8 Vintage Postcards From the Ravi Varma Press, Karla, 1904
Eight rare and original vintage postcards published by the Ravi Varma Press in Karla in 1904. The titles and serial numbers are as follows:
1) Series No. 822 – Mohini
2) Series No. 825 – Damayanti Vanvas
3) Serias No. 823 – Rama Sagar-Darpharan
4) Series No. 818 – Sita’s Marriage
5) Series No. 831 – Hansa Damayanti
6) Series No. 827 – Kirat & Bhilli
7) Series No. 817 – Victory of Indrajit
8) Series No. 826 – Jatayu Vadha
Ravi Varma decided to establish his own printing press. He opened the Ravi Varma Fine Arts Lithographic Press (or FAL Press) in 1894 in Bombay (Mumbai). It was equipped with a German Steam Press with the expertise of German technicians. The Press began rolling in 1894. The first chromolithograph or oleograph that came out of the press was “Birth of Shakuntala”.
The press under Ravi Varma and his brother suffered financial setbacks; it slid into deep debt. It was a result of the mismanagement of their financial partner, Govardhan Das. Despite the press’ setbacks and misfortunes, it was sold to their main technician, Fritz Schleicher. The press began to use the Ravi Varma oleographs for advertisements, calendars, postcards, matchbox labels, playing cards, and so on. The press was passed down to the future generations of Schleicher’s family. It existed for many years until it closed down in 1973 after a huge fire. Click image to enlarge.
Did you know – the press was sold to RV’s German technician, Fritz Schleicher, who turned it around by printing millions and millions of copies of Raja Ravi Varma Oleographs.
