The Feudatory State of Bamra

Bamra was a princely state in the Orissa States Agency of the Bengal Presidency, currently a part of the Indian State of Odisha. It was one of the most obscure states of India, if not for its philatelic adventures.

Founded in 1545 by Raja Ram Chandra Deb of the Gangabasi dynasty, Bamra remained a subsidiary of the Sambalpur feudatory, till its lapse in 1848, after which it went to the British fold. The region was heavily forested and hilly, and the state had strong tribal traditions, the most prominent of the tribes being the Bhuyias and the Khonds.

Raja Sudhal Deo (1869-1903) was a forward-thinking poet who made a lot of effort to prioritise education and development in the state. He opened many schools and encouraged the study of Odia and Sanskrit. He improved taxation, built roads and worked towards the overall betterment of his people while maintaining cordial relations with the British.

Bamra became a part of the Union of India on 1st January 1948, probably against the wishes of the then king. Today, it is a part of the Western Odisha.

Stamps of Bamra

Raja Sudhal Deo issued the first stamps of Bamra, probably around 1888. The apparent reason for Bamra issuing its stamps was the region’s inaccessibility. While the British Postal Service serviced the capital Deogarh, the remote areas had no connectivity. The state might have been encouraged to keep issuing more stamps later on to fullfil the philatelic curiosities of collectors.

The stamps of Bamra were printed using typography. The same plate of 96 stamps produced denominations of ¼ anna, 1 anna, and 2 anna. The stamps were printed imperforate, without gum and on various grades of cheap paper. The layout was changed in 1890 but both designs remained in print. 

Bamra was the only state to issue stamps in Odia. The first set contained “MASUL (Post) TA (Tanka) <denomination>” while the second set only had the cost in TANKA/ ANNA or PAISA. All stamps carried an image of an elephant trunk holding a wooden log, the alignment of which varies widely. 

Bamra stamps became obsolete in 1894 when the state post merged with the British postal system for good.