The
East Indies or Indies are the lands of South Indian subcontinent and Southeast
Asia. It can refer to the islands of Southeast Asia between the Indonesian
Archipelago and the Philippine Archipelago. Exploration by the European powers
began in the late 15th century by Portuguese explorers.
The East
India Company ruled from 1757 to 1858. The Government of India Act 1858 was an
act of The Parliament of the United Kingdom passed on August 2 1858. This
liquidated the British East India Company, which ruled the British India, and
it transferred its functions to the British Crown.
A
new design for stamps, with Queen
Victoria in an oval vignette inside a rectangular frame, was
inscribed "EAST INDIA POSTAGE". These stamps were recess
printed by De La Rue in England (who produced all the
subsequent issues of British India until 1925). The first of these became
available in 1855. They continued in use well after the British government took
over the administration of India in 1858, following the 1857 Rebellion against the East India
Company's rule.
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