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Homedevmaster2024-04-27T10:47:08+05:30
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Fishermen's Catamaran In Madras, 1905 Postcard
Fishermen’s Catamaran In Madras, 1905 Postcard
Gallery

Fishermen’s Catamaran In Madras, 1905 Postcard

Fishermen’s Catamaran In Madras, 1905 Postcard

Old India Postcards > Madras Postcards
Old India Postcards

Fishermen's Catamaran In Madras, 1905 Postcard This is an old 1905 postcard of a fishing catamaran off the coast of ....read more

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devmaster2024-02-27T00:48:46+05:30
indian prince
Procession By Indian Princes In Delhi Durbar, 1903 Postcard
Gallery

Procession By Indian Princes In Delhi Durbar, 1903 Postcard

Procession By Indian Princes In Delhi Durbar, 1903 Postcard

Old India Postcards > Other India Postcards
Old India Postcards

Procession of Indian Princes Delhi Durbar 1903 - Old Postcard A 1903 postcard that shows the procession of Indian Princes ....read more

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devmaster2024-01-15T12:42:20+05:30
Military Band British Era, 1900 Postcard
Military Band British Era, 1900 Postcard
Gallery

Military Band British Era, 1900 Postcard

Military Band British Era, 1900 Postcard

Old India Postcards > Other India Postcards
Old India Postcards

Military Band British Era, 1900 Postcard An old 1900 postcard of the British-era military band playing at a funeral. Possibly ....read more

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devmaster2024-11-14T09:46:50+05:30
Arunachaleswarar Temple Bombay Postal Censor, 1915 Postcard
Thiruvannamalai Temple British Bombay Censor WWI, 1915 PC
Gallery

Thiruvannamalai Temple British Bombay Censor WWI, 1915 PC

Thiruvannamalai Temple British Bombay Censor WWI, 1915 PC

Old India Postcards > Madras Postcards
Old India Postcards

Thiruvannamalai Temple British Bombay Censor Passed WWI, 1915 Postcard   A rare 1915 postcard showing the Arunachaleswarar Temple at Thiruvannamalai ....read more

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devmaster2022-10-30T18:30:14+05:30
Kerala Backwaters & Village, Old Photo 1945
Kerala Backwaters & Village, Old Photo 1945
Gallery

Kerala Backwaters & Village, Old Photo 1945

Kerala Backwaters & Village, Old Photo 1945

Old India Postcards > Cochin / Kerala Postcards
Old India Postcards

Kerala Backwaters & Village, Old Photo 1945 There are three old 1945 photos illustrating Kerala's backwater and village. Backwaters also ....read more

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devmaster2023-08-21T15:10:50+05:30
Rare 1912 Postcard Of The Titanic
Rare 1912 Postcard Of The Titanic
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Rare 1912 Postcard Of The Titanic

Rare 1912 Postcard Of The Titanic

Old India Postcards > Miscellaneous Postcards
Old India Postcards

Rare 1912 Postcard Of The Titanic This is a rare 1912 postcard of the famous ship the "Titanic". Built in ....read more

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devmaster2025-08-20T22:12:41+05:30
Air-India Durbar Of The Rajah Of Travancore, 1950 Postcard
Air-India Durbar Of The Rajah Of Travancore, 1950 Postcard
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Air-India Durbar Of The Rajah Of Travancore, 1950 Postcard

Air-India Durbar Of The Rajah Of Travancore, 1950 Postcard

Old India Postcards > Cochin / Kerala Postcards
Old India Postcards

Air-India Durbar Of The Rajah Of Travancore - Old Postcard An Air-India Postcard from the 1950 Durbar Of The Rajah ....read more

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devmaster2024-01-15T13:47:39+05:30
Casino Hotel In Willingdon Island Cochin, 1968 Postcard
Casino Hotel In Willingdon Island Cochin, 1968 Postcard
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Casino Hotel In Willingdon Island Cochin, 1968 Postcard

Casino Hotel In Willingdon Island Cochin, 1968 Postcard

Old India Postcards > Cochin / Kerala Postcards
Old India Postcards

Casino Hotel In Willingdon Island Cochin, 1968 Postcard This is an old 1968 postcard of Casino Hotel in Willingdon Island, ....read more

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devmaster2024-01-15T12:52:10+05:30
1894 Kottayam Travancore Postcard Experimental P.O. Cancellation
1894 Kottayam Travancore Postcard Experimental P.O. Cancellation
Gallery

1894 Kottayam Travancore Postcard Experimental P.O. Cancellation

1894 Kottayam Travancore Postcard Experimental P.O. Cancellation

Old India Postcards > Cochin / Kerala Postcards
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1894 Kottayam Travancore Postcard Experimental P.O. Cancellation 1894 Kottayam Travancore Postcard With Experimental Cancellation. This is an Experimental Post Office ....read more

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devmaster2025-02-08T16:18:56+05:30
Parliament House New Delhi, 1930 Postcard
Parliament House New Delhi, 1930 Postcard
Gallery

Parliament House New Delhi, 1930 Postcard

Parliament House New Delhi, 1930 Postcard

Old India Postcards > Other India Postcards
Old India Postcards

Parliament House New Delhi, 1930 Postcard This is an old 1930s photo postcard of the Parliament House or the Legislative ....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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