In October 1949, India Post issued four stamps in different denominations on the 75th anniversary of the Universal Postal Union (UPU).

The UPU, established in 1874, is the rules-body for international mail exchange. India joined the UPU on 1st July 1876. This is India’s 2nd longest lasting membership of an international organisation after the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

The idea to issue commemorative stamps for the UPU’s 75th anniversary came from the Polish delegation to the International Postal Congress in 1947 and quickly gained traction. A resolution was passed on 20th June in 1947 by the International Postal Congress urging all members of the UPU to issue a stamp to mark the 75th anniversary, with the design left to individual member states.

India Post joined the initiative, which was the first time the newly independent nation issued stamps to commemorate a UN agency, with four stamps in different colours depicting the Ashokan Pillar and the globe with a postal envelope superimposed on it.