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Soruth was a feudatory state of India and issued its first stamps in 1864. The stamps were only good for postage in that state. Some examples of Soruth stamps is as follows: Indian writing |
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Indian writing |
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SORUTH POSTAGE |
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SOURASHTRA POSTAGE |
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SAURASHTRA POSTAGE |
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United States of Saurashtra included 217 state of India and and was formed in 1948. It issued and used other state stamps with an overprint for postage. Some examples of United States of Saurashtra stamps and overprints is as follows: U. S. S. REVENUE & POSTAGE SAURASHTRA overprint |
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POSTAGE & REVENUE ONE ANNA (Overprinted on stamps of Soruth.) |
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SARKARI (Overprinted on stamps of Soruth.) |
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Saurashtra forms the western part of Indian peninsula and constitutes a part of the state of Gujarat. It harboured one of the largest concentration of princely states in India before 1948. Out of these, Morvi, Dhrangadhara and Nawanagar issued currency notes of limited liability known indigenously as ‘Hawalas’. These were issued during the currency exigencies experienced in World War I (1914-1918). They are simple in design and have minor security features such as embossed vignettes, microtin and underprints.
Kutch planned an issue of its own Paper currency sometimes in 1942-1948. These notes were to be printed by Water low and sons, London, but never issued. They are known from a sole set of security drawings and specimens resting in Kachchh Museum, Bhuj.
World War II broke out in September 1939 and the British took a severe beating until 1941. There was a serious crunch in metallic supplies during the war and small change emission was hit worst. In response to this emergency, many Princely States in India, some of them tiny and insignificant, issued coupons to replace coins of low denominations. These states were located in western India, within Gujarat, Rajasthan, Sind, Baluchistan and Central Provinces. The legality of this measure is a debated aspect but it appears that the coupons were issued in a strictly regimented and standardized manner, mainly from state treasuries or banks under state patronage. Most of them bear same designs as state fiscal stamps but the paper differs in being pressboard. Primary study indicates that the coupons reached a wide circulation, with some of them remaining current as late as 1946.
Currency issues of the following states have been classified (Total 36):
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§ Ambaliara |
§ Bajana |
§ Balwan |
§ Bamra |
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§ Bantwa Baramajmu |
§ Bikaner |
§ Bhilka |
§ Bundi |
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§ Chuda |
§ Dewas Junior |
§ Dewas Senior |
§ Dhar |
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§ Dhrol |
§ Gondal |
§ Indargarh |
§ Jaisalmer |
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§ Jaora |
§ Jasdan |
§ Junagadh |
§ Kalat |
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§ Khadal |
§ Khairpur |
§ Mangrol |
§ Mengani |
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§ Morvi |
§ Muli |
§ Nawalgarh |
§ Nawanagar |
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§ Palitana |
§ Porbandar |
§ Rajkot |
§ Sailana |
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§ Sayla |
§ Sitamau |
§ Tonk |
§ Vithalgadh |
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As a part of British Empire that often remained outside the theatres of war, India served as a safe haven for housing the Prisoners of War. Camps were set up, often in places situated in the hinterland, during the Boer War and the two World Wars. The monetary transactions in these camps were facilitated by use of Coupons, as other forms of currency were prone to be forged by the inmates and as such were a source of impending economic danger. The first ever use of such Coupons is said to have been facilitated in the aftermath of the Revolt of 1857.
During the Boer War, camps were situated in the fortified towns of Bellary, Ahmednagar and Trichinopoly. Out of these camps, Coupons for monetary use are so far known only for the Trichinopoly camp and its branch at Kaity in the Nilgiris.
Several camps were created to house the German, Italian and Japanese prisoners during World War II and a complete listing of camps using monetary Coupons have been appended. Certain small Coupons used in the Central Internment Camp, located at Ahmednagar or Dehradun are also included.
In the aftermath of the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971, Coupons were issued for the use of Pakistani prisoners. However, the location of these camps is still a mystery.
Currencies in this section have been classified in:
§ Anglo-Boer War
§ World War II
