The native states of India, also known as feudatory or princely states, were typically vassals under a local or regional ruler who owed allegiance to the British Raj. There were about 675 native states in all but many were not parts of British India proper because they never become possessions of the British Crown. Rather, they were tied to it in a system of subsidiary alliances. A total of 40 different states issued stamps prior to 1947. Bahawalpur was a princely state to the east of the Punjab in India. Nawab Sadiq Muhammad Kahn Abbasi V ruled over the state from 1907 through 1947. The first postage stamps of the state were issued during its brief period of independence: August 15 through October 5, 1947. When the Amir acceded to Pakistan, these stamps were withdrawn.The stamps are overprinted copies of the Raj King George VI stamps of India. The overprints were typeset in either red or black. After these stamps were withdrawn, the state, as a part of Pakistan, continued to issue stamps for internal use until 1953. Todays stamp is from 1947 and have a face value of 14 Anna.