Bahawalpur State
BAHAWALPUR STATE
Princely State in Subsidiary alliance with British India 1758-1947
Princely State of Pakistan 1947 - 1955
The State of Bahawalpur was a princely state of the Punjab in Pakistan, stretching along the southern bank of the Sutlej and Indus Rivers, with its capital city at Bahawalpur. After two centuries of varying degrees of independence, the state became part of Pakistan in 1947. In 1941, the state had a population of 1,341,209 living in an area of 45,911 km² (17,494 sq mi).
It is divided into three districts: Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan and Bahawalnagar.
The state was founded in 1701 by a family that was reputed to be of Arabic origin.
Mohammad Bahawal Khan III became Nawab in 1825. He signed the state's first treaty with the British on 22nd February 1833, guaranteeing the independence of the Nawab.
The state acceded to the Dominion of Pakistan 7 October 1947 and was merged into the state of West Pakistan 14 October 1955.
Postage stamps and postal history of Bahawalpur
Before 1945, Bahawalpur used the postage stamps of British India. On January 1st 1945, it issued its own stamps, for official use only, a set of pictorials inscribed entirely in Arabic script and thus legitimate for use only within the state (as were all the stamps of Bahawalpur).
On 1st December 1947 it issued its first regular stamp, a commemorative for the 200th anniversary of the ruling family, depicting Mohammad Bahawal Khan I, and inscribed "BAHAWALPUR". A series of 14 values appeared 1st April 1948, depicting various Nawabs and buildings. A handful of additional commemoratives ended with an October 1949 issue commemorating the 75th anniversary of the UPU. At this point stamps of Pakistan came into universal, they having already been required on mail leaving Bahawalpur.
Nearly all of the 60-odd stamps of Bahawalpur are readily available and inexpensive, having been printed in large numbers. The most expensive is the 10 rupee of 1948, at around US$30. Most are attractively designed and finely engraved. As usual for stamps of limited valid use, examples on cover are much less common.
Rulers of Bahawalpur
Abbasi Emirs ("Nawab Amir" after 1739)
Mubarak Khan I (1701 - 1723)
Sadeq Mohammad Khan I (1723 - 1744)
Mohammad Bahawal Khan I (1744 - 1749)
Mubarak Khan II (1749 - 1773)
Mohammad Bahawal Khan II (1773 - 1809)
Sadeq Mohammad Khan II (1809 - 1825)
Mohammad Bahawal Khan III (1825 - 1852)
Sadeq Mohammad Khan III (1852 - 1853)
Fateh Mohammad Khan (1853 - 3rd October 1858)
Mohammad Bahawal Khan IV (1858 - 25th March 1866)
Sadeq Mohammad Khan IV (1866 - 15th February 1899)
Mohammad Bahawal Khan V (1899 - 15th February 1907)
Sadeq Mohammad Khan V (24th March 1907 - 14th October 1966 Nawab Sadiq had 10 sons and 10 daughters. Prince Abdullah Abbasi is elder son and Crown prince, but after his death, Prince Abbas Abbasi nominated as Nawab of Bahawalpur, Princess Sofia Abbasi is elder Daughter of Last Ameer And Nawab of Bahawalpur)
Muhammad Abbas 'Ali Khan (1966-1972(1988)
Current head of the house and nominal raja (on a social basis) Salar ud-din Muhammad Khan since 1988.
Prime ministers
Richard Marsh Crofton (1942 - 1947)
John Dring (1948 - 1952)
A. R. Khan (1952 - 1955)
References
Nazeer 'Ali Shah, The History of the Bahawalpur State (Lahore: Maktaba Jadeed, 1959)
1947
August 15, 1947, Indian Postage Stamps (King George VI) Overprinted BAHAWALPUR
3 P Slate - op in red
1/2 A Purple - op in black
9 P Green - op in red
1 Anna Carmine - op in black
1 1/2 Anna Dull Violet - op in red
2 Anna Vermillion - op in black
3 Anna Bright Violet - op in red
3 1/2 Anna Bright Blue - op in red
4 Anna Brown - op in black
6 Anna Turquoise - op in red
8 Anna Slate Violet - op in red
12 Anna Lake - op in black
14 Anna Purple - op in black
1 Re Grey & Red - op in red
2 Rs Purple & Brown - op in red
5 Rs Green & Blue - op in red
10 Rs Purple & Claret
The above stamps No. B2, B4, B6, B8, B9, B11, B12, B15 ,B16, B 17 and B18 were overprinted in Red colour while B 3, B5, B7, B10, B13, and B14,were overprinted in Black colours.
1948
1948, Bicentenary Commemoration.
1/2 Anna Black & Carmine Amir Muhammad Bahawal Khan I Abbasi.
1948, April 1. First Regular Series.
3p Black & blue. Amir Sadiq Muhammad Khan V Abbasi.
1/2 Anna black & claret. Amir Sadiq Muhammad Khan V Abbasi.
9p Black & green. Amir Sadiq Muhammad Khan V Abbasi.
1 Anna Black & carmine. Amir Sadiq Muhammad Khan V Abbasi.
1 1/2 Anna Black & violet. Amir Sadiq Muhammad Khan V Abbasi.
2 Anna Green & carmine. Tombs of the Ameers.
4 Anna Orange & brown. Mosque in Sadiq Garh.
6Anna violet 7 blue. Fort Derawar.
8Anna Carmine & violet. Palace at Sadiq Garh.
12 Anna Green & carmine. Noor Mahal Palace.
1Rupee Violet & brown. Amir Sadiq Muhammad Khan V Abbasi.
2Rupee Green & claret. Amir Sadiq Muhammad Khan V Abbasi.
5Rupee Black & violet. Amir Sadiq Muhammad Khan V Abbasi.
10Rupee Scarlet 7 black. Three generations of the rulers.
1948, October 3. Anniversary of Union of Bahawalpur with Pakistan.
1 1/2 Anna Carmine 7 blue-green The Ameer & Quaid-e-Azam.
1948, October 15. Centenary of the Multan Campaign.
1 1/2 Anna Deep carmine & black Soldiers of 1948 & 1949.
1948, Second Regular Series Colours Changed.
1Rupee Orange & deep green. Amir Sadiq Muhammad Khan V Abbasi.
2Rupee Carmine & black. Amir Sadiq Muhammad Khan V Abbasi.
5Rupee Ultramarine & red brown
10Rupee Green & red green
1949
1949, March 3. 25th Anniversary of Accession of the Ameer of Bahawalpur.
3p Black & ultramarine
1/2Anna Black & brown orange.
9p Black & green
1Anna Black & carmine.
1949, October 10. 75th Anniversary of Universal Postal Union.
9p Black & green. UPU Monument at Berne.
a) Perf. 17 1/2 x 17
1 Anna Black & magenta. UPU Monument at Berne
a) Perf. 17 1/2 x 17
1 1/2 Anna Black & orange. UPU Monument at Berne
a) Perf. 17 1/2 x 17
2 1/2 Anna Black & blue. UPU Monument at Berne
a) Perf. 17 1/2 x 17
OFFICIAL (O) STAMPS
O - 1945
1945, January 1. Official Stamps.
1/2 Anna Black & green. Panjnad Weir.
1Anna Black & violet Camel & Calf.
2 Anna Black & violet Black Buck Antelope.
4Anna Black & olive-green. Pelicans.
8Anna Black & brown. Juma Masjid Place.
1Rupee Black & orange. Temple at Pattan Munara
1945, March 10. Official Stamps.
1Anna Black & brown
1/2 Anna on 8Anna Black & Purple.
1 1/2 Anna on 1 Rupee Black & Orange.
1 1/2 Anna on 2 Rupee Black & blue.
1/2 Anna Black & carmine
1 Anna Black & carmine.
2 Anna Black & orange.
3p Black & blue.
1 1/2 Black & violet.
O - 1946
1946, May. Victory Commemoration of Allied Nations in World War II.
1 1/2 Anna Emerald & gray.3p Black & blue.
1Anna Black & carmine.
2 Anna Green & carmine.
4Anna Orange & brown.
1Rupee Orange & deep green
2Rupee Black & carmine.5Rupee Ultramarine & red.
10Rupee Green & red brown.
O - 1949
1949, 75th Anniversary of Universal Postal Union.
9p Black & green.
a) Perf. 17 1/2 x 17
1 Anna Black & magenta.
a) Perf. 17 1/2 x 17
1 1/2 Black & orange.
a) Perf. 17 1/2 x 17
2 1/2 Black & blue.
a) Perf. 17 1/2 x 17
Nawab Salahuddin Abbasi of Bahawalpur