Skip to content
Past-India Logo Past-India Logo Past-India Logo
About Past-India
  • Home
  • Art & Raja Ravi Varma Collection
  • Old India Photos
    • Bangalore Photos
    • Bombay Photos
    • Calcutta Photos
    • Delhi Photos
    • Madras Photos
    • Miscellaneous Photos
    • Other India photos
  • Old India Postcards
    • Bombay 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
    • Vintage Motoring
    • Maps & Plans
    • Books & Publications
Homedevmaster2024-04-27T10:47:08+05:30
Previous12···8384858687···128129Next
devmaster2024-02-24T01:14:43+05:30
General Post Office British Era Bangalore, 1900 Postcard
General Post Office British Era Bangalore, 1900 Postcard
Gallery

General Post Office British Era Bangalore, 1900 Postcard

General Post Office British Era Bangalore, 1900 Postcard

General Post Office British Era Bangalore, 1900 Postcard A 1900 vintage postcard of British Era Bangalore's (Bengaluru) General Post Office. ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2024-07-15T22:32:21+05:30
Xmas & New Year Wishes Bombay Presidency WWI,1917 Postcard
Xmas & New Year Wishes Bombay Presidency WWI, 1917 PC
Gallery

Xmas & New Year Wishes Bombay Presidency WWI, 1917 PC

Xmas & New Year Wishes Bombay Presidency WWI, 1917 PC

Xmas & New Year Wishes Bombay Presidency WWI, 1917 Postcard A 1917 postcard of Xmas and New Year wishes, presented ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2024-01-30T00:30:58+05:30
The images are of the actual items from my collection. And Not a photocopy, pirated, reproduced, or stock photos or taken from other sources.
1969 Moon Landing US Astronauts In Mumbai, 1969 Photo
Gallery

1969 Moon Landing US Astronauts In Mumbai, 1969 Photo

1969 Moon Landing US Astronauts In Mumbai, 1969 Photo

1969 Moon Landing US Astronauts In Mumbai, 1969 Photo Shown are the 1969 US Astronauts who landed on the moon ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2024-01-30T00:35:24+05:30
Ship At Bombay Harbour And City, 1880 Photo
Ship At Bombay Harbour And City, 1880 Photo
Gallery

Ship At Bombay Harbour And City, 1880 Photo

Ship At Bombay Harbour And City, 1880 Photo

Ship At Bombay Harbour And City, 1880 Photo An old photo of a seafaring ship at the Bombay (Mumbai) Harbour ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2024-05-24T05:25:13+05:30
The Worlds Largest Camera, 1968 Photo
The Worlds Largest Camera, 1968 Photo
Gallery

The Worlds Largest Camera, 1968 Photo

The Worlds Largest Camera, 1968 Photo

The Worlds Largest Camera, 1900 Photo A 1968 news photo of the world's largest camera in 1900. The mammoth camera ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2024-05-24T06:34:29+05:30
Khadakwasla Lake In British Era Poona, 1870 Photo
Khadakwasla Lake In British Era Poona, 1870 Photo
Gallery

Khadakwasla Lake In British Era Poona, 1870 Photo

Khadakwasla Lake In British Era Poona, 1870 Photo

Khadakwasla Lake In British Era Poona, 1870 Photo This is one of the oldest photos of Khadakwasla Lake, taken in ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2024-09-03T18:34:56+05:30
Oldsmobile One Of The Earliest Cars In Bombay, 1932 Photo1
Oldsmobile One Of The Earliest Cars In Bombay, 1932 Photo
Gallery

Oldsmobile One Of The Earliest Cars In Bombay, 1932 Photo

Oldsmobile One Of The Earliest Cars In Bombay, 1932 Photo

Oldsmobile One Of The Earliest Cars In Bombay, 1932 Photo This is a 1932 photo of one of an Oldsmobile ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2024-05-24T06:46:58+05:30
Street Scene In Byculla British Era Bombay, 1923 Photo
Street Scene In Byculla British Era Bombay, 1923 Photo
Gallery

Street Scene In Byculla British Era Bombay, 1923 Photo

Street Scene In Byculla British Era Bombay, 1923 Photo

Street Scene In Byculla British Era Bombay, 1923 Photo A 1923 photo of a street scene in Byculla during British ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2024-05-24T06:56:41+05:30
Parel Road To Byculla Bridge Bombay, 1923 Photo
Parel Road To Byculla Bridge Bombay, 1923 Photo
Gallery

Parel Road To Byculla Bridge Bombay, 1923 Photo

Parel Road To Byculla Bridge Bombay, 1923 Photo

Parel Road To Byculla Bridge Bombay, 1923 Photo A 1923 photo of Parel Road to Byculla British in British era ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2024-07-18T16:45:23+05:30
16th Century Sailing Ship On The Malabar Coast, 2 PC 1910
16th Century Sailing Ship On The Malabar Coast – 2 PCs 1910
Gallery

16th Century Sailing Ship On The Malabar Coast – 2 PCs 1910

16th Century Sailing Ship On The Malabar Coast – 2 PCs 1910

16th Century Sailing Ship On The Malabar Coast - 2 Postcards 1910 Two 1910 postcards of 16th-century sailing ships on ....read more

Learn More
Previous12···8384858687···128129Next

blank

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

php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
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 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
DMCA.com Protection Status
© Copyright | Past-India by Nubes Technologies | All Rights Reserved
Facebook