DER STAAT BAHAWALPUR UNABHÄNGIGKEITSPERIODE (14. August 1947 - 3. Oktober 1947)

THE STATE OF BAHAWALPUR INDEPENDENCE PERIOD (14 Aug 1947 – 03 Oct 1947) – Stamps of India Overprinted Star/Crescent and ‘God Given Kingdom of Bahawalpur’ by Dr. Usman Ali Isani and Syed Abid Hussain

Large (A4 size) heavy volume, published in hardback by National Book Foundation, Islamabad in 2023; first edition and one of only 500 copies.  456 pages, profusely illustrated.

The Preface of the book reads as follows;

Undoubtedly, the most colourful part of the Postal History of Bahawalpur pertains to the period when H. H. Sir Sadiq Mohammad Khan Abbasi (1907-1966) was the Amir of Bahawalpur.  Distinct postage stamps of Bahawalpur were all issued between 1933 and 1949.  It is this period that has made Bahawalpur a popular collecting area with excellent response in various auctions.  Writing in him memorandum to his solicitors dated 2 Feb 1949 (annexure II), the Amir has remarked: “I much regret that no one has been able to compile a record or write up the various details of the numerous issues of the State stamps, as apart from myself there is no one interested in Philately or matters relating to the question of postage stamps etc. and I personally have not time to attend to such matters”.  Though, so far the wishes of the Amir have been unknown to others these wishes have been honoured by most catalogues with simple listings of the stamps of Bahawalpur.  These have been capped by excellent works by Messrs Ron Wood, Haverback, Pollard and M. I. Chaudhary.  Their writings raise many issues.  To lend strength and credence to the works has been the formidable collection of Bahawalpur built up by Mr. Wilson Wong.  This collection was put up for sale in PRESTIGE PHILATELY Auction No 118 held in Australia on 8th of October 2005.  It received good response and the items stand scattered all over the globe.

The inheritance question of the Estate of the late Sir Sadiq Mohammad Abbasi has been disputed since 1966 and the properties sealed.  A settlement has taken place.  Unfortunately, time, lack of care and the vagaries of weather have taken their toll.  Mr. Salman Qureshi writing in the Pak Post has the following remarks:

“The death of Nawab Sir Sadiq Mohammad was followed by family disputes and litigation resulting in the palaces with their official records etc. being sealed.  Prince Salahuddin had told me that records contained details about the printing of this issue (this referred to the Mumlikat-e-Khudadad and Star Crescent overprints on the Stamps of India, and he thought that printing had been done in Nasik).  When the palaces were unsealed, much of the record had been destroyed by damp and rot (apparently this was due to rain water getting inside due to leaking roofs and broken window panes)”.

Some philatelic writings appear to have survived.  I am grateful to Nawab Salahuddin Abbasi for making available for this book, whatever pertinent writings that have survived.  This material though scant, has gone a long way in answering many questions.  Besides this, his encouragement has been a great source of strength.

Profound thanks are due to Mr. Salman Qureshi, President of Pakistan Philatelic Federation, Mr M. A. Jahangir, Mr Khalid Malik, Mr Iqbal Nanjee, Colonel Nasir Hussain, M. I. Chaudhary, Rashid Latif, Abdul Wahid, Brig Sultan Mahmud and Jamil Ahmad who have made available their valuable collections for study and reproduction in the book.

Surely they have many gems of Bahawalpur Philately and the basis of future gold medal collections.  Mr Imran Ahmad brought to light many interesting points.  Thanks also to Mr George Rab of Pakistan Study Circle London.  I would like to make a special mention of Syed Imtiaz Hussain Rizvi.  He died recently after a brief illness.  He was a devoted Philatelist and had a particular interest in Bahawalpur.  He readily shared his knowledge and guided us at every step.  As the title suggests, we have restricted the scope of this work to the Mumlikat-e-Khudadad overprints on the stamps of British India.  These stamps consist of the Machine overprints, the 2 line Hand prints.  Small one line Hand overprints and large one line Hand overprints.  A few stationery items that are known are also shown.

I would like to express my gratitude to Mr Adil Salahuddin whose professional expertise, constant support and advice made this book possible.  Special thanks are also due to Nawab Salahuddin Abbasi, Khalid Malik and Brig Sultan Mahmud who have provided pictures of material in their collections for reproduction in this book.  Finally a special mention to Mr Abu Obaidah for his continuous support in scanning and the digital composition of this book.  He is a young philatelist with a keen mind and a sharp eye.

ISLAMABAD

Dr. Usman Ali Isani

June, 2022

The contents of the book are as follows;

·        Preface

·        Pictures

·        The British rule in India;

The East India Company

Subsequent Constitutional Developments

Government of India Act 1935

The Indian Independence Act 1947

·        The British-Bahawalpur Relations

·        The Postal History of Bahawalpur;

New Evidence

Cancellations used on stamps of Bahawalpur

Destruction of Dies

The system of stock holding and distribution of stamps

Some details of stamps of British India on which Overprinting was done

·        The machine overprints on the stamps of British India

·        The two line hand overprints

·        The one line small hand overprints

·        The one line large overprints