``Aero philately is one of the main branches of philately. The stamp on the maiden flight of Air-India has worldwide appeal. The stamp, because of its theme and design, is a collector's stamp. The stamp on the NSO has significance for only Indian collectors, though,'' says Pulak Gupta, secretary, Philatelic Club of India.

On June 8, 1948, Air-India operated its first international flight from Mumbai to London via Cairo and Geneva. The taking off of the Lockheed Constellation aircraft is an important milestone in the history of Indian aviation.In the stamps, the pictorial depiction of the aircraft, the Gateway of India and Air-India's logo is beautifully done.

Another stamp displays the Big Ben of London. The stamp release was a trip down memory lane, remembering the role of Indian civil aviation over the years, and its growth to create a niche for itself among the prestigious airlines of the world.

The set of stamps on the National Savings Organisation (NSO) celebrates half a century of its functioning and the success of the savings movement in independent India. NSO has helped to promote thrift, utilise domestic savings for national development and counter inflation in the economy.

The common thread running through the stamps highlights the ``collective thrift in the march of the nation''. The first day cover shows various activities related to NSO, in particular the mobilisation of the gross collections schemes.

Another highlight is the beautifully done NSO logo -- the honey bee, symbolising untiring effort, safety, security andexcellent returns on small savings. The savings movement began in 1834 with institutional support, with the setting-up of the first savings bank in Calcutta. The Savings Bank Act was passed in 1873 and the National Savings Bureau, headquartered in Shimla, was set up in 1943 for the purposes of financing World War II. The savings movement with its present principles and philosophy was re-organised on June 30, when NSO was set up.

This month also saw a literary philatelic release. A special commemorative stamp was issued by the department on the 15 languages enshrined in the Indian constitution in the memory of the Jnanpith laureates. On June 5, the occasion of the Jnanpith awards ceremony, Bangla Jnanpith winners were honoured with a stamp depicting their contribution to the progress of Indian literature. Among the winners honoured are Bishnu Dey for his poetry collection, Smriti Satta Bhavishyat, and Tarashankar Bandopadhyay for his novel, Ganadevta, which delved into the impact of industrialisation on therural economy and the caste system. Ashapurna Devi received the award for her novel Pratham Pratishruti, in which she describes the various shades of human nature through the struggles of Satyawati, her protagonist.

Another stamp was released on June 18, in the memory of freedom fighter and philosopher Dr C Vijiaraghavachariar, also known as the `Lion of South India'.