British India was divided into several administrative categories. There was the Presidency India, which comprised of states ruled by British Governors under the Viceroy.
The other category was the Native Ruled India. This comprised of 552 Samasthaans ruled by native rulers known variously as Maharajas, Maharanas, Rajas, Ranas, Raos, Nawabs, Nizam, and other miscellaneous titles. Some were very large, drawing very large revenues. Some were very small. The States were classified into A.B,C. etc., categories. The categories depended upon the special rights, privileges, articles of protocol, and marks of respect like the gun-salute. Certain most privileged states had the right of issuing their own stamps and coinage.
