The Piece

A vintage souvenir presentation tray from the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, located in Mussoorie, India. The tray features the academy’s central emblem with bilingual Hindi and English text, surrounded by a decorative patterned border and an ornate raised rim.

The center reads “Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration” and “Mussoorie,” making this a distinctive institutional keepsake tied to one of India’s most recognized civil service training academies.

Design & Construction

This tray appears to be made from silver-plated or nickel-plated base metal, with a printed, stamped, or enamel-style central academy medallion. The rim is decorated with raised floral and scrollwork detailing, giving the piece a formal presentation-tray look.

The back shows extensive finish wear, dark oxidation, plating rub, and surface scratching. Because there are no visible sterling, purity, or assay marks in the photos, this should not be listed as sterling silver. It is best described as a plated souvenir tray.

History & Provenance

Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, commonly known as LBSNAA, is the training academy for Indian civil service officers in Mussoorie. The institution began as the National Academy of Administration in 1959 and received its current name in 1973.  

This tray was likely produced as an academy souvenir, presentation piece, commemorative gift, or institutional memento. Pieces like this are especially appealing to collectors of Indian administrative history, government service memorabilia, Mussoorie travel souvenirs, and Indo-British institutional objects.

Condition

Good vintage condition with significant visible wear. The front retains its central LBSNAA graphic and decorative border, but the rim and surface show tarnish, oxidation, rubbing, scratches, and plating loss. The underside has heavier finish wear and discoloration. No major structural breaks are visible from the photos.

Product Details