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Brand New Empire Theater In colonial Bangalore, 1935 Photo1
Brand New Empire Theater In Colonial Bangalore, 1935 Photo
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Brand New Empire Theater In Colonial Bangalore, 1935 Photo

Brand New Empire Theater In Colonial Bangalore, 1935 Photo

Brand New Empire Theater In Colonial Bangalore, 1935 Photo A 1935 photo of the brand-new Empire Theater in colonial Bangalore ....read more

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The Parsis In British Era Bombay, 1812 Print1
The Parsis Migrate To British Era Bombay, 1812 Print
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The Parsis Migrate To British Era Bombay, 1812 Print

The Parsis Migrate To British Era Bombay, 1812 Print

The Parsis Migrate To British Era Bombay, 1812 Print An 1812 print of a Parsi family in British Era Bombay ....read more

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devmaster2025-03-14T10:58:40+05:30
Farewell Ceremony At Gateway of India Bombay, 1925 Postcard1
Farewell Ceremony At Gateway of India Bombay, 1925 Postcard
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Farewell Ceremony At Gateway of India Bombay, 1925 Postcard

Farewell Ceremony At Gateway of India Bombay, 1925 Postcard

Farewell Ceremony At Gateway of India British Era Bombay, 1925 Postcard In 1925, a farewell ceremony for a viceroy was ....read more

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Madras Central Railway Station And Electric Tram, 1930 Photo1
Madras Central Railway Station And Electric Tram, 1930 Photo
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Madras Central Railway Station And Electric Tram, 1930 Photo

Madras Central Railway Station And Electric Tram, 1930 Photo

Madras Central Railway Station And Electric Tram, 1930 Photo. A 1930 photo of the Madras Central Railway Station with an ....read more

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Fort St George & Marina Beach In 19th Century Madras, 1840 Print1
Fort St George & Marina Beach In 19th Century Madras, 1840 Print
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Fort St George & Marina Beach In 19th Century Madras, 1840 Print

Fort St George & Marina Beach In 19th Century Madras, 1840 Print

Fort St George & Marina Beach In 19th Century Madras, 1840 Print An 1840 engraved print of Fort St George ....read more

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Premchand Roychand Richest Man In C19th Bombay, 1890 Photo1
Premchand Roychand Richest Man In Bombay, 1890 Photo
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Premchand Roychand Richest Man In Bombay, 1890 Photo

Premchand Roychand Richest Man In Bombay, 1890 Photo

Premchand Roychand The Richest Man In 19th Century Bombay, 1890 Photo A rare 1890 photo of Premchand Roychand once the ....read more

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St Marks Church Burnt Down In Fire British Bangalore, 1923 Photo1
St Marks Church Burnt Down In Fire British Bangalore, 1923 Photo
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St Marks Church Burnt Down In Fire British Bangalore, 1923 Photo

St Marks Church Burnt Down In Fire British Bangalore, 1923 Photo

St Marks Church Burnt Down In Fire British Bangalore, 1923 Photo A 1923 photo of British Era Bangalore's St Marks ....read more

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European Women On Bullock Cart British India, 1900 Postcard1 
European Ladies On Bullock Cart British India, 1900 Postcard
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European Ladies On Bullock Cart British India, 1900 Postcard

European Ladies On Bullock Cart British India, 1900 Postcard

European Ladies On Bullock Cart British India, 1900 Postcard Shown in this 1900 postcard is a rare glimpse of a ....read more

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Colourful Courtiers of Indian Maharaja 1930 Watercolour Painting1
Colourful Courtiers of Indian Maharajas 1930 Watercolour Painting
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Colourful Courtiers of Indian Maharajas 1930 Watercolour Painting

Colourful Courtiers of Indian Maharajas 1930 Watercolour Painting

Colourful Courtiers of Indian Maharajas 1930 Watercolour Painting A 1930 watercolour painting of two colourful courtiers from the royal court ....read more

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devmaster2025-01-31T19:27:04+05:30
Bowring Institute Bangalore's Premier Club British Era, 1900 PC1
Bowring Institute Bangalore’s Premier Club British Era, 1900 PC
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Bowring Institute Bangalore’s Premier Club British Era, 1900 PC

Bowring Institute Bangalore’s Premier Club British Era, 1900 PC

Bowring Institute Bangalore's Premier Club British Era, 1900 Postcard A 1900 postcard of the Bowring Institute one of Bangalore's premier ....read more

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The First Oleograph Published From Raja Ravi Varma Press 1894

past-india.com

This site illustrates an amazing past India through the collection of antique and vintage Raja Ravi Varma oleographs, art, old photos, old postcards, old prints, maps, plans, books, etc, relevant mainly to India.

The collection gives an insight of what India looked like in the past and how it evolved since then. Few may know that there were trams in Bombay (Mumbai), Madras (Chennai), Delhi, and Calcutta (Kolkata).

The tramway first began with horse-drawn trams, switching later to electric trams during the early 1900s. It was in Madras that the electric tram was first introduced in India. The collection contains a rare 1880 Calcutta Tramways proposed route map of the city’s horse-drawn tram.

That the Taj Mahal was camouflaged to protect it against potential German and Japanese air attacks during World War II. The collection also includes a glass slide of the first steam paddle ship, “Enterprise,” that sailed from England to India in 1825.

An 1880 photo shows an almost barren landscape of Haji Ali and a semi forested Worli in the background. There are many more photos of Bombay, Madras, Calcutta, bangalore, etc. An article in a 1791 London newspaper reports on the 3rd Anglo-Mysore War. Another newspaper from 1792 reports the defeat of Tipu Sultan. There are photos and prints of India’s aviation from 1913 to the 1940s. Photo of the first train travel from Bombay to Thana.

However, the jewel in the crown of this collection is the rare Raja Ravi Varma’s “Birth of Shakuntala” oleograph or chromolithograph of 1894. This was the first oleograph that was published from the newly opened Raja Ravi Varma Fine Arts Lithograph Press (FAL press) in 1894. It also has the distinction of being the first oleograph that was produced in India.

As the saying goes- “seeing is believing” and hope you enjoy going through this collection. Please write to us at: info@past-india.com

Popular & Rare

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Past India

You can scroll down from the home page or go to the main categories shown on the top yellow band with drop downs of sub-categories (the "Art & Raja Ravi Varma Collection" does not have sub-category). Check out each category and subcategory for an interesting collection of art, photos, postcards, prints, maps, books, etc. These depict varied subjects of an amazing Past India that we may have forgotten; from people on the streets to spectacular events like Delhi durbars to farewell ceremony at Apollo Bunder, from Taj Mahal to Gateway of India, from residential to commercial areas, from exterior to interior of homes, glimpses of British and Indians daily life, India's early aviation from 1911 to 1940s, and so on. This site also includes a photo of "Charlie Chaplin" with his autographed sign on the back. Check also Raja Ravi Varma’s portrait photo, oleographs. Ravi Varma's wife's photo, etc. Additionally there are photos, postcards, prints on the Indian railway, vintage motor cars, old maps of India, old books, etc. Just like the saying goes "A picture is worth a thousand words" likewise the case with this site. The scans displayed are only from our personal collection and not from any other source unless otherwise specified.

Contact us:

info@past-india.com
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