Skip to content
Past-India Logo Past-India Logo Past-India Logo
  • Home
  • Art & Raja Ravi Varma Collection
  • Old India Photos
    • Bombay Photos
    • Delhi Photos
    • Madras Photos
    • Calcutta Photos
    • Bangalore Photos
    • Other India photos
    • Miscellaneous Photos
  • Old India Postcards
    • Bombay Postcards
    • Delhi Postcards
    • Madras Postcards
    • Calcutta Postcards
    • Banglore Postcards
    • Cochin / Kerala Postcards
    • Other India Postcards
    • Miscellaneous Postcards
  • Old India Prints
    • Bombay Prints
    • Other India Prints
    • Miscellaneous Prints
  • More
    • India Railway
    • Colonial Era Motor Cars
    • Maps & Plans
    • Books & Publications
Homenb-develop-admin2026-07-18T17:43:18+05:30
nb-develop-admin2024-02-16T03:48:57+05:30
Children's Fete At The Exhibition Bombay, PC 1900
Children’s Fete At The Exhibition Bombay, PC 1900
Gallery

Children’s Fete At The Exhibition Bombay, PC 1900

Children’s Fete At The Exhibition Bombay, PC 1900

Bombay Postcards, Old India Postcards

Children's Fete At The Exhibition Bombay, PC 1900 A rare 1900 postcard depicting a children's fete at an exhibition in [...]

Learn More
nb-develop-admin2026-06-08T19:47:23+05:30
Advertisement of Motor Cars British India, 1911 Print
Motor Cars For Delhi Durbar Advertisements India, 2 Prints 1911
Gallery

Motor Cars For Delhi Durbar Advertisements India, 2 Prints 1911

Motor Cars For Delhi Durbar Advertisements India, 2 Prints 1911

Colonial Era Motor Cars, More

Motor Cars For Delhi Durbar Advertisements British India, 2 Prints 1911 Two interesting and rare 1911 newspaper advertisement clips promoting [...]

Learn More
nb-develop-admin2024-02-16T03:50:56+05:30
Gemini Flyover Mount Road Chennai, 1973 Postcard
Gemini Flyover Mount Road Chennai, 1973 Postcard
Gallery

Gemini Flyover Mount Road Chennai, 1973 Postcard

Gemini Flyover Mount Road Chennai, 1973 Postcard

Madras Postcards, Old India Postcards

Gemini Flyover Mount Road Chennai, 1973 Postcard An old rare 1973 postcard of the Gemini Flyover on Mount Road, Chennai. [...]

Learn More
nb-develop-admin2023-02-11T03:23:37+05:30
British Government House Party Madras, 1888 Photo
British Government House Party Madras, 1888 Photo
Gallery

British Government House Party Madras, 1888 Photo

British Government House Party Madras, 1888 Photo

Madras Photos, Old India Photos

British Government House Party Madras, 1888 Photo An old 1888 photo gives a glimpse of a party at Government House [...]

Learn More
nb-develop-admin2023-02-10T07:13:26+05:30
M. Suriyamoorthy Charcoal Drawing 1964 (#19)
M. Suriyamoorthy Charcoal Drawing 1964 (#19)
Gallery

M. Suriyamoorthy Charcoal Drawing 1964 (#19)

M. Suriyamoorthy Charcoal Drawing 1964 (#19)

Art & Raja Ravi Varma Collection

M. Suriyamoorthy Charcoal Drawing Woman 1964 (#19) This is a series of charcoal drawings on buff paper signed by the [...]

Learn More
nb-develop-admin2023-02-09T12:31:42+05:30
Matheran British Era Hill Station, 2 Old Photos 1900
Matheran British Era Hill Station, 2 Old Photos 1900
Gallery

Matheran British Era Hill Station, 2 Old Photos 1900

Matheran British Era Hill Station, 2 Old Photos 1900

Old India Photos, Other India Photos

Matheran British Era Hill Station, 2 Old Photos 1900. Two lovely old 1900s photos of Matheran a British-era hill station. [...]

Learn More
nb-develop-admin2026-07-13T04:38:07+05:30
Newly Completed Secretariat Buildings Delhi - 2 PCs 1927
Newly Completed Secretariat Buildings Delhi – 2 PCs 1927
Gallery

Newly Completed Secretariat Buildings Delhi – 2 PCs 1927

Newly Completed Secretariat Buildings Delhi – 2 PCs 1927

Delhi Postcards, Old India Postcards

Newly Completed Secretariat Buildings Delhi - 2 Postcards 1927 Two old photo postcards from 1927, show the newly completed twin [...]

Learn More
nb-develop-admin2026-07-13T04:37:10+05:30
Delhi Secretariat Buildings Under Construction - 2 PCs 1924
Delhi Secretariat Buildings Under Construction – 2 PCs 1924
Gallery

Delhi Secretariat Buildings Under Construction – 2 PCs 1924

Delhi Secretariat Buildings Under Construction – 2 PCs 1924

Delhi Postcards, Old India Postcards

Delhi Secretariat Buildings Under Construction - 2 Postcards 1924 Two rare photo postcards from the 1920s showing the Secretariat Buildings [...]

Learn More
nb-develop-admin2024-02-16T04:09:02+05:30
British Era Club Bowring Institute Bangalore, 1900 Postcard
British Era Club Bowring Institute Bangalore, 1900 Postcard
Gallery

British Era Club Bowring Institute Bangalore, 1900 Postcard

British Era Club Bowring Institute Bangalore, 1900 Postcard

Bangalore Postcards, Old India Postcards

British Era Club Bowring Institute Bangalore, 1900 Postcard An old 1900 photo postcard from British Era Bowring Institute in Bangalore. [...]

Learn More
nb-develop-admin2024-02-16T04:12:15+05:30
British India Era Postman In Mysore, Advertising Card 1905
British India Era Postman In Mysore, Advertising Card 1905
Gallery

British India Era Postman In Mysore, Advertising Card 1905

British India Era Postman In Mysore, Advertising Card 1905

Old India Postcards, Other India Postcards

British India Era Postman In Mysore, Advertising Card 1905 A British India-era advertising card with a picture of a Mysore [...]

Learn More
Previous12···4748495051···127128Next

blank

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

php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php

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
DMCA.com Protection Status
© Copyright | Past-India by Nubes Technologies | All Rights Reserved
Facebook
Page load link
Go to Top