THIS is apropos of the report ‘Sports minister exhibits personal philatelic collection’ (April 15) by S.H. It is about the stamp collection of Sindh Education Minister Dr Mohammad Ali Shah.

The report had several mistakes. The picture shown along with the report is that of a Bahawalpur stamp issued on April 1, 1948. These are easily available in mint condition and can be valuable if found genuinely used on an envelope because Rs10 was a big amount in 1948.

The 1840 Penny Black of Britain, the first stamp of the world, was issued in millions. Again, it is scarce only if found used on the cover in the same year, that is, 1840. A used copy, as exhibited by Mr Shah, is available for 120 pounds throughout the world even today as it was 20 years ago.

The first stamps of Pakistan were not issued from Bahawalpur, rather Indian stamps of King George VI were overprinted at the Security Printing Press in Nasik, India, and released from post offices in East and West Pakistan on Oct 1, 1947.

I do think the writer should have contacted many internationally-acclaimed philatelic societies and associations in Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, and Multan, before writing her report. How wonderful it would have been if Dr Shah had presented the history of Karachi through its postcards, showing the Empress Market in the 1920s.

I possess a copy of the Penny Black used on the cover on Aug 8, 1840. But these are in the possession of a commoner and thus will remain in a darkroom forever.

ZAHID ISLAM Karachi