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Three Uncommon Views of British Era Bombay - 3 Postcards 1900a
Three Uncommon Views of Bombay In British Era – 3 PCs 1900
Gallery

Three Uncommon Views of Bombay In British Era – 3 PCs 1900

Three Uncommon Views of Bombay In British Era – 3 PCs 1900

Three Uncommon Views of British Era Bombay - 3 Postcards 1900 Three uncommon views of British Era Bombay from three ....read more

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devmaster2024-04-15T07:48:30+05:30
Police Headquarters In British Era Bombay, 1905 Postcard
Police Headquarters In British Era Bombay, 1905 Postcard
Gallery

Police Headquarters In British Era Bombay, 1905 Postcard

Police Headquarters In British Era Bombay, 1905 Postcard

Police Headquarters In British Era Bombay, 1905 Postcard A 1905 postcard of the Police Headquarters building in British-era Bombay (Mumbai). ....read more

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devmaster2024-04-15T00:53:16+05:30
The Wreck By Rabindranath Tagore, 1921 Book
The Wreck By Rabindranath Tagore, 1921 Book
Gallery

The Wreck By Rabindranath Tagore, 1921 Book

The Wreck By Rabindranath Tagore, 1921 Book

The Wreck By Rabindranath Tagore, 1921 Book Title – The Wreck Author – Rabindranath Tagore Publishers – Macmillan & Co, London ....read more

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devmaster2025-04-17T07:20:34+05:30
India's First Train, Bombay To Thana 1853, Rare Photo1
India’s First Train Travel, Bombay To Thana In 1853, Rare Photo
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India’s First Train Travel, Bombay To Thana In 1853, Rare Photo

India’s First Train Travel, Bombay To Thana In 1853, Rare Photo

India's First Train Travel, Bombay To Thana In 1853, Rare Photo This is a rare photo of the first train ....read more

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devmaster2025-07-23T06:42:10+05:30
The Bombay Back Bay Reclamation Scheme, 1925 Print1
The Bombay Back Bay Reclamation Scheme, 1925 Print
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The Bombay Back Bay Reclamation Scheme, 1925 Print

The Bombay Back Bay Reclamation Scheme, 1925 Print

The Bombay Back Bay Reclamation Scheme During The British Era, 1925 Print This is a rare set of four pages ....read more

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devmaster2024-01-21T10:52:45+05:30
Watercolor Landscape Painting British India Secunderabad, 1930
Watercolor Landscape Painting British India Secunderabad, 1930
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Watercolor Landscape Painting British India Secunderabad, 1930

Watercolor Landscape Painting British India Secunderabad, 1930

Watercolor Landscape Painting British India Secunderabad, 1930 A 1930 watercolor painting of the Secunderabad landscape during the British India era. ....read more

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devmaster2024-05-21T23:28:03+05:30
View of Hornby Vellard From Cumballa Hill Bombay, 1890 Photo
Hornby Vellard & Worli From Cumballa Hill Bombay, 1870 Photo
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Hornby Vellard & Worli From Cumballa Hill Bombay, 1870 Photo

Hornby Vellard & Worli From Cumballa Hill Bombay, 1870 Photo

Hornby Vellard & Worli From Cumballa Hill Bombay, 1870 Photo An 1870 photo with a view of the Hornby Vellard ....read more

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devmaster2024-08-09T11:42:42+05:30
Sweeping Views Of Bombay From Malabar Hill - 2 Photos 1880
Sweeping Views Of Bombay From Malabar Hill – 2 Photos 1880
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Sweeping Views Of Bombay From Malabar Hill – 2 Photos 1880

Sweeping Views Of Bombay From Malabar Hill – 2 Photos 1880

Sweeping Views Of Bombay From Malabar Hill - 2 Photos 1880 Two 1880 panoramic photos with sweeping views of the ....read more

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devmaster2024-04-21T15:41:12+05:30
Harper's Magazine December 1870 to May 1871, Bombay Parsis
Harper’s Magazine December 1870 to May 1871, Bombay Parsis
Gallery

Harper’s Magazine December 1870 to May 1871, Bombay Parsis

Harper’s Magazine December 1870 to May 1871, Bombay Parsis

Harper's Magazine December 1870 to May 1871, Bombay Parsis   Title – Harper's magazine Publishers – Harper & Brothers Publishers, ....read more

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devmaster2025-02-22T05:37:54+05:30
Calcutta Tramways Route Map 1880, Before The Tram Began
British Era Calcutta Tramway Project’s Proposed Route Map 1880
Gallery

British Era Calcutta Tramway Project’s Proposed Route Map 1880

British Era Calcutta Tramway Project’s Proposed Route Map 1880

British Era Calcutta Tramways Project's Proposed Route Map 1880 A rare 1880 proposed route map for the new tramway project ....read more

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The First Oleograph Published From Raja Ravi Varma Press 1894

Past-India.com

PRESERVING INDIA’S AMAZING PAST

Welcome to Past-India.com, a unique archive that brings India’s history to life through an extraordinary collection of antique and vintage treasures. This curated selection includes Raja Ravi Varma oleographs, vintage art, old photographs, old postcards, historic prints, vintage maps, plans, and books, all connected to the rich heritage of India.

A Journey Through India’s History

Our collection offers a vivid glimpse into what India looked like in the past and how it evolved through the centuries. Few maybe knowing that trams once operated in Bombay (Mumbai), Madras (Chennai), Delhi, and Calcutta (Kolkata). Public transportation in India began with horse-drawn trams, later replaced by electric trams in the early 1900s. Madras was the first city in India to introduce the electric tram. Among our rarest pieces is an 1880 Calcutta Tramways proposed route map for horse-drawn trams.

Rare Historical Treasures

From wartime secrets to technological milestones, our collection spans diverse chapters of Indian history:

  • Taj Mahal Camouflage – During World War II, the Taj Mahal was camouflaged to protect it from possible German and Japanese air attacks.

  • Maritime History – Includes a glass slide of the first steam paddle ship “Enterprise” that sailed from England to India in 1825.

  • Bombay’s Transformation – An 1880 photograph reveals a barren Haji Ali landscape with a semi-forested Worli in the distance.

  • Historic Newspapers – A 1791 London newspaper reporting on the 3rd Anglo-Mysore War and a 1792 edition announcing Tipu Sultan’s defeat.

  • Early Aviation in India – Rare photographs and prints from 1913 to the 1940s.

  • Railway Heritage – A photograph of the first train journey from Bombay to Thana.

The Crown Jewel – Raja Ravi Varma’s First Oleograph

The pride of our archive is Raja Ravi Varma’s “Birth of Shakuntala” (1894), the very first oleograph produced at the Raja Ravi Varma Fine Arts Lithograph Press. This masterpiece holds the distinction of being the first oleograph ever printed in India.

Experience History Firsthand

As the saying goes, seeing is believing. We invite you to explore our collection, immerse yourself in India’s remarkable past. The scans displayed are from our collection only.

📩 Contact us: info@past-india.com | bitp.in@gmail.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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