10 Vintage Postcards From the Ravi Varma Press, Karla, 1904
There are ten rare and vintage postcards, except for one, all of which were published by the Ravi Varma Press in Karla in 1904. One was by The Phototype Company, Bombay. The titles and serial numbers are as follows:
1) Series No. 822 – Mohini
2) Serias No. 823 – Rama Sagar-Darpaharan
3) Series No. 826 – Jatayu Vadha
4) Series No. 825 – Damayanti Vanvas
5) Series No. 817 – Victory of Indrajit
6) Series No. 827 – Kirat & Bhilli
7) Series No. 818 – Sita’s Marriage
8) Series No. 822 – Mohini
9) Series No. 831 – Hansa Damayanti
10) Shesh Narayen (The Phototype Company, Bombay)
Ravi Varma decided to establish his own printing and publishing house. He opened the Ravi Varma Fine Arts Lithographic Press (or FAL Press) in 1894. It was equipped with a sophisticated German Steam Press and the expertise of German technicians. The press began rolling in 1894. The first chromolithograph or oleograph that was published by the press was “Birth of Shakuntala”. But, under Ravi Varma and his brother, the press suffered financial setbacks, and it slid into debt.
This was because of the mismanagement of their financial partner, Govardhan Das. Despite the press’s setbacks and misfortunes, it became a profitable enterprise after it changed ownership, it was sold to their main German technician, Fritz Schleicher. Following the ownership change, the press began to use the ever popular Ravi Varma artworks for not only oleographs but also for calendars, advertisements, postcards, match box labels, playing cards, etc. The Ravi Varma Press lasted for many years, it finally closed down in 1973 after a major fire.
Did you know – the press was sold to RV’s German technician, Fritz Schleicher, who turned it around by printing millions and millions of copies of Raja Ravi Varma Oleographs.
