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Junagarh princely state fiscal court fee/revenue stamp

JUNAGARH                                                                       13  GUN SALUTE STATE


                                   

Junagadh was a princely state in Gujarat ruled by the Muslim Babi or Babai dynasty in British India, until its integration into the Indian Union in 1948. Junagadh state formerly Western India States Agency ; merged into Saurashtra state ; now in Gujarat State. Area of the state was 3,337 Square miles  with a  population of  5,45,152 in 1931.

                Muhammad Sher Khan Babai was the founder of the Babi dynasty of Junagadh State in 1654. His descendants, the Babi Nawabs of Junagadh, conquered large territories in southern Saurashtra.However, during the collapse of the Mughal Empire, the Babis became involved in a struggle with the Gaekwad dynasty of the Maratha Empire over control of Gujarat. Muhammad Sher Khan Babi declared independence from the Mughal governor of Gujarat subah, and founded the state of Junagadh in 1730. This allowed the Babi to retain sovereignty of Junagadh and other princely states. Junagadh was then a tributary to the Maratha Empire, until it came under British suzerainty in 1807, following the Second Anglo-Maratha War.In 1807, the Junagadh State became a British protectorate and The East India Company took control of the state. By 1818, the Saurashtra area, along with other princely states of Kathiawar, were separately administrated under the Kathiawar Agency by British India.

                              In 1947, upon the independence and partition of India, the last Babi dynasty ruler of the state, Muhammad Mahabat Khanji III, decided to merge Junagadh into the newly formed Pakistan. However, the Hindu citizens, who formed the majority of the population, revolted, leading to several events and also a plebiscite, resulting in the integration of Junagadh into India.


General Stamp  :-

Type  1  :- 1942-46 , Size 40 x 30 mm. Printed with Purple on thick card board . It was used as a revenue stamp as well as a cash coupon as a coin during the period of IInd world war when the nation was facing acute shortage of coins.  General stamp printed in Gujrati in the top panel above state seal of oval shape  with JUNAGADH STATE in English and Saurashtra in Gujrati  in rectangular  shape with plain background . Denomination EK  AANO in Gujrati with 1 numeral in between Ek and Aano in the left hand panel  vertically  .

One Anna , Magenta , Ref. # 11 
One Anna , Magenta , Ref. # 11
One Paisa , Green , Ref. # 10
Two Paisa , Orange , Ref. # 12 
 


Court  fees  Stamps :--

Type – 5  - Used in 1913-30 AD, size 31 x 25 ½  mm. ,  Rouletted , Wove paper.  There are 2 sub types in this type . (A) Value letters in Green colour on white ground. (B) Value letters in white colour on Green ground.  

One Anna, Yellow Green, Ref.  # 51A 

Type – 12  - used in 1924 AD, size 57 x 30 mm. ,  Perf .13 ¼ , Wove paper.   

One Anna, Yellow Green, Ref.  # 121 


Four Annas, Greenish Blue / Orange ,  Ref. # 163 

(Overprinted ,“ UNITED STATE OF SAURASHTRA” which shows that the stamp was used after independence )

Type – 27  - Used in 1928 AD , Size 60 x 32 ½   mm. ,  Wove paper. Same as court fee type 14 except for colour change.   

One Anna , Deep Crimson , Ref. # 271a ( Imperf. With false roulette lines) 

Stamp of Chief Judicial Officer






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