BARODA STATE POSTAL HISTORY

The earliest recorded Baroda State postmark is the "Postage Paid" type date stamp from the Indian Post Office at Baroda in manuscript dated 26 March 1843 on a letter from a British officer to England, which arrived on 13 May. Another early example is a cover to Broach, with a "Paid" type date stamp (date inserted) on the back dated 26 October 1855, plus a diamond-shaped obliterator numeral 28.

Early “Postage Paid” Postmark of Baroda dated 26th March 1843	“Postage Paid” Postmark of Baroda dated 26 October 1855

Bombay Numbered Obliterator or Barred Duplex (Type A-4) was introduced in 1855, featuring bars broken in the center to hold a number identifying the office. Baroda, in the Bombay circle, was assigned number 28. These obliterators remained in use until 1873. Single-arc date stamps were issued in the Bombay Circle from 1858. Examples are known from Baroda and Navsari (NOWSAREE in Red). Also examples of single circle postmarks in smaller size used in 1870 (in red) and 1874 (in black) are noted from Baroda and Dabhoi.

Circular Date Stamp with "W./BARODA/GUJARAT" is unrecorded in Jal Cooper's Early India Cancellations, though Brig. Virk notes an example from Ahmednagar. Likely from the Bombay Presidency era, it appears to be very scarce. While intended as a canceller, the example shows it used as a delivery mark.

All-India Duplex-type obliterators were introduced in 1861 and used until 1873, featuring the obliterator enclosed in a circle alongside a date stamp with the post office name at the top. The example shown below is from BARODA S. & D. [Sudder (Head) and Disbursing office].

Bardoa S & D Cover		Bardoa S & D Postmark

The All-India Series of obliterators was introduced in 1873 and used until 1884. Each postal circle received a letter—typically the initial of its name—and was divided into regions under Disbursing Offices. These oversaw Head Offices and their Branch Offices. Date stamps from this period omitted the year.

Baroda Disbursing Office was assigned number 17, with "B" denoting the Bombay circle. Below are examples featuring the B-17 obliterator:

• Baroda City, with two parallel bars above B-17 and three below, dated MAY. 9 (month first).


• Baroda City R.H. (Receiving House), where the two lower bars are broken at center to insert numeral "1" (indicating the Baroda City R.H. Branch reporting directly to the Disbursing Office). Date format: 7 MAR. (date first). The Baroda Philatelic Society has adopted this postmark as its logo.


• An envelope registered from Baroda City R.H. on 1.7.1880 to Baroda City (delivery mark dated July 2). It bears the B-17 obliterator but omits the date stamp and arc office name; a separate Baroda R.H. date stamp (Jul. 1) appears alongside.


• Baroda Camp, where "6" denotes the Baroda Camp Head Office reporting to the Disbursing Office.

Baroda City B-17 Postmark	Baroda R. H. Postmark	Baroda R. H. Postmark	Baroda Camp Postmark

Example of Baroda R.H. (Receiving House) CDS on Cover

Vijapore (Vijapur) 9/B-2/1 Postmark on Postcard	Vijapore (Vijapur) 9/B-2/1 Postmark

In 1880, duplex round obliterators (Type 19-A) were introduced, featuring a circle letter. Known examples bear the words "BARODA," "BARODA CITY," and the letter "B" of the Bombay circle. The year is omitted from these postmarks, which remained in use until 1885.

Squared circle obliterators appeared in 1883. These combined a date stamp and obliterator, formed by adding several bars outside a single circle, tangent to it and tapering to squared corners. Like their round counterparts, examples exist for "BARODA," "BARODA CITY," and "VISNAGAR."

For Baroda, date formats vary: one example shows "SE 16 89" (month first), while another reads "13 JU 93" (date first). Sizes also differ—the first measures 18 × 18 mm with four bars, and the second 21 × 21 mm with three bars. "BARODA CITY" examples measure 21 × 21 mm with three bars and follow the first date pattern. These obliterators were used until 1910.

Baroda Duplex Round Obliterator on Postcard	Baroda Duplex Round Obliterator
Baroda City Squared Circle Postmark on Postcard	Baroda and Visnagar Squared Circle Postmarks

Single Circle date stamps were introduced in the late 1880s. Early examples from Baroda, Baroda Camp, Dabhoi, Chandod, Wadnagar (Vadnagar), Beejapore (Vijapur), and Patan feature the post office name and date in a straight line.

Later variants show the post office name in an arc, including examples from Baroda Camp, Baroda Ry. Stn. (BO), Baroda R.H., Baroda, Agas R.S./B.O., Kosindra B.O., Dabhow, Gada B.O., Dabhoi, Unjha B.O., Gozaria B.O., Patan, Kadi, Mehsana R.M.S., Vijapur B.O., and Vadnagar.

Use of single circle date stamps persisted into the late 1940s.

Examples of Single Circle Postmarks	Agas R.S. Single Circle Postmark on Postcard

Double Circle combined date stamps (Type A-23) were introduced by 1894 and used until 1926. These lack an hour indication, with segments of the inner circle filled by vertical obliterating lines. An example from Baroda reads "BARODA / Z 14 AU 94" and measures 25 mm.

Similar postmarks with a time slug (Type A-24) were used from 1896 to 1926; an example appears here from Baroda City. Variants of this type are also recorded for Sidhpur, Patan, Kalol, and Vijapur in the Kadi Division. Larger postmarks measuring 30 mm are also noted.

Double Circle Combined Date Stamps of Baroda and Sidhpur

Examples of Double Circle Combined Date Stamps with Obliterating Arc	Example of Double Circle Combined Date Stamp with Obliterating Arc of Vijapore

Double circle combined date stamps with an obliterating arc and hour slug below the date were used between 1910 and 1936, or possibly later. Examples are recorded from Baroda; Baroda Residency (two variants with differing arc sizes); Lehripura; Fatepura; Baroda RMS; Vaso; and Padra (Baroda Division); Harij; Sidhpur; Vijapur; Visnagar; Kadi; and Mehsana (Kadi Division); Dhari (Amreli Division); and Navsari.

A variant features two small arc segments within the circle, noted from Nar (without hour); Baroda R.M.S./Set-3; Savli; and Freelandganj (Baroda Division); Vijapur; Dhinoj; Patan; Kalol; and Sidhpur (Kadi Division); and Bilimora (Navsari Division), all suffixed "Baroda State." An Amreli example bears the suffix "Bhavnagar."

Examples of Double Circle Combined Date Stamps with Obliterating Arc	Example of Double Circle Combined Date Stamp with Obliterating Arc of Vijapore

H.R.H. the Prince of Wales visited Baroda during his Indian tour. Laxmi Vilas Palace served as his residence for the two-day stay on 23–24 November 1921. A specially designed postmark—featuring the Royal Crest of feathers and the inscription "H.R.H. THE PRINCE OF WALES' CAMP P.O." in a single circle—was used throughout India, Burma, and Nepal during the tour.

At Baroda, the "H.R.H. THE PRINCE OF WALES' CAMP P.O." postmark (Type Sp-11), dated 24 November 1921, was employed. An example is shown above. Usage of other types remains unrecorded.

Double circle postmarks containing only the date (no hour) are recorded from the following locations:

Baroda Division: Baroda; Khanderao Market; Baroda Residency; Dabhow BO; Karnali BO; Piploi BO; Sadhi BO; Ranoli BO; Waghodia BO; Dabhoi; Lehripura; Vadu; Padra; and Savli.

Navsari Division: Vesma; Vyara; and Pacchiapura.

Amreli Division: Okha Port and Chhala BO.

Kadi Division: Randheja BO; Patan; Harij; Gothwa BO; Gozaria BO; Lodra BO; Ranuj; Balva BO; Vasai Dabhla; Adraj Merda BO; Ambliyasan; Atarsumba; Bechraji; Chanasma; Kheralu; and Visnagar—some with or without the "Baroda State" suffix.

Additional variants include Unava Balva (suffixed "N. GUJARAT") and Bet BO (Okhamandal; suffixed "KATHIAWAR DT").

Similarly, double circle postmarks with date and time—suffixed "Baroda State"—are recorded from Ambliyasan and Kalol (Kadi Division) and Bilimora (Navsari Division).

Under the 1944 Attachment Scheme, Bilkha, Vadia, Bahana, Manda, and Malpur states were attached to Baroda State. Examples include "TIMBA TARANGA / B.O. / 2 NOV 49 / BARODA ATTACHED AREA" and "SUIGAM / B.O. / 13 OCT 47 / BARODA ATTACHED AREA," shown below.

Double circle postmarks for specialized postal services are also recorded. An example, "BARODA / VPR / 31 MAY 44," appears in India Post #115 (noted by Mr. Ashok Bayanwala). Similar postmarks exist for Registration (REG.), Telegram (TEL.), Parcel (PAR.), and V.P.P.

Double Circle Postmarks

Double Circle Postmark of Kalol on Postcard	Double Circle Postmark of Bilimora on Postcard

Rectangular combined date stamps with slogans include examples bearing "Support the Jubilee Fund," "Increase your business by using Trunk Telephone," and "Buy Post Office Cash Certificates" (the latter from Baroda and Navsari). These were used between 1933 and 1947.

Rectangular Combined Date Stamp with slogan

Comet-type combined date stamps are recorded from Kalol (Gujarat); Sidhpur (suffixed "Baroda State"); Sojitra; and Baroda Residency. Two examples are shown below. These cancellations were used between 1940 and 1947.

A "Pre-Paid Postage" system for bulk mailings was introduced in 1889. By 1900, a special oval postmark inscribed "POSTAGE PAID IN CASH" appeared; this was later revised to "POSTAGE PRE-PAID IN CASH."

Kalol Comet type combined date stamp	Baroda Residency Comet type combined date stamp	Baroda Prepaid in Cash

Octagonal Travelling Post Office (TPO) postmarks, used mainly in India during the 1870s and 1880s, served the Railway Mail Service (RMS). Type 22 features an octagonal frame with inscriptions indicating the railway line and the town from which the letter traveled to its destination. Below is an example, dated Jan 3 (year omitted), bears a T/B/2/B/1 postmark, likely a late use in 1888. This unpaid entire, marked for postage due, traveled from Baroda to Ahmedabad.

Example of TPO Postmark of Baroda	Baroda TPO Postmark

A recorded meter franking example from the Department of Electricity, Baroda State, reads "BARODA P.O. 'EL.D.B.M.' B-344" [Half Anna], dated 2 June 1950—a notably late usage. Examples of various delivery marks from Baroda, Kadi, and Miyagam Karjan are shown here.

BARODA P.O. 'EL.D.B.M.' B-344" Meter Franking

Even after Independence, postmarks suffixed "BARODA STATE" continued in use for several years.