India Princely State Court Fee Revenue Stamps and Paper
India has a prolific history of using revenue stamps. Dating back to the late 18th century -predating the country's first postage stamps by nearly 50 years. These stamps were issued by the central government, individual provinces, and over 300 princely states to collect taxes on documents, legal transactions, goods and services.
Early Origins
The
first revenue-related "stamped papers" were introduced in
some Indian feudal states as early as 1797 to pay court fees. Early
Indian revenue stamps often resembled British designs, using a "key
type" format featuring the reigning monarch or state emblems.
Revenue stamps were issued for specific purposes, including:
Court Fees: Used on legal documents to furd the judiciary.
Foreign Bills & Broker's Notes: For commercial and financial transactions.
Hundis: Traditional financial instruments often bore pre-printed revenue stamps.
Revenue stamps were issued for specific purposes, including:
Court Fees: Used on legal documents to furd the judiciary.
Foreign Bills & Broker's Notes: For commercial and financial transactions.
Hundis: Traditional financial instruments often bore pre-printed revenue stamps.
Specialized Duties: Including Insurance, Share Transfers, and even Entertainment taxes in specific provinces like Bombay and Bengal.
Princely State Issues
At least 300 princely states issued their own unique revenue stamps before being integrated into independent India. While some used British-style key types, many states like Hyderabad, Jaipur, and Travancore featured local motifs and scripts. Most states stopped issuing separate revenues upon joining the Indian Union (1947-1950), although Jaipur and Sikkim continued into the 1960s.
Convention States (like Patiala and Gwalior) often overprinted British Indian stamps with the state's name, while "Feudatory States" (like Sirmoor, Kishangarhor and Jaipur) designed and printed their own stamps.
Sirmoor State Court Fee Revenue Stamps
A selection of Sirmoor 4a, 6a, and 8a Court Ree revenue stamps featuring the State Crest.
Sirmoor
(or Sirmur) was a prominent princely state n the Punjab Hills,
currently located in the Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh.
Founded in 1099 AD by Subhans Parkash, its history is marked by a
long-standing alliance with the British and significant
administrative modernization in the 19th century.The state's ancient capital, also called Sirmur, was reportedly destroyed by a massive flood in the 11th century, leading the ruling family to invite a prince from Jaisalmer to restart the dynasty. The rulers took the title "Parkash".
Sirmoor was a "Feudatory State," meaning it issued its own postage and revenue stamps for use strictly within its borders. The last ruler, Maharaja Rajender Parkash, signed the instrument of accession on March 13, 1948, leading to Sirmoor's merger into the newly formed state of Himachal Pradesh.
Kishangarh State Court Fee Revenue Paper
A selection of Kishangarth 2a, 4a, and 8a Court Ree revenue paper featuring Maharaja Madan Singh.
Kishangarh was a significant princely state in the Rajputana Agency (modern-day Rajasthan), founded in 1609 by Maharaja Kishan Singh, a prince of the Rathore clan of Jodhpur. After a dispute with his family in Jodhpur Kishan Singh received a grant of territory from the Mughal Emperor Jahangir. He founded the city of Kishangarh in 1611, establishing it as an independent power. Unlike some other Rajput states, Kishangarh maintained very close and cordial ties with the Mughal emperors for generations. Many of its rulers served as high ranking military commanders in the Mughal army.
In the early 19th century, following the decline of the Mughals and the rise of Maratha raids, Maharaja Kalyan Singh signed a treaty with the British East India Company, becoming a protectorate.
After India's independence, the last ruler, Maharaja Summair Singh, signed the Instrument of Accession. Kishar garh merged with other states to form the "United State of Rajasthan" in 1949.
Kishangarh was a "Feudatory State" with its own internal postal and revenue systems. The state issued stamps for court fees and general revenue. Early issues often featured the Coat of Arms (two horses flanking a shield) or the portrait of the Maharaja.
Jaipur State Court Fee Revenue Stamps
Jaipur State also known as the Kingdom of Amber, was a prominent princely state in the Rajputana region of India, ruled by the Kachwaha Rajput clan from the 11th century until 1949. The state was established in 1028 AD by Rao Dulha Rai, who migrated from Gwalior and founded the capital at Dausa.
The capital later shifted to Amber around the 12th century. Under Raja Bharmal in 1562, Amber became the first Rajput state to form a matrimonial alliance with the Mughals through his daughter Mariam-uz-Zamani (Jodha Bai). This era saw rulers like Raja Man Singh I and Mirza Raja Jai Singh I serve as top Mughal generals. The last ruling Maharaja, Sawai Man Singh II, signed the Instrument of Accession to the Indian Union on 7 April 1949.
Central Figure: The portrait depicts Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II in royal attire.
Inscription: The stamp features text in three languages: English, Hindi, and Urdu, clearly stating "COURT FEE" and "JAIPUR GOVERNMENT".
Period of Use: These specific stamps were issued between roughly the 1920s and 1940s. Jaipur ceased issuing its own revenue stamps in 1949 when it was annexed into the state of Rajasthan within independent India.
Cancellation: The circular black hole visible on the stamp is a punch cancel, indicating that the stamp had been officially used and was no longer valid for transaction.
Indore State Court Fee Revenue Stamps
Indore State (also known as Holkar State) was a prominent Maratha princely state in Central India, ruled by the Holkar dynasty from its founding in the early 8th century until its accession to India in 1948.
Indore State was a "feudatory state" that operated its own independent judicial and revenue systems. The court fee revenue stamps were used primarily to pay for legal services, document registration, and court filings. The earliest court fee stamps appeared alongside the first postage stamps in the 1880s. These often featured simple designs or portraits of the ruling Maharaja, such as Tukojirac Holkar II, or Tukojirao Holkar III.
A selection of Indore State 1a, 4a, and 10a Court Fee revenue stamps featuring the last Maharaja of Indore Maharaja Yeshwant Rao Holkar II (reigned 1926 to 1948).
Top Stamp (Red): A One Anna court fee stamp.
Bottom Left (Blue): A Four Annas court fee stamp.
Bottom Right (Olive/Green): A Ten Annas court fee stamp.
Kotah State Court Fee Revenue Stamps
Kotah (now Kota) was priginally part of the Bundi state, the territory was founded as a walled city in the 14th century and was later a prominent princely state in the Rajputana
Agency of British India, ruled by the Hada Chauhan dynasty. It emerged as an independent power in the 17th century and later became the first Rajput state to sign a protective treaty with the British.
A selection of Kotah State 4a, 8a, 1R and 2R Court Fee revenue stamps featuring Maharao Umed Singh II.
Variety of Denominations: Multiple values, such as 4 Annas (blue/black), 8 Annas (blue), 1 Rupee (green), and 2 Rupees (yellow-green).
Dual Inscriptions: They feature "COURT FEE" in English at the top and "Kotah State" within the circular portrait frame, along with Hindi script below.
Jhalawar
State Court Fee Revenue Stamps
Jhalawar was founded in 1791 by Jhala Zalim Singh, the then Dewan of Kota, originally as a cantonment town named Chaoni Umedpura within the larger Kotah State. It was the last princely state to be created in Rajasthan, officially established on 8 April 1838 as it emerged independently out of the larger Kotah state due to internal political friction.
Denominations: The stamps shown include various values:
Ek Anna (One Anna - Green)
Char Anna (Four Annas - Brown)
Ek Rupaya (One Rupee - Purple)
Aath Anna (Eight Annas - Red)
Inscriptions: The text indicates "COURT FEE" and the value in Hindi (e.g., "एक आना" for One Anna).
Cancellations: The purple ink markings and punched holes visible on the stamps are standard "script or hole cancels," which were used to prevent the reuse of the stamps once the fee had been processed.
Rewah State Court Fee Revenue Stamps
Rewah (or Rewa) was a major princely state in Central India, ruled by the Baghel Rajput dynasty from its inception in the 12th century until 1948. It was the largest state in the Baghelkhand Agency.
In 1827 Maharaja Vishwanath Pratap Singh established the Mitaktters Shara Court and Dharmasabha, known as Kachehri Mitakshara to handle civil and criminal matters.
The court fee revenue stamps were levied as a means for self-financing the judiciary and regulating litigation. Following Indian independence, the princely state of Rewa merged into Vindhya Pradesh in 1948, ending its independent revenue collection.
Top Stamp: An 8 Annas stamp in blue/teal, featuring a portrait of a local ruler (likely Maharajah Gulab Singh).
Middle Stamp: An 8 Annas stamp in green, featuring a different portrait (likely Maharajah Venkat Raman Singh).
Bottom Stamp: A 1 Anna stamp in purple/magenta.
