Fragrance of Roses

February 7, 2007

A Miniature Sheet consisting of 4 nos of commemorative postage stamps on the Fragrance of Roses : Bhim, Delhi Princess, Jawahar and Neelam :

Issued by India

Issued on Feb 7, 2007

Issued for : The Department of Posts is proud to release a set of four scented commemorative postage stamps on ‘Fragrance of Roses’.

Credits :
Stamp & FDC : Suresh Kumar
Cancellation : Alka Sharma

Type : Miniature Sheet, Mint Condition

Colour : Multicolour

Denomination : 500, 1500, 1500 & 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 0.8 Million each

Miniature sheets : 0.4 Million

Printing Process : Photogravure

Printer : India Security Press, Nasik

About :

Roses have been symbols of love and beauty since ancient times. Different coloured roses have their own symbolic meaning. The red rose is a symbol of love, the pink rose a symbol of grace, the white rose a symbol of innocence, purity and friendship, and the yellow rose a symbol of dying love or platonic love.
India Post has now brought together fragrance and beauty to create a set of four stamps on ‘Fragrance of Roses‘. The stamps showcase the spectacular variety, beauty and fragrance of roses found in our country, by depicting four Indian varieties.
Bhim :
- This hybrid tea rose is very famous in India. The camellia-like flatness of its form is unusual and its mid-red colour is very attractive. A healthy bush, very free with its flowers, it has dark semi-glossy foliage. The fully open blooms are striking and stands up to cold nights.
Delhi Princess :
- A popular Indian-bred variety this rose has cerise-red buds which open to sparkling pink flowers in clusters. Growing in great profusion, the clusters may be small in cool weather, but the individual flowers are 10 cm. across. In warm weather large trusses are formed. It is exceptionally vigorous and free-flowering in all weathers.
Jawahar :
- Free-flowering and good for bedding and exhibition, the velvety, scented ‘Jawahar’ is a creation of the Indian Department of Crops and Agriculture. Growing usually in clusters of three to six, the flowers are perfect creamy white. The vigorous, bushy plant is notable for strange brown prickles and light green flossy foliage.
Neelam :
- The Indian Agricultural Research Institute has for some years now been breeding roses especially for Indian conditions, and the gardens of the Indian Rose Society in Delhi display some splendid roses as a result including the ‘Neelam’. It is a large, shapely bloom in silvery pink, with a heady perfume and dark green, glossy foliage.
Text : Based on ‘The Rose in India‘ by Dr. B.P. Pal, and ‘The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Roses‘ by Mr. Stirling Macoboy.