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Introduction to Philately in Egypt |
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Egyptian Postal history
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Egypt at the geographic conjunction
of East and West and combining the exoticism of the one and the sophistication
of the other stands at the heart of the Middle East and is in many ways the
most important country on the African continent.
The ancient land has always held an almost mystical fascination for the outside
world. One reason for that fascination is how in a manner unique to its
particular conditions. The history and tradition of millennia are preserved and
remain visible both in the land and its people. The culture of the West has
been shaped to a large degree by Egypt: not without good reason is the land of
the pharaohs referred to as the cradle of civilization.
One must travel back in time some fifty centuries to span the history of the
land of the Nile which encompasses the rise of settled peoples, the splendours
of the pharaohs the earliest achievements of Christianity and the glories of
Islam. Something of the glamour and mystery of Egypt pervades even its postal
history and postage stamps.
This study illustrates the development of Egyptian postal history spanning the
various historical periods up to the beginning of the twentieth century and
depicts the changing patterns of Egypt's postal character. It covers the
majority of Egyptian philatelie elements whose designs remained traditional
throughout the periods in question.
This cover from Venice, addressed to: Spectabilj et Egregion viro domino,
Blasio Dolphino honorando Ventorum, Consul Alesandrie vel frater carissimo
" The Venician Consul of Alexndira" where it was received on October
11, 1419. ex. Gilbert.
The postal history of Egypt is long and complex, like its general history, and
it impinges on the postal history of a large number of other countries owing to
geographical location at a nexus of world trade routes. In the nineteenth
century, six different countries (Austria, France, Great Britain, Greece,
Italy, and Russia) operated extra-territorial post offices in Egypt, while at
the same time Egypt had its own post offices in the Ottoman Empire at places
that today are in nine different countries (Eritrea, Greece, Israel, Lebanon,
Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Turkey).
Egypt had the first handstamped postal markings of Africa and was the first
non-colonial African country to issue stamps as well as the first to print its
own stamps. It was a pioneer in the issue of stamp booklets, the use of air
mail, and the use of photogravure for stamp production.
The military postal history of Egypt is especially involved starting with the
Napoleonic occupation and followed by the British campaigns on Egyptian soil in
1882 and 1884-1885. The last is notable for including Canadian, Indian, and New
South Wales contingents, with interesting but very rare philatelic
consequences. The two World Wars involved Egypt intensively and the presence of
troops of many different countries, many of which had their own army postal
services, produced exceptionally complex military postal history. In more
recent times, wars with Israel over Palestine, the defense of the Suez Canal,
military involvement in Yemen, and participation in the United Nations
peace-keeping forces have produced many facets to the subject.
It is fair to say that the philately of Egypt is among the richest of all the
world's countries. This gives it great fascination for those collectors who are
not daunted by it; most collectors, however, devote their attentions to
manageable sections, such as a period or reign, an issue are subject such as
air mails or military posts.
Only 8 letters recorded with Bonapart's signature in Egypt.
This letter signed by Napoleon Bonaparat General en Chef at the Heaquarters in
Cairo on 18.6.1799, the 30th prairal year 7, to General Administrator
Pousseilgue asking him to put aside the 20 best pelts from Emir Hadj and give
instead 4 ordinary ones to Subgeneral Reynier to clothe the Sheikhs of
Scharkie, Napoleon made his triumphal re-entry into Cairo on June 14th and
defeted the Turks at Abou Kir on July 25th the same year 1799.
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Rotary Club of Geziret El Roda is willing to
help, encourage and promote the Egyptian Philately among Rotarians and others
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© Copyright Samir Amin Fikry
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