Indian States India VALA Court Fee Revenue 1a Black Used. Faulty copy with tears and thins offered at attractive price and still useful for specialists of the Indian States fiscal history.
Koeppel & Manners #61.

This authentic Vala State Court Fee Revenue stamp represents one of the rare fiscal issues from the princely states of Gujarat, India. Printed in black ink, it bears the inscription “VALA STATE – ONE ANNA” with Gujarati text and a decorative frame typical of early 20th‑century local typographic productions.

Vala was a minor princely state in the Kathiawar region of Gujarat, and—like most small jurisdictions of the area—it never operated an independent postal system. Regular mail was handled through nearby British Indian post offices, while the state’s own administrative functions relied on Court Fee and Revenue stamps, which form the entirety of Vala’s philatelic output. These fiscal adhesives were applied to legal documents, petitions, and official paperwork rather than to postal correspondence. Because Vala’s population and administrative activity were modest, printings were small and usage limited, making surviving examples appealing to specialists of the Indian States for their combination of scarcity and clear local provenance.

This stamp is a good example of regional fiscal history, illustrating the administrative autonomy of smaller princely states before Indian independence. Highly desirable for collectors of Indian States revenues, Gujarat feudatory issues, and classic fiscal philately.

Stamps of the Princely States of India are highly prized items among enthusiasts and discerning collectors. Add a touch of authenticity and refinement to your collection with this treasure from another era, remarkable for its eye-catching and captivating design.

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Haiti Philatelic Society
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