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Homedevmaster2024-04-27T10:47:08+05:30
devmaster2024-01-03T10:21:47+05:30
constructing the gateway of india bombay
Hotel Taj Mahal & Building The Gateway Of India Bombay, 1922 PC
Gallery

Hotel Taj Mahal & Building The Gateway Of India Bombay, 1922 PC

Hotel Taj Mahal & Building The Gateway Of India Bombay, 1922 PC

Bombay Postcards, Old India Postcards

Hotel Taj Mahal & Building The Gateway Of India Bombay, 1922 Postcard A rare 1922 photo postcard of the Hotel ....read more

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devmaster2024-01-23T03:32:55+05:30
St Mary's First British Church In India, Madras, 1880 Photo
St Mary’s First British Church In India, Madras, 1880 Photo
Gallery

St Mary’s First British Church In India, Madras, 1880 Photo

St Mary’s First British Church In India, Madras, 1880 Photo

Madras Photos, Old India Photos

St Mary's First British Church In India, Madras, 1880 Photo A beautiful photo of St Mary's the first British Church ....read more

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devmaster2023-10-25T04:11:52+05:30
anglo indians
British Era Anglo-Indian Community In India, Old Photo 1957
Gallery

British Era Anglo-Indian Community In India, Old Photo 1957

British Era Anglo-Indian Community In India, Old Photo 1957

Old India Photos, Other India Photos

British Era Anglo-Indian Community In India, Old Photo 1957 An old 1957 photo of a group of British Era Anglo ....read more

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devmaster2023-10-25T04:25:30+05:30
rare chocolate advertisement
The French Seize British Madras 1746, Chromo Advertising 1890
Gallery

The French Seize British Madras 1746, Chromo Advertising 1890

The French Seize British Madras 1746, Chromo Advertising 1890

Old India Prints, Other India Prints

The French Seize British Madras 1746, Chromo Advertising 1890 A rare 1890 chromo advertisement card on the French seizing British ....read more

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devmaster2023-10-25T04:35:38+05:30
st marks church
St Mark’s Church In British Era Bangalore, 1910 Postcard
Gallery

St Mark’s Church In British Era Bangalore, 1910 Postcard

St Mark’s Church In British Era Bangalore, 1910 Postcard

Bangalore Postcards, Old India Postcards

St Mark's Church In British Era Bangalore, 1910 Postcard Note the two British Army officers standing on the footpath. ....read more

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devmaster2023-11-08T05:08:07+05:30
temple arts of kerala
Temple Arts of Kerala, Old Book 1982
Gallery

Temple Arts of Kerala, Old Book 1982

Temple Arts of Kerala, Old Book 1982

Books & Publications, More

Temple Arts of Kerala, Old Book 1982 Title – Temple Arts of Kerala Author – Ronald M. Bernier Publishers – ....read more

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devmaster2023-11-08T05:23:22+05:30
marine drive
Mumbai’s Famous Marine Drive – 7 Old Postcards
Gallery

Mumbai’s Famous Marine Drive – 7 Old Postcards

Mumbai’s Famous Marine Drive – 7 Old Postcards

Bombay Postcards, Old India Postcards

Mumbai's Famous Marine Drive - 7 Postcards. Marine Drive is in an arc stretching from Nariman Point to Malabar ....read more

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devmaster2026-06-25T04:27:54+05:30
Royal Alfred Sailor's Home In Bombay, 1900 Photo
Royal Alfred Sailor’s Home In Bombay, 1900 Photo
Gallery

Royal Alfred Sailor’s Home In Bombay, 1900 Photo

Royal Alfred Sailor’s Home In Bombay, 1900 Photo

Bombay Photos, Old India Photos

Royal Alfred Sailor's Home In Bombay, 1900 Photo A 1900 photograph of the Royal Alfred Sailor's Home in Bombay (Mumbai). ....read more

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devmaster2023-12-16T06:47:23+05:30
buckingham canal
Christmas Boating Party On Buckingham Canal Madras, 1900 PC
Gallery

Christmas Boating Party On Buckingham Canal Madras, 1900 PC

Christmas Boating Party On Buckingham Canal Madras, 1900 PC

Madras Postcards, Old India Postcards

Christmas Boating Party On The Buckingham Canal Madras, 1900 PC    A rare 1900 postcard of a Christmas Boating Party ....read more

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devmaster2023-11-17T03:33:38+05:30
colaba
Views of Colaba Reclamation British Era Bombay – 3 PCs 1900s
Gallery

Views of Colaba Reclamation British Era Bombay – 3 PCs 1900s

Views of Colaba Reclamation British Era Bombay – 3 PCs 1900s

Bombay Postcards, Old India Postcards

Photo postcard of Colaba Views of Colaba Reclamation British Era Bombay - 3 PCs 1900s Printed postcard ....read more

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Raja Ravi Varma’s “Birth of Shakuntala” Oleograph 1894

past-india.com

This site illustrates a past India through a collection of antique and vintage mediums of Raja Ravi Varma oleographs, old India photos, old postcards, old paper prints, and so on.

Although the collection may or may not be too varied, but generally projects a glimpse to what India looked like in the past. And how it has evolved since then. Few would realize that once there were Trams in Bombay, Madras, Delhi…

That, Madras operated the first electric Tram in India from 1895 up to its closure in 1953. With Calcutta and Bombay starting off with Horse-Drawn Trams, later electrifying them by the early 1900s.

That, in World War II, they camouflaged the Taj Mahal with bamboo scaffoldings. So as to project it as a construction site that perhaps would fool any air attacks from the Germans and Japanese might, although this never happened. All in all, the jewel in this collection is the rare Raja Ravi Varma’s “Birth of Shakuntala” oleograph or chromolithograph of 1894. This was the first oleograph to come out from the then newly opened Raja Ravi Varma Fine Arts Lithograph Press(or FAL press) in 1894.

The many legacies of the British Raj are not missed out in this collection. Many of the buildings and streets have gone through several makeovers to the extent of being unrecognizable today or have completely disappeared from the scene. But the memories are kept alive hopefully to some extent by this collection.

As they say- “seeing is believing.” Hope you enjoy this collection. Please write to us at- info@past-india.com

Popular & Rare

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Past India

You can see the main categories on the top of the page, and except for the “Raja Ravi Varma Oleograph & Other Art” category all the other main categories have drop-down to sub-categories. You can then select the subject of your interest or you can check through the search box and if available it will display the results. The photos, prints & picture postcards depict a varied subjects of a Past India we may have forgotten- from people on the streets to people at grand events like Delhi durbar, from Taj Mahal to Gateway of India, from residential areas to commercial areas, from home exterior to interior of homes and so on. This site also includes a photo of "Charlie Chaplin" with his autograph signed on the back. There are also old maps, books, Raja Ravi Varma’s oelographs etc. “A picture is worth a thousand words” is an old adage, I’m sure this blog should interest you likewise. All the items displayed are from my personal collection unless otherwise specified.

Contact us:

info@past-india.com
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