Vintage Postcards Published by the Ravi Varma Press, Karla, 10 Postcards 1904
These are nine rare vintage postcards published by the Ravi Varma Press in Karla in 1904. One was by The Phototype Company Bombay. The titles and serial numbers are as below:
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
Ravi Varma decided to establish his own publishing house. He opened the Ravi Varma Fine Arts Lithographic Press (or FAL Press). It was equipped with sophisticated German Steam Press and expertise of German technicians. It began rolling in 1894. The first chromolithograph or oelograph that was published by the press was the “Birth of Shakuntala”. However under Ravi Varma and his brother, the press suffered financial setbacks, it slid into debt.
This was because of the mismanagement of their financial partner, Govardhan Das. Depite the press’s setbacks and misfortunes, it was a profitable enterprise after it changed ownership. 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 finally to close 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.
Past posts – General Post Office (GPO) British Era Madras – 2 Photos 1890., Aerial View Of Gateway Of India & Taj Hotel Bombay, 1920 PC., Apollo Bunder Before The Gateway Of India, 1874 Print.
