This red stamp from the Bhopal Government features the state’s coat of arms, prominently displaying a central shield with a tower and surrounding stars, flanked by stylized fish motifs — a recurring heraldic element symbolizing Bhopal. The stamp carries the inscription “ONE ANNA” at the top and “BHOPAL GOVT.” along the right edge. The bold black overprint “SERVICE” indicates its exclusive use for official government correspondence.

Philatelic Significance:
Issued during the British Indian era, this stamp represents the administrative autonomy of Bhopal State within the Indian postal system. The “Service” overprint marks it as part of the official category of postage, used internally by the state’s departments. Collectors value such issues for their regional history and overprint variations, which often show differences in font or alignment.