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Nepal

FIRST STAMPS India 1854.
FIRST STAMPS ISSUED May 1881.

CURRENCY
1881, 16 annas = 1 rupee.
1907, 64 pke = 1 rupee.
1954, 100 paisa = 1 rupee.

A Gurkha kingdom in the Himalayas with capital at Katmandu. After fighting the British in India in 1814-6, the Gurkhas aided the government during the Indian Mutiny. Gurkha regiments have formed part of the British Army ever since, though Nepal was never part of the Empire. A treaty of friendship was signed in 1923.

A PO was established at Katmandu in 1878 and some 40 offices followed in Nepal. Mails were carried by runner until the first motor transport in 1948. Nepal joined the UPU in 1957 and established exchange offices on the Indian border in 1960. Since 1954, when there were 124 POs, the number has risen to c.1000.

A PO was opened at the British Residency in 1816 with a dated hand-stamp; it was finally closed by the Indian government in 1966.

Used stamps of India from 1854. External letters were usually sent through British residency/legation or Indian embassy bearing Indian stamps.