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···8889909192···128129Next
devmaster2024-01-31T17:35:37+05:30
Tennis In Action In Coonoor Nilgiri Hills, 1894 Photo
Tennis In Action In Coonoor Nilgiri Hills, 1894 Photo
Gallery

Tennis In Action In Coonoor Nilgiri Hills, 1894 Photo

Tennis In Action In Coonoor Nilgiri Hills, 1894 Photo

Tennis In Action In Coonoor Nilgiri Hills, 1894 Photo An old 1894 photo of a tennis game in progress in ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2025-10-23T04:37:43+05:30
Zamindars of Madras Presidency In British India 1929 - Old Photo
Zamindars of Madras Presidency British India, 2 Photos 1920
Gallery

Zamindars of Madras Presidency British India, 2 Photos 1920

Zamindars of Madras Presidency British India, 2 Photos 1920

Zamindars of Madras Presidency British India, 2 Photos 1920 A 1902 photo shows feudal landlords or zamindars somewhere in the ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2024-01-31T18:55:14+05:30
Small Cause Court & Street Calcutta, 1880 Photo
Small Cause Court & Street Calcutta, 1880 Photo
Gallery

Small Cause Court & Street Calcutta, 1880 Photo

Small Cause Court & Street Calcutta, 1880 Photo

Small Cause Court & Street Calcutta, 1880 Photo This is one of the oldest photos of the Small Cause Court ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2024-01-31T18:59:21+05:30
Calcutta High Court British India Era, 1880 Photo
Calcutta High Court British India Era, 1880 Photo
Gallery

Calcutta High Court British India Era, 1880 Photo

Calcutta High Court British India Era, 1880 Photo

Calcutta High Court British India Era, 1880 Photo One of the oldest photos of the Calcutta High Court during the ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2020-12-24T23:19:23+05:30
Vintage News Photo - Worlds Smallest Spy Camera 1948
Vintage News Photo – Worlds Smallest Spy Camera 1948
Gallery

Vintage News Photo – Worlds Smallest Spy Camera 1948

Vintage News Photo – Worlds Smallest Spy Camera 1948

Vintage News Photo - Worlds Smallest Spy Camera 1948 This is a 1948 news photograph of the world's smallest camera. ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2021-10-01T13:38:30+05:30
Old Photo - Wedding Couples In Vintage Car Chennai 1956
Vintage Car With Newlyweds – Old Photo 1940
Gallery

Vintage Car With Newlyweds – Old Photo 1940

Vintage Car With Newlyweds – Old Photo 1940

Vintage Car With Newlyweds - Old Photo 1940 This is an old 1940s photo of newlyweds in a vintage car ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2020-12-16T08:26:09+05:30
Vintage 1945 Book - The Story Of Fort St George
Vintage 1945 Book – The Story Of Fort St George
Gallery

Vintage 1945 Book – The Story Of Fort St George

Vintage 1945 Book – The Story Of Fort St George

Vintage 1945 Book - The Story Of Fort St George Title:  Vintage 1945 Book - The Story Of Fort St ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2024-07-17T10:51:28+05:30
Vintage 1920 Card - Of The French Colonies In India
The French Colonies In India – Vintage Card 1920
Gallery

The French Colonies In India – Vintage Card 1920

The French Colonies In India – Vintage Card 1920

The French Colonies In India - Vintage Card 1920 This is a vintage 1920 card of the French colonies in ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2025-01-23T20:47:53+05:30
us navy sailors in british era bombay
US Navy Sailors In British Era Bombay, 1942 Postcard
Gallery

US Navy Sailors In British Era Bombay, 1942 Postcard

US Navy Sailors In British Era Bombay, 1942 Postcard

US Navy Sailors In British Era Bombay, 1942 Postcard An old 1942 postcard shows three US Navy Sailors during British ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2021-03-27T22:10:45+05:30
2 Vintage Postcards - Bombay Fort Traffic Scene 1942
2 Vintage Postcards – Bombay Fort Traffic Scene 1942
Gallery

2 Vintage Postcards – Bombay Fort Traffic Scene 1942

2 Vintage Postcards – Bombay Fort Traffic Scene 1942

2 Vintage Postcards - Bombay Fort Traffic Scene 1942 There are two photo postcards in this post showing the Bombay ....read more

Learn More
Previous12···8889909192···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