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 38 different states issued stamps prior to 1900. Bhopal was a princely state of central India in the Bhopal Agency. It became part of the Bhopal state of India from 1947-56, then was integrated into the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. Nawab Shah Jahan Began, who ruled from 1868-1901, issued the first stamps in 1876. The stamps were lithographed in sheets of 20. They were issued imperforate, without gum. An embossed octagon in Urdu constitutes the central part of the design. They became obsolete in 1950. Todays stamp is from the first issue in 1867-77. It has a face value of ½ Anna and the inscription: “H: H: Nawab Shah Jahan Begam”. CV is 35 $.