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Native Chiefs At The Delhi Durbar, 1911 Postcard
Native Chiefs At The Delhi Durbar, 1911 Postcard
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Native Chiefs At The Delhi Durbar, 1911 Postcard

Native Chiefs At The Delhi Durbar, 1911 Postcard

Old India Postcards > Other India Postcards
Old India Postcards

Native Chiefs At The Delhi Durbar, 1911 Postcard This is an old photo postcard of the Native Chiefs or the ....read more

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devmaster2021-11-10T04:51:42+05:30
British India Military Parade - Old Postcard 1930
British India Military Parade – Old Postcard 1930
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British India Military Parade – Old Postcard 1930

British India Military Parade – Old Postcard 1930

Old India Postcards > Other India Postcards
Old India Postcards

British India Military Parade - Old Postcard 1930 This is an old 1930 photo postcard of a military parade somewhere ....read more

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devmaster2024-01-11T19:51:20+05:30
British Era Military Prison Trimulgherry, 1890 Postcard
British Era Military Prison Trimulgherry, 1890 Postcard
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British Era Military Prison Trimulgherry, 1890 Postcard

British Era Military Prison Trimulgherry, 1890 Postcard

Old India Postcards > Other India Postcards
Old India Postcards

British Era Military Prison Trimulgherry, 1890 Postcard This is an old 1890 postcard of a British-era Military prison at Trimulgherry. ....read more

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devmaster2025-07-30T04:14:42+05:30
government house calcutta
Government House Throne Room British Calcutta, 1890 Postcard
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Government House Throne Room British Calcutta, 1890 Postcard

Government House Throne Room British Calcutta, 1890 Postcard

Old India Postcards > Other India Postcards
Old India Postcards

Government House Throne Room British Calcutta, 1890 Postcard An 1890 postcard of the British Government House Throne Room in Calcutta ....read more

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devmaster2023-12-22T01:00:58+05:30
tanjore palace
Interior Of Tanjore Palace, 1890 Postcard
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Interior Of Tanjore Palace, 1890 Postcard

Interior Of Tanjore Palace, 1890 Postcard

Old India Postcards > Other India Postcards
Old India Postcards

Interior Of Tanjore Palace, 1890 Postcard This is an old 1890 postcard of the interior of the Tanjore Palace. Tanjore ....read more

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devmaster2023-12-22T00:58:08+05:30
carpentary in malabar
Carpentry In British Era Malabar, 1910 Postcard
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Carpentry In British Era Malabar, 1910 Postcard

Carpentry In British Era Malabar, 1910 Postcard

Old India Postcards > Cochin / Kerala Postcards
Old India Postcards

Carpentry In British Era Malabar, 1910 Postcard This is an old 1910 photo postcard of carpentry work in the British-era ....read more

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devmaster2024-07-19T23:13:54+05:30
Connaught Place New Delhi - Old Postcard 1950
Connaught Place In India’s New Capital Delhi – 2 Postcards 1950
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Connaught Place In India’s New Capital Delhi – 2 Postcards 1950

Connaught Place In India’s New Capital Delhi – 2 Postcards 1950

Old India Postcards > Other India Postcards
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Connaught Place In India's New Capital Delhi - 2 Postcards 1950 Two 1950 photo postcards of Connaught Place in India's ....read more

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devmaster2024-07-22T11:41:36+05:30
German Ship EMDEN Bombing Madras - Old Postcard 1956
German Warship ‘Emden’ Bombing Madras In WWI, 1950 Postcard
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German Warship ‘Emden’ Bombing Madras In WWI, 1950 Postcard

German Warship ‘Emden’ Bombing Madras In WWI, 1950 Postcard

Old India Postcards > Madras Postcards
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German Warship 'Emden' Bombing Madras In WWI, 1950 Postcard A 1950 postcard of the German warship 'Emden' bombarding Madras in ....read more

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devmaster2023-12-22T15:20:31+05:30
mysore palace
Parade At Mysore Palace, 1900 Postcard
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Parade At Mysore Palace, 1900 Postcard

Parade At Mysore Palace, 1900 Postcard

Old India Postcards > Other India Postcards
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Parade At Mysore Palace, 1900 Postcard An old 1900 postcard of the Parade at Mysore Palace. This is a military ....read more

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devmaster2024-07-22T10:51:28+05:30
Boats & Backwaters of Kerala, 2 Old Postcards 1920
Boats & Backwaters of Travancore & Cochin – 3 Postcards 1920
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Boats & Backwaters of Travancore & Cochin – 3 Postcards 1920

Boats & Backwaters of Travancore & Cochin – 3 Postcards 1920

Old India Postcards > Cochin / Kerala Postcards
Old India Postcards

Boats & Backwaters of Travancore & Cochin - 3 Postcards 1920   Three postcards with views of boats and backwaters ....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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