Offbeat: Photoessay

Organised by Todywalla Auctions, a well-known auction house in India and The Philatelic Society of Delhi, Delhi played host to a rare stamps auction much to the excitement of collectors in town.

The auction drew collectors and enthusiasts from all over the town as they gathered expectantly and sat patiently through the event that lasted nearly two hours.

While some sat down to bid and some others to note the value of stamps and their own collections, there were quite a few who were there just to be part of a world that few outsiders seem to truly appreciate.

But even as letters and post offices recede from the urban landscape the collectors of stamps certainly don't seem to be letting their passion fade away.

Mr Beji B Vimadalal, who left a regular job ages ago and today has been playing the auctioneer at almost a thousand of such auctions all over the country and even beyond for 36 years.

Mr Todywalla, whose company co-organised the auction, represents the new generation in his business that shows no signs of slowing down and has been actively leading the firm's operations.

The auction, even though dampened by a visit by an visit by an 'observatory visit' by the government tax department, saw quite a bit of buying.

At the last row sat the person in charge of noting down who the prize went to and for how much.

Buyers usually wish to remain anonymous and once inside the auction house, the paddles with bold digits on them become their identity.

Though it went unsold, this stamp commemorating Mahatma Gandhi was the most expensive one to be presented at the event with bidding starting at Rs 9.9 lakh ($15,500).

For collectors such as 65-year-old Mr Gautam Rohatgi, who has been collecting stamps for 55 years and has a collection so vast he doesn’t even know how many stamps he owns, the event was an interesting evening amidst people who understood why he does, what he does.

For 14-year-old Mr Chaitanya Bubna, who has just been handed off an extensive collection by his father, this was among his first events, reinforcing his initiation and participation in the fascinating world of philately.