Workshop on Collecting Indian Air Mail
Jointly organised by Maharashtra Postal Circle and Air Mail Society India Foundation (AMSI) on 5 May 2026 at Mumbai

This special postal cancellation was released on the occasion to celebrate the workshop and spirit of collaborative learning

​The fully booked workshop brought together philatelists and postal officials for an engaging session on the fascinating story of Indian air mails. A special cancellation commemorating the event was also released during the programme.

The special cancellation being released on the occasion. L to R Smt. Rekha Q. A. Rizvi (Director, Mumbai GPO), Smt. Damyanti Pittie (eminent philatelist), Shri Amitabh Singh (CPMG Maharashtra Circle), Sri Piyush Khaitan (Chairman AMSI), Dr. Sudhir Jakhere, (DPS Nagpur Region), Sri Kapil Gogri (AMSI Organising Committee) and Ms. Kaiya Arora, (Postmaster General, Mumbai Region)

​The presentation by Mr. Piyush Khaitan FRPSL, FPCI, Chairman of the Air Mail Society India Foundation (AMSI), offered participants a fascinating journey through the evolution of Indian air mails, beginning with the historic 1911 First Aerial Post, recognised as the world’s first official aerial mail flight. The session explored early experimental ​flights, route surveys, development of foreign air mail services including Imperial Airways, KLM, and Air Orient, and the pioneering contributions of Indian aviation personalities such as J.R.D. Tata.

​The talk further highlighted the impact of World War II on air mail routes and censorship, the growth of Indian civil aviation after independence, Air-India International, Night Air Mail services, and the nationalisation of airlines in 1953. Participants were also introduced to the many aspects of aerophilately, including first flight covers, crash mail, pilot-signed covers, routes and rates, Zeppelin mail, rocket and space mail, auxiliary markings, and exhibiting considerations for collectors. The workshop received an enthusiastic response and served as an informative and engaging introduction to the rich heritage of Indian aerophilately.

A special cover, designed by Mr. Kapil Gogri following the event, was prepared to commemorate the workshop, featuring the special cancellation that was released during the event.

This workshop the fifth of AMSI’s All-India series of lectures which started with Pune in June 2025 and has since been held at Jaipur, Bengaluru and Patna. It is our endeavour to hold such workshops across the nation and abroad to generate better awareness and interest in collecting Indian Air Mails.