2017-04-04 Tue

Development in technology and the field of science took place during the start of the 19th century; nearly eighty years ago the idea of electric communication was next to impossible. People were dependent on postal services and letters since eons. But with development, the postal service came into existence and the concept of Postal Stamps was invented.

The concept of Postal service and stamp was very popular during British India. This lead to the printing of varieties of stamps by the British government but there were many feudatory states (in terms of postal arrangements) and six convention states. The convention states had an arrangement with the Imperial Government that the British Post Office would supply overprint stamps to the state administration.

The Princely State of Chamba is among the six convention states that had this overprint issue of British Post office. This pale violet overprint Stamp of Chamba State featuring the portrait of Queen Victoria was issued in 1903. These stamps were valid for postage within the state borders and the other convention states.

These distinctive stamps of Convention State ceased to be valid for postage from 1st January 1951. They were replaced by the Postal Stamp of Republic of India which became valid from 1st April 1950.

Due to this, these stamps became a remarkable collective specimen for the Stamp collectors.

To further read about Princely states of British India through stamps and coins.

To know more about Convention State and Revenue Stamps click here.