tk.1.75 UPU emblem
• a. imperforate
• b. shade variety – yellow at bottom appears darker
74-11 – Tk.5 Postal runner
• a. imperforate
Total stamps: 4
CCMs: Yes
Plate number: No
Sheet format: 50
Quantity printed: 250,000 of each value
Designer: K.G. Mustafa
Printer: Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co. Ltd., UK
First Day Cover: Yes – two types of postmarks:
Commemorative postmark
Generic large circular “FIRST DAY OF ISSUE” postmark
Same cachet design, but different envelope size compared with the later souvenir sheet (31 December 1974). Post Office logo not printed on back flaps.
Postmarks recorded: Chittagong (1), Dhaka (1 and 2 types)
Insert: White card stock, printed in brown
Additional: See 31 December 1974 for the souvenir sheet of this set
Presentation Booklet
A commemorative booklet for the Centenary of the UPU stamps. The booklet is made of paper, with folded inner pages glued along the spine. It features a dark green ribbon and was presented to dignitaries.
4 Nov. 1974 - Wild life Preservation Week - Save the Tiger
A set of imperforate blocks of four of the 4 November 1974 ‘Save the Tiger’ set of three stamps.
74-12 – 25p Bengal tiger
• a. imperforate
74-13 – 50p Tiger cub
• a. imperforate
74-14 – Tk.2 Tiger swimming
• a. imperforate
Total stamps: 3
CCMs: Yes
Plate number: No
Sheet format: 50
Quantity printed: 500,000 of each value
Designers: Willy Dolder and Peter Jackson
Printer: Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co. Ltd., UK
First Day Cover: Yes – commemorative postmark
Postmarks recorded: Dacca, Jessore, Khulna, Rajshahi
Insert: Light brown card stock, printed in black
SAVE THE TIGER PRESENTATION BOOKLET
A commemorative booklet for the Save the Tiger issue, given to dignitaries.
30 Dec. 1974 - Family Planning for All
A First Day Cover of one value from the set, bearing the first day cancellation, with a post office slogan above it stating ‘In a family, two children are enough.
Copies of this cover also exist without the corrected overprint date on the cachet, at the bottom right
4-15 – 25p Modern images of parents and two children – ochre & multicoloured
• a. imperforate
74-15 – 70p Drawing of parents and two children – claret & multicoloured
• a. imperforate
74-16 – Tk.1.25 Stylized faces of parents and two children – multicoloured
• a. imperforate
Total stamps: 3
CCMs: Yes
Plate number: No
Sheet format: 50
Quantity printed: 500,000 of each value
Designer: Ahmed F. Karim
Printer: Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co. Ltd., UK
First Day Cover: Yes – commemorative postmark. Cachet on envelope has a rubber-stamped correction: original date of issue “17-12-74” obliterated and “30-12-74” stamped over it.
Postmarks recorded: Dacca, Jessore, Khulna, Rajshahi, Rangpur (some envelopes show date and year only; rubberstamp applied on cachet on some covers)
Insert: White card stock, printed in blue. Original issue date “17-12-74” obliterated; “30-12-74” applied in rubber stamp in both English and Bengali
31 Dec. 1974 - Universal Postal Union (UPU) Centenary Souvenir Sheet
Privately produced generic cachet for the souvenir sheet. See 9 October for the same cachet used with the UPU stamp set. This cover, along with the one below it, bears the Philatelic Bureau First Day Cover cancellation.
74-17ss – Tk.8.25 Souvenir Sheet (Imperforate)
• Contains all four stamps from the set
• Total sheets: 1
CCMs: No
Plate number: No
Quantity printed: —
Designer: K.G. Mustafa
Printer: Bradbury Wilkinson & Co. Ltd., UK
First Day Cover: Yes – generic postmark: “FIRST DAY OF ISSUE / date / DACCA BANGLADESH.”
The cachet design is the same as that used for the UPU set issued on 9 October 1974, except on a larger envelope and with an attempt to obliterate the original date of 9 October 1974 printed on the cachet.
Postmarks recorded: Dacca
Insert: —
Additional: See 9 October 1974 for the UPU set of stamps using the same cachet design
