Prof Arvind Jain in Guiness Book of World Records

P J Joychen

JAIPUR: A two-time Limca book record holder, Prof Arvind Jain of Bhilwara has now achieved a unique feat in the world of philately. His name will figure in the next edition of Guinness Book of World Records for the largest collection of stamps and other philatelic items issued in honour of Sir Rowland Hill, creator of the first postage stamp. He has got the confirmation letter for the same via email from Kaoru Ishikawa of Guinness World Records, London. He is the first-ever Indian philatelist to get this honour from the world's most authentic and prestigious record book.
The 52-year-old college professor has been collecting stamps and other philatelic items on more than 20 subjects and themes for the last 35 years. Since the past three years, a difficult and unusual theme has attracted him. He has left no stone unturned to include almost every postage stamp issued throughout the world in honour of Sir Rowland Hill (creator of the world's first ever postage stamp Penny Black' which was issued by UK on May 6, 1840). His efforts have fructified and he now owns the largest collection on this unique theme in the world.

He had to strive hard to create this unusual collection which is now systematically arranged on more than 240 sheets consisting of 870 philatelic items (593 unduplicated postage stamps, 105 miniature/souvenir sheets, 89 first-day covers, 36 special sheetlets and 47 other items -- booklets, post cards/maxim cards, imperforated stamps / MS, gutter pairs, deluxe souvenir sheets, etc). Starting from the very first stamp set of eight, issued in 1940 by Portugal, he has almost all the stamps in his collection issued around the world in honour of Sir Rowland Hill.
Earlier, Limca Book of Records had certified his efforts by including this collection in its 2008 and 2009 editions as the largest collection of stamps issued in honour of a person. He also got his name entered in the 2007 edition of the Limca book for the largest collection of stamps issued worldwide on the theme of Cricket.'

Various stamps of Prof Jain have so far been displayed at Jaipur, Jamnagar, Ajmer, Ahmedabad, Vadodara and Chennai. His collection on cricket was specially displayed for 45 days at National Philatelic Museum, New Delhi from March 14 to April 27, 2007. He has won more than 30 medals in various state and national-level stamp exhibitions and he has been honored by India Post and Philatelic Society of Rajasthan for his achievements in the field of philately. Prof Jain has also penned down nearly 250 articles on various aspects of philately which have been published by leading newspapers and magazines in India.