The Feudatory State of Jaipur

Jaipur was a Princely State in the Jaipur Residency of the Rajputana Agency, presently the Indian State of Rajasthan. Established by the Kachhwaha Rajputs of Amber in the 11th Century AD, the kingdom played an important role in the geopolitics of medieval India.

The Kingdom of Amber was founded in 1090 AD when Dulha Rai of Gwalior migrated to Dausa and started his rule with the support of the Chahamanas. The kingdom remained a vassal of the larger Mewar state of Udaipur till the 15th Century. Amber’s ruler fought alongside Rana Sanga of Mewar in the Battle of Khanwa.

As the Mughals started gaining strength, Amber drifted away from the sphere of influence of Mewar and aligned with Delhi. Raja Man Singh I and Raja Jai Singh served as distinguished Generals of different Mughal Emperors. Raja Jai Singh also founded the city of Jaipur.

Aurangazeb accorded the title of Sawai to Raja Jai Singh I. However, the two fell apart after the escape of Chhatrapati Shivaji from Delhi, for which Jai Singh was suspected of abettment. The decline of Jaipur began soon after.

The kingdom fell into chaos after the death of Sawai Jai Singh II. A civil war ensued between his sons Iswari Singh and Madho Singh, which drained the state of scarce resources and weakened it further. Maratha raids added to the pain and the state came under the thumb of the East India Company for protection and entered into a subsidiary alliance in 1818.

Jaipur acceded to the Dominion of India in 1947 and was integrated into the Rajasthan state of India. The ruler of Jaipur was allowed to retain the title of Maharaja and pension, privileges that were finally abolished in 1971.

Stamps of Jaipur

Sawai Madho Singh II brought Jaipur to India’s philatelic map with the issue of the Chariot stamps on 14th July 1904. The design had an image of the Sun on a chariot embedded inside a square frame. The frame was surrounded by text in reading JAIPUR STATE in English and SAWAI JAIPUR in Devanagari, with denominations on both sides in two scripts. The stamps were designed and printed locally using lithography and were not as fine as the later stamps. The stamps were issued with gum and pin perforated 14. 

A few months after the first stamps, new prints arrived from London. The new design had the denomination in English in the corners while the text contained the name in three scripts – English, Devanagari and Persian. Later the second designs were printed at the State Press with a much cruder design and texts only in English and Devanagari. 

In 1931, Jaipur printed its most famous set of stamps – to commemorate the Investiture of Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II. This set of 12 stamps was printed in London and depicted various aspects of Jaipur. The value of the stamps varied from Quarter anna to Five Rupees. Though their shapes were different, the general layout was the same. Denominations were inscribed in Persian and Devanagari while JAIPUR STATE and POSTAGE/ POSTAGE AND REVENUE were printed at the top and the bottom. The top corners contained patterns while the bottom corner contained denominations in English numerals. 

The second commemorative set was issued in 1947, celebrating the Silver Jubilee of Sawai Raja Man Singh II. This set of 9 stamps depicted architectural symbols of the kingdom of Jaipur with a portrait of the Maharaja. The Chariot remained in one stamp. 

The portrait of Sawai Raja Man Singh II, first used in 1931, remained in print for a long time and was also used when the state was in a transition period before being taken over by the India Post in 1947. The stamps were also used with overprint RAJASTHAN after independence.