What is a Maxim Card?

By: Ashok Kumar Bayanwala, Ahmedabad

Maximum Card is a picture postcard with a postage stamp affixed on view side and a post mark, but it should contain the following characteristics:

The postage stamp should be postally valid and affixed only on the view side of the picture postcard. Postage Due, pre cancelled, fiscals and stamps violating the code of Ethics of UPU are not permissible. Even official stamps are not admissible except those which are at disposal of the public i.e. United Nations, UNESCO, and European Council etc. The postage stamp must be in perfect state. Only one stamp should be affixed. In case a stamp has multiple, secondary or partial subjects, each subject must be dealt with separately. The use of illustrated labels out of automatic vending machines, affixed on the view side of the postcard, is allowed.

The Maximum size of Picture postcard (ppc) should be 105 x 148 mm and minimum size should be 90 x 140 mm. At least 75% of its area must be used for the picture. The ppc should show concordance with the subject of the stamp. Mere reproduction of the stamp on ppc is forbidden. The ppc should be on sale before the issue of the stamp, or if it has been published specially, it should reproduce on existing document. Paste ups, cutting outs and private photographs and drawings cannot be used for maximum cards.

The pictorial design of the postmark and/or the place of cancellation (name of the post office) should have a close and direct connection with the subject of the stamp. The cancellation so given should be clear and readable and has to be struck completely on the stamp/ppc.

An exhibit on maximum cards can be built on a specific country or a group of countries having geographical, historical or cultural bonds. It can be developed on a specific period or a particular theme.

Different Maximum cards can be prepared with the same stamp on different ppc and with different cancellations. When subject of maximum card is monuments, Landscapes and sites, the cancellation of that place is only required to prove the relation. Where the subject is paintings, the cancellations of places where those are found or where they were created.

Here are two examples of maxim cards which can be considered as genuine maxim cards and can be exhibited as Maxim Card.

Maxim Card of Electric Locomotive definitive stamp

Maxim Card of Mother Teresa issue

Following Cards cannot be considered as Maxim Cards bears reproduction of stamp design and cards were not made available on sale before the issue of the stamp.

Kutch Museum Picture Postcard - Stamp design and Card design are same

Indian Flowers Picture Postcard - Stamp design and Card design are same

Status of this card is not clear as information is not available whether the ppc was made available on sale before the issue of the stamp but the card design is not replica of issued stamp hence if card was made available for sale then, it can be considered as genuine maxim card.

Bugun Liocichla Issue - Stamp design and Card design are different as per requirement of Maxim Card

Thus, we see that a mere picture card, a stamp and a cancellation do not create a Maxim Card. It is the quality of the postage stamp, picture postcard and postmark, and also concordance among them, gives birth to Maxim Card which will be a perfect philatelic material.

- JAI PHILATELY