Literature - Convention State Essays

The convention state essays were first discussed in

Convention Essays - Godinho, Philatelic Journal Of India, 1918

Subsequently in 1951 they were also documented in the Robson Lowe - Encyclopaedia of British Empire Postage Stamps where the stamp is depicted and with the description "Kashmir was invited to join the Postal Convention with six other states ... Agreement was not reached but the original suggestion for the overprint is illustrated"

Additional information on the history of Convention State overprints and Rai Daulat Ram Bahadur can be found in the Handbook of Convention States (actual title: British Indian Adhesive Stamps (Queen's Head) Surcharged for Native States) By Stewart-Wilson and Gordon Jones. Snippets from the book are as under.

Patiala was the first to execute a "Convention" treaty with the Imperial Post Office in 1884.

Patiala - We now come to the state, which but for our arbitrary alphabetical arrangement, ought really to have occupied our attention first of all, as it was in connection with enquiries into its postal arrangements that the idea of "conventions" of the nature we have been considering first of all originated, the convention of this nature was entered into with this state, and the first ideas as to over-printing were the outcome of the wishes of Patiala.

The state is administered on modern and highly enlightened lines. A railway has been constructed and canals dug, with the result that the population shows a rapid increase owing to influx from outside.

Its original and very primitive internal postal arrangements were used almost entirely for the transmission of state correspondence, and the need for stamps was not felt. In 1877 , the government of India, feeling that it was important that Native States local stamps should bear a device totally different from that on the stamps of British India, requested that in future no Native State should issue postage stamps of its own without the approval of Government being first obtained to the design. This circular appears to have suggested to the Patiala Council of Regency (for the late Maharaja was then in his minority) the advisability of the state having its own stamps, In the end of 1879, accordingly, it submitted a design for a postage stamp for approval. Unfortunately it has been impossible to secure a copy of this essay.

The Government of India, while raising no objection to the design, suggested that the Punjab Government should endeavour to induce the the Council of Regency to consent to the extension of the Imperial postal system throughout the state. The reply of the Council of Regency did not arrive till 1882, and was to the effect that “ the postal system of the State were complete in themselves, and were framed with reference to the requirements of the state , all the officials employed being Patiala subjects.” As they desired that the existing arrangements might continue, the Government of India did not press its former suggestion , but at the request of the Director-General of the Post Office of India , observed that something should be done to reform the very faulty arrangement for the exchange of correspondence , especially of money orders, between the Imperial Post Office and the Patiala State. It was added that the Director-General of the Post Office of India would be directed to assist the Durbar in working out a new scheme.

The Durbar agreed, and the negotiations on the part of the Imperial Post Office were entrusted to Rai Daulat Ram Bahadur, C.I.E., ( now Post Master General of Gwalior). This was the germ of all the conventions that we have been considering. It was then that the idea of surcharging British India stamps was first heard of.

Gwalior - Gwalior is the fortunate possessor of an unusually efficient postal system, with its head quarters in the capital city of lashkar, and managed by Rai Daulat Ram Bahadu C.I.E, Postmaster General of The State, a Gentlemanwho recently left the service of the Imperial post after a very long and extremely distinguished career, on the same principles as the Imperial BritishIndian Post Office.....The postal convention between the Government of India and H.H Maharaja Scindia was signed on 28th April, 1885, but did not come into force until 1st July of that year.In April 1884 the first request was made by Gwalior Durbar for the preparation of overprinted postage stamps.

It was asked that in addition to the word "Gwalior", they should bear the arms of the state viz the sun and the two serpents. Proofs were printed in compliance with this request but the impression of the arms had perforce to be so small that his Highness decided in September 1884 to have thename of the state printed in Bold letters in English and Hindim and to omit the arms, except in the case of post-cards and embossed envelopes.

Jhind - The Jhind Durbar at first desired to have its stamps overprinted with the State arms as well as with the name and proofs of such a stamp appear to have been made. The design was , however, too cramped and the expense of surcharging would have been very great, so it was abandoned.

Ref.
British Indian Adhesive Stamps (Queen's Head) Surcharded For Native States. Stewart-Wilson, Gordon-Jones
First Edition published in 1897 and the Second Edition published in 1904 in Calcutta. Note that the first discussions on "Convention State Essays" were made in 1883 - the two authors experienced history as it happened !!

Gordon Jones , the co-author of the book of above book on Convention states was also the person who discovered the Convention State Essays.