BRITISH FORCES IN EGYPT

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1 BRITISH FORCES IN EGYPT British Forces in Egypt Introduction 1 - Introduction BRITISH FORCES IN EGYPT The exhibit shows the postal concessions, the stamps (complete), varieties and covers from the period. 1. Introduction 2. Concession for use of British military stamps 3. The stamps 4. Concession unwinding the British stamps After buying 44 % of the Suez Canal shares in 1875, Great Britain occupied Egypt in 1882 to protect their economic interests; this led to a de facto control of the country. In 1936 Egypt got sovereignty, but British forces remained in Egypt until December 1956 when the Suez Crisis was close to an end. From the British Forces used their own stamps, the so called seals or letter stamps, however only for normal surface letters and cards to UK and the Irish Free State. The Forces delivered the mail in bags to the Egyptian Post, which forwarded the shipments the same way as other mail sent abroad. The postage rates for the British were reduced compared to all other Egyptian mail sent abroad. The stamps were only sold in the canteens of NAAFI (Navy, Army & Air Force Institutes). The letters had to be posted in military mail boxes, were they posted in civil ones, they were taxed as unpaid. 11 different stamps were used, numbered in Stanley Gibbons from A1 to A11. They were only sold cash from booklets containing five blocks of 20 stamps. It was free sale of all stamps except for number A10; only ten copies of this stamp were available pro person. The stamps were to be placed on the back of the cover and cancelled with a so called retta obligator, delivered by the Egyptian Postal Administration. Postage prepaid Stamp with retta-cancel Cancel from military post office On the front there was to be placed a postage prepaid-cancel, also delivered by the Egyptian Postal Administration and a datestamp from the military post office (M.P.O.) were the letter was delivered. If delivered at a unit without M.P.O., the cover was to be cancelled with an ordinary Egyptian date stamp at a nearby civil Egyptian post office, all according to arrangements. This postal concession lasted to 1. Mars 1936, then Army Post stamps featuring King Faud were introduced. These stamps were printed and delivered by the Egyptian Postal Administration. The letter seals could be used until March 15th. The retta- and postage prepaid-cancels were not applied on the Army Post-stamps, and they are not a part of this collection. Army Post stamp introduced Bjørn Myhre Page 1 of 19 egypt-forces32-36.doc

Concession for use of British military stamps 3. The stamps 4.

2 British Forces in Egypt Concession for use of British stamps 2 - Concession for use of British stamps Copy of Postal Concession (reduced) concerning a.o. new, reduced postage rates to Great Britain and the Irish Free State for British personnel and their families & intro of the British seals Bjørn Myhre Page 2 of 19 egypt-forces32-36.doc

Postal Concession (reduced) concerning a.o. new, reduced postage rates to Great Britain

3 3 - A1 Both the imperforated proofs and the issued stamps were printed by Messrs. Hanbury Tomsett & Co. Ltd., Willesden, London in sheets of 80. These were split into 4 panes of 20. Pair of rare imperforate proof without text. Only one sheet of eighty stamps is known Proof. Forty-five imperforate sheets of eighty stamps are known The A1-stamp was issued 1 st November It was sold from booklets of 5 panes of 20 (4 x 5) stamps printed. A1-13 line from ornament to frame A1-19 I hooked in first I in BrItish Misplaced perfs. Cover with A1 cancelled MPO Moascar and Crown/numeral #8 Bjørn Myhre Page 3 of 19 egypt-forces32-36.doc

Forty-five imperforate sheets of eighty stamps are known The A1-stamp was issued 1 st November 1932. It was sold from booklets of 5 panes of 20 (4 x 5).

4 Cover to England cancelled with black retta and the scarce M.P.O. with wide space P.. O. Moascar 3. JA 33 and the very scarce crown / number Postage prepaid no. 7 cancel. This was reported lost om March 6 th piastre was correct postage rate for covers to UK and Ireland up to 20g. Bjørn Myhre Page 4 of 19 egypt-forces32-36.doc

This was reported lost om March 6 th 33.

5 3 - A3 Greyish paper Issued 26 th NO 32, printed by Messrs Walker & Co, Amalgamated Press, Cairo. Sold from booklets with 5 panes of 20 (5 x 4). Margins on all 4 sides. Last day of sale 31 st DE printed Blue paper Open cover with Christmas card with 3 milliemes A3 on blue paper to England cancelled with violet retta and M.P.O. Moascar 9. DE 32 and Crown / numeral #8. Backstamped London 15 DE 32 Open cover with Christmas card with postage 3 milliemes A3 on grayish paper to England cancelled with black retta and curved MPO Cairo 18 DE 32 and Crown / numeral #5 Bjørn Myhre Page 5 of 19 egypt-forces32-36.doc

41 857 printed Blue paper Open cover with Christmas card with 3 milliemes A3 on blue paper to England cancelled with violet retta and M.P.O. Moascar 9.

6 3 - A2 Stamp A2 issued in August 33, again printed by Messrs. Hanbury Tomsett & Co. Ltd., Willesden, London. Sold from booklets with 4 panes of 20 with margins on all four sides stamps printed A2-4 Filled in A in SEAL A2-11 blob I in BritIsh A2-15 Line across E in SEAL Letter to England cancelled with violet retta and with M.P.O. Moascar 10. NO 33 and with Postage prepaid crown / numeral #3 Bjørn Myhre Page 6 of 19 egypt-forces32-36.doc

516 000 stamps printed A2-4 Filled in A in SEAL A2-11 blob I in BritIsh A2-15 Line across E in SEAL Letter to

7 3 - A4 Issued 13 th NO 33, printed by Messrs Walker & Co, Amalgamated Press, Cairo. Sold from booklets with 5 panes of 20 (5 x 4). Margins on all 4 sides. Last day of sale 31 st DE stamps printed Open cover with Christmas card with 3 milliemes A4 to England with curved MPO Cairo 20 DE 33 and Postage prepaid crown / numeral #6 Bjørn Myhre Page 7 of 19 egypt-forces32-36.doc

8 3 - A7 Mark of A7: Blind perf. at top Variety plate B position 17 Plate B -17. In bottom left Piastre P is not joined to frame. Issued June 1 st Printed in sheets of 40 by Messrs. Harrison and Sons Ltd., London stamps printed. Cover to England cancelled with black retta and MPO Cairo 2 JN 34 and Postage prepaid Crown / numeral #22 Bjørn Myhre Page 8 of 19 egypt-forces32-36.doc

Printed in sheets of 40 by Messrs. Harrison and Sons Ltd., London. 250 000 stamps printed.

9 3 - A5 Issued 17 th NO 34, printed by Messrs Walker & Co, Amalgamated Press, Cairo. Sold from booklets with 5 panes of 20 (5 x 4). Margins on all 4 sides. Last day of sale 31 st DE printed Var. 11 Hump on Arab s shoulder Variety position 13 thick letters in in E Open cover with Christmas card to England with 3 mills A5 canc. black retta & Alexandria 2 DEC 34 & crown/ numeral #13 Bjørn Myhre Page 9 of 19 egypt-forces32-36.doc

10 3 - A8 Issued December 5 th Printed in sheets of 40 by Messrs. Harrison and Sons Ltd., London. Sold from booklets with panes of stamps printed. A8 Plate B -17 In bottom left Piastre: P not joined to frame. Cover to England with A8 cancelled black retta and M.P.O. Cairo 1 NO 35 and Postage prepaid Crown / numeral #19 Bjørn Myhre Page 10 of 19 egypt-forces32-36.doc

A8 Plate B -17 In bottom left Piastre: P not joined to frame.

11 3 A9-I Mark of A9-1 Blind perf at bottom Complete booklet pane of 20. Issued April 24 th Printed in sheets of 40 by Messrs. Harrison and Sons Ltd., London. Sold from booklets with panes of stamps printed. Cover to England cancelled M.P.O. Cairo (first day) and black retta and Postage prepaid crown / numeral #19. 4 piastres is postage rate for letter between 60 and 80g. Bjørn Myhre Page 11 of 19 egypt-forces32-36.doc

405 000 stamps printed. Cover to England cancelled M.P.O. Cairo 24.4.35 (first day) and black retta and Postage prepaid crown / numeral #19.

12 3 - A10 Issued in booklets of 5 panes of 20. Printed in sheets of 40 by Messrs. Harrison and Sons Ltd., London stamps printed. Only 10 stamps were sold to one person. A10 broken U (pos 6 and 8) Pair, the lower with broken U Abu Qir Civil cancel Bjørn Myhre Page 12 of 19 egypt-forces32-36.doc

27 000 stamps printed. Only 10 stamps were sold to one person.

13 Cover to Scotland cancelled with violet MPO Cairo 8 (6?) Postage prepaid Crown / numeral #23 and black retta. Cover to England cancelled with black M.P.O. Cairo and retta. Postage prepaid Crown / numeral #23 Bjørn Myhre Page 13 of 19 egypt-forces32-36.doc

Cover to England cancelled with black M.P.O. Cairo 23.5.35 and retta.

14 Cover with curved M.P.O. Cairo to Ireland + Crown numeral #22 Postage rate for cover 20-40g. Combination A10 and A8, rare Bjørn Myhre Page 14 of 19 egypt-forces32-36.doc

15 3 - A6 Imperf. proof. Upper left corner block of 4 A6-11 Hump on Arab s shoulder A6-13 thick letters in in E Complete pane of 20 issued (A6 net )and block of 4 issued (A6a net ), both in booklets with 5 panes. Printed by Messrs Walker & Co, Amalgamated Press, Cairo. Last day of sale 31 st DE 34. Open cover with Christmas card to England with 3 mills A6 canc. black retta & M.P.O. Cairo 8 DEC 35 & crown/ numeral #19. London arrival canc. 16 DEC 35. Bjørn Myhre Page 15 of 19 egypt-forces32-36.doc

11 (A6 net 101 100)and block of 4 issued 19.12.35 (A6a net 12 075), both in booklets with 5 panes.

16 3 - A11 Provisional issue for Christmas and New Year cards in open cover copies of A9-I were overprinted. Complete booklet of 5 panes of 20 stamps(4 x 5) Varity Clipped 3 Reduces copies Cover to England with Crown #19 (Cairo) and M.P.O. CAIRO Bjørn Myhre Page 16 of 19 egypt-forces32-36.doc

Complete booklet of 5 panes of 20 stamps(4 x 5) Varity Clipped 3 Reduces copies

17 3 - A9-IIa A9-2 with extra perf at bottom Issued in booklets of 5 panes of 20. Printed in sheets of 40 by Messrs. Harrison and Sons Ltd., London stamps were sold to (included A9-IIb). They were valid to These cancels were used in combination with NAAFI stamps for 15 days only. Cover to Isle of Man cancelled MPO Port-Said 15 MR 36 and purpur retta. Crown/ numeral #10. Bjørn Myhre Page 17 of 19 egypt-forces32-36.doc

36 (included A9-IIb). They were valid to.15.3.36. These cancels were used in combination with NAAFI stamps for 15 days only.

18 3 - A9-IIb A9-IIb with extra perf at top Issued in booklets of 5 panes of 20. Printed in sheets of 40 by Messrs. Harrison and Sons Ltd., London stamps were sold to (included A9-IIb). They were valid to Cover with civil Abu Suwer (Suir) cancellation and Port Said transit slogan same day. Red retta and Crown/ numeral #12 Bjørn Myhre Page 18 of 19 egypt-forces32-36.doc

36 (included A9-IIb). They were valid to.15.3.36. Cover with civil Abu Suwer (Suir) cancellation 15.3.36 and Port Said transit slogan same day.

19 4 - Concession for stop of British stamps and introduction of Egyptian stamps The sale of N.A.A.F.I. stamps ended February 29 th They vere valid for postage until March 15th Bjørn Myhre Page 19 of 19 egypt-forces32-36.doc

EGYPT. Turkish Suzerainty 1866. Sphinx and Pyramid 1867 5PA 10PA 20PA 2PI 5PI 10PI 1PI 5PA 10PA 20PA 1PI 2PI 5PI

EGYPT. Turkish Suzerainty 1866. Sphinx and Pyramid 1867 5PA 10PA 20PA 2PI 5PI 10PI 1PI 5PA 10PA 20PA 1PI 2PI 5PI Turkish Suzerainty 1866 5PA 10PA 20PA 2PI 5PI 10PI 1PI Sphinx and Pyramid 1867 5PA 10PA 20PA 1PI 2PI 5PI Sphinx and Pyramid Typographed, Clear Impression Perforated 12 1/2 by 13 1/2 Clean-cut 1872 5PA