Bahawalpur’s post from the camel riders of the State’s official dak to the Amir’s stamps of 1945–49, printed by De La Rue.
Bahawalpur, now in Pakistan, sent its mail through the Punjab post from 1870; its Amir commissioned De La Rue pictorials in 1933, official stamps followed in 1945 and ordinary issues in 1947–49.
Camel riders and runners before 1866, the transfer of Bahawalpur’s posts to the Punjab in 1870, official franks and Indian service stamps from 1878, the offices of 1904 and the railway of 1912.
How Sadiq Muhammad Khan V commissioned his own stamps from De La Rue in 1932–33: his sketch for the Alliance stamp, the six pictorial dies, trial use, fiscal use, the watermark of 1935 and the camel essays.
Bahawalpur’s first stamps in use were officials: the six SARKARI pictorials of 1 January 1945, the Nasik provisionals, the chocolate camel, later SERVICE printings, portraits and the Victory stamp of 1946.
The disputed star-and-crescent handstamps on Indian stamps in 1947, then Bahawalpur’s ordinary stamps: the bicentenary of 1947, the 1948 definitives and commemoratives, and the 1949 jubilee and UPU sets.
Every Bahawalpur issue and value, 30 entries, with pictures where available and a box to tick for each stamp you have.
