Postage stamps and postal history of Egypt

This is a survey of the postage stamps and postal history of Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...

. Handstamps were first introduced during the Napoleonic period, 1798-1800. Single line handstamps are known from "ALEXANDRIE", "LE CAIRE", "BENESOUEF" and "SIOUTH".

Carlo Meratti, an Italian, set up the first postal system in Egypt in 1821. This was a private enterprise which in 1842 was named "POSTA EUROPEA". The Egyptian Government, in 1857, sanctioned it to carry on all inland postal services. This concession was purchased by the Egyptian Government and on 1 January 1865 it took control of this service. This service was renamed to "POSTE VICE-REALI EGIZIAN".

First Egyptian stamps were issued on 1 January 1866. Egypt joined the UPU

Upu

Upu, also called Apu , was the region surrounding Damascus of the 1350 BC Amarna letters. Damascus was named Dimašqu/Dimasqu/ etc. Upu, also called Apu (and Ubi or Upi by some authors), was the region surrounding Damascus of the 1350 BC Amarna letters. Damascus was named Dimašqu/Dimasqu/ etc. Upu,...

in 1875.

British, French, Italian, Austrian, Russian and Greek post offices operated on Egyptian soil, particularly in Alexandria

Alexandria

Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...

and Port Said

Port Said

Port Said is a city that lies in north east Egypt extending about 30 km along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, north of the Suez Canal, with an approximate population of 603,787...

.

British troops used special stamps inscribed BRITISH FORCES IN EGYPT or ARMY POST EGYPT.

After independence, Egypt Post

Egypt Post

Egypt Post is the company responsible for postal service in Egypt.Egypt Post, established in 1865, is one of the oldest and most time-honored Egyptian institutions, which enjoys the trust of its customers, amounting to more than 15 million...

was used. Stamps were labeled "United Arab Republic

United Arab Republic

The United Arab Republic , often abbreviated as the U.A.R., was a sovereign union between Egypt and Syria. The union began in 1958 and existed until 1961, when Syria seceded from the union. Egypt continued to be known officially as the "United Arab Republic" until 1971. The President was Gamal...

" or more commonly UAR from 1959-1971.

Egyptian post offices in foreign countries

Post offices in Sudan, the Turkish Empire and in East Africa were opened by the Egyptian postal administration. No special stamps were used just normal Egyptian stamps; so they can only be identified by the cancellation.

SUDAN – according to records a total of 27 post offices were opened in Sudan – but cancellations are known only from 11 of these. Egyptian stamps were in use in Sudan between 1867 and 1897.

TURKISH EMPIRE – a total of twenty post offices were opened in the Turkish Empire; the locations are now Turkey, Greece, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Syria. These were in operation for only a few years between 1865 and 1881.

EAST AFRICA – four post offices were opened in what is now Somalia and one in present day Eritrea. They were open between 1867 and 1885.

Egyptian post offices in foreign countries

See also

External links

Further reading