A press release put out by the British Post Office announcing that first day covers of the Gandhi stamp designed by Biman Mullick will be made available to the public.

PB 178 July 24, 1969

A full first-day-of-issue service, with Edinburgh postmark, will be provided by the GPO Philatelic Bureau on envelopes for the Gandhi centenary stamp to be issued on August 13.

The stamp will cost 1s6d – the airmail rate to India. First-day covers should reach India by August 15 – Indian Independence Day.

The official cover, measuring 6 in by 4 in, has been designed by Mr Biman Mullick, who also designed the stamp. It shows a spinning wheel in red against a white background.

Unstamped covers, costing 6d each, are now on sale from the Bureau in Edinburgh and at Post Offices with philatelic posting boxes. A “First Day of Issue” 1 in diameter rubber handstamp will be used to cancel the envelopes.

Inclusive charge for an official cover fully prepared by the Bureau will be 4s6d (Service A). Customers’ own addressed envelopes will also be accepted for stamping at a cost of 2s6d each (Service B). The Bureau will also service 50 or more covers to one address at 3s6d each (Service C).

Bulk orders for unstamped covers will be accepted by the Bureau at a cost of £4 3s4d for 250, £5 for 500, £15 for 1,000, £33 for 2,500, £60 for 5,000 and £104 for 10,000.

For this and future issues, Chichester, Dartford and Telford will be added to the list of places which have philatelic posting boxes and sell first-day covers and presentation packs of stamps.

©ROYAL MAIL GROUP (2021) COURTESY OF THE POSTAL MUSEUM