ALBUM – view my Alwar Album

Fast Facts

Region: India Area
Group: India Feudatory State
Classification: Semi-Autonomous State
Prior Regime: Maratha Empire
Key Dates:
  1771 – Alwar becomes a Rajput Kingdom
  1803, Nov 14 – Alwar signs with British East India Company and becomes British Protectorate
  1948, Mar 18 – Merged with Bharatpur, Dholpur and Karauli to form the Matsya Union
Following Regime: Matsya Union, then Republic of India
First Stamp Issued: 1877
Scott Catalogue: (India Feudatory States, Alwar) #1-4
Pick Catalogue: none

History

Alwar became a recognized Raiput Kingdom in 1771, when Pratap Singh conquered the city of Alwar and broke from under the rule of the Maratha Empire. Pratap Singh’s adopted son, Bakhtawar Singh aided the British against the Marathas, and after the battle of Laswari in 1803, Alwar became the first Indian State to sign an alliance with the British East India Company.

A few years later, Bakhtawar Singh ventured an armed incursion into neighboring Jaipur, but was defeated. Eventually, he was prohibited from political communications with other states without British consent.

British colonial authorities ruled India with two administrative systems. About 60% of territory of the Indian sub-continent were provinces and territories directly under British colonial administration, 40% of the sub-continent were native Indian (“princely”) States under direct treaty relations with British India.

Alwar state had a often turbulent relationship with the British, depending on the maharaja who led the state. On March 18, 1948, the state merged with three neighboring princely states (Bharatpur, Dholpur and Karauli) to form the Matsya Union. This union in turn merged unto the Union of India. On May 15, 1949, it was united with certain other princely states and the territory of Ajmer to form the present-day Indian state of Rajasthan.

Stamps

ALBUM
For India States, stamp collectors divide the states that issued stamps into two camps. Feudatory States ran their own post and issued stamps which were valid within that particular state. Convention states had an agreement (aka convention) with the British India postal system to handle internal postage, and overprinted stamps of British India with the particular state.

Alwar is considered a Feudatory state. Four stamps of the same design were issued for Alwar. The design featured an Alwar dagger known as a Kandjar. The dagger was of a unique design, when squeezed, the blades would open like scissors inside it’s victim. The stamps were first recorded in February 1877 buy may have been issued as early as September 1876. They continued in use until 1 July 1902, when the postal service in Alwar was taken over by the British Imperial Post. The stamps were only used in Alwar State.

Banknotes

Although a few of the Indian Princely states issued local currency, most, including Alwar, used Britsh Indian Currency.  Alwar was distinguished however, as the first princely state to use coins struck at Calcutta Mint.

Links

Alwar: From Mark Jochim at Philatelic Pursuits
Map at Sandafayre On Line Atlas