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Homedevmaster2024-04-27T10:47:08+05:30
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devmaster2024-02-14T06:15:44+05:30
Portuguese Church In Santhome Madras, 1900 Postcard
Portuguese Church In Santhome Madras, 1900 Postcard
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Portuguese Church In Santhome Madras, 1900 Postcard

Portuguese Church In Santhome Madras, 1900 Postcard

Portuguese Church In Santhome Madras, 1900 Postcard A 1900 oilette postcard of the Portuguese church of Santhome in Madras, now ....read more

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devmaster2024-02-14T10:59:40+05:30
Mount Road In British Era Madras, 1907 Postcard
Mount Road In British Era Madras, 1907 Postcard
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Mount Road In British Era Madras, 1907 Postcard

Mount Road In British Era Madras, 1907 Postcard

Mount Road In British Era Madras, 1907 Postcard A 1907 photo postcard of Mount Road in British Era Madras (Chennai).  ....read more

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devmaster2024-06-12T19:39:50+05:30
The Unforgettable Maharaja Bhupinder Singh, 1940 PC
The Memorable Maharaja of Patiala Bhupinder Singh, 1940 PC
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The Memorable Maharaja of Patiala Bhupinder Singh, 1940 PC

The Memorable Maharaja of Patiala Bhupinder Singh, 1940 PC

The Memorable Maharaja of Patiala Bhupinder Singh, 1940 Postcard A 1940 photo postcard of the memorable Maharaja of Patiala Bhupinder ....read more

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devmaster2025-03-13T11:53:59+05:30
Raja Ravi Varma Women Themed Paintings, 5 PCs
Raja Ravi Varma Women Themed Paintings, 5 PCs
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Raja Ravi Varma Women Themed Paintings, 5 PCs

Raja Ravi Varma Women Themed Paintings, 5 PCs

Raja Ravi Varma Women Themed Paintings, 5 PCs Raja Ravi Varma's women-themed oil paintings depicted in 1940 postcards. The famous ....read more

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devmaster2023-04-20T16:53:42+05:30
British Admiralty Chart, Port of Cochin Map, 1943
British Admiralty Chart, Port of Cochin Map, 1943
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British Admiralty Chart, Port of Cochin Map, 1943

British Admiralty Chart, Port of Cochin Map, 1943

British Admiralty Chart, Port of Cochin Map, 1943 An old 1943 British Admiralty chart showing the nautical map of Port ....read more

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devmaster2024-02-14T11:04:25+05:30
BRV Talkies Movie Theater Bangalore, 1920 Postcard
BRV Talkies Movie Theater Bangalore, 1920 Postcard
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BRV Talkies Movie Theater Bangalore, 1920 Postcard

BRV Talkies Movie Theater Bangalore, 1920 Postcard

BRV Talkies Movie Theater Bangalore, 1920 Postcard An old 1920 photo postcard of BRV Talkies Movie Theater in Bangalore, now ....read more

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devmaster2025-09-04T04:51:28+05:30
View Of George Town & Harbour Colonial era Madras, 1872 Photo
View Of George Town & Harbour In Colonial Era Madras, 1872
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View Of George Town & Harbour In Colonial Era Madras, 1872

View Of George Town & Harbour In Colonial Era Madras, 1872

View Of George Town & Harbour In Colonial Era Madras, 1872 Photo This rare 1872 photograph of George Town and ....read more

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devmaster2025-09-05T05:05:58+05:30
Early View Of Flora Fountain In 19th Century Bombay, 1880 Photo
View of The Flora Fountain In The 19th Century, Bombay, 1880
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View of The Flora Fountain In The 19th Century, Bombay, 1880

View of The Flora Fountain In The 19th Century, Bombay, 1880

View of The Flora Fountain In The 19th century, Bombay, 1880 Photo This rare 1880 photograph captures the historic Flora ....read more

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devmaster2025-09-08T08:36:57+05:30
North Beach Road, The Business District of Madras, 1890 Photo1
North Beach Road, The Business District of Madras, 1890 Photo
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North Beach Road, The Business District of Madras, 1890 Photo

North Beach Road, The Business District of Madras, 1890 Photo

North Beach Road, The Business District of British Era Madras, 1890 Photo This rare 1890 wide-angle photograph captures North Beach ....read more

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devmaster2023-04-14T16:37:03+05:30
Bombay Suburban Railway Train, Old Postcard 1900
Bombay Suburban Railway Train, Old Postcard 1900
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Bombay Suburban Railway Train, Old Postcard 1900

Bombay Suburban Railway Train, Old Postcard 1900

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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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