British stamps overprinted for use in the Middle East : Kuwait This is an independent Arab sheikhdom, the richest oil state in the Arabian Gulf. It has a very interesting postal history, including a desert express camel service operated by the East India Company in the late 18th century. Fearing Turkish attack, Kuwait sought a treaty of protection with Britain in 1899, reaffirmed in 1914 and again by treaty in 1961, which is why the British stamps were overprinted. The currency was Indian (annas and rupees) until 1961 when it was changed to 1000 fils = 1 Kuwait dinar. the postal administration was operated under British administration from 1st April 1948 until 31 January 1959. This set of nine values was issued 1950-51 This information was sourced from the Stamp Atlas by Stuart Rossiter and John Flower. British stamps overprinted for use in Morocco : English currency. In 1949, the Morocco Agencies overprints were issued for use in Tetuan, which was in the Spanish Zone, the only remaining British Post Office, apart from Tangier. On 3rd May 1951, seven of the values were replaced. The five low values with the new colours, altered to conform to the new U.P.U. Regulations, and the opportunithy was taken to substitute the 2/6d and the 5/- with the new stamps issued as part of the celebrations for the 'Festival of Britain'. Stamps overprinted 'MOROCCO AGENCIES' were withdrawn from sale December 31st 1956 The Tangier International Zone. This Zone was established in 1914, and the first specially printed stamps were issued in 1927. The first stamp for George VI was the coronation stamp, overprinted TANGIER, in May 1937. The overprint is very hard to read but it has TANGIER on the left and the right. The first three stamps of the definitive series issued for George VI were the ½d, 1d and 1½d in June, June and August 1937 respectively.     Note that the 1½d has the control number B37 unlike the other two values, showing that it was printed in the second half of the accounting period. Cylinders 1,12 & 14 were used in the first half. The ½d A37 control without the pick-up bar had the cylinders 2,3,4,,8,10,11 and 12. The 1d A37 without the pick-up bar had the cylinder numbers 1,3,4,7,8,9 and 10. 1940 - Stamp Centenary Only three values of this British commemorative set were overprinted for use in Tangier, issued 6.5.1940. They all had the control number G40. Victory, 11th June,1946 - overprinted TANGIER. Until 1937, stamps overprinted "MOROCCO AGENCIES' could also be used in Tangier. The 'Tangier' overprints were withdrawn 30.4.1957. Spanish Currency: Stamps surcharged in Spanish currency were sold at British P.Os throughout Morocco until the establishment of the French Zone and the Tangier International Zone, when their use was confined to the Spanish Zone. The first is the stamp issued for the Coronation, overprinted 15 centimos. and these 7 low values were issued in June 1937. The stamps were issued between June 1937 and June 1952. The values overprinted were: 5c on ½d , 10c on 1d, 15c on 1½d, 25c on 2½d, 40c on 4d, 70c on 7d and 1 piastre on 10d. 1940 stamp centenary issued on 6 May 1940, the values overprinted were: 5c on ½d , 10c on 1d, 15c on 1½d, 25c on 2½d The Royal Silver Wedding This set of stamps was part of the omnibus issue for the British Commonwealth, issued 26th April 1948. Overprinted 25c on the 2½d and 45 pesetas on the £1 stamp. 1948 The Olympic Games issued 29th July 1948 The overprints were : 25c on 2½d, 30c on 3d, 60c on 6d, 1peseta 20c on the 1/-. French Currency These were sold at British Post Offices in the French Zone. The first stamp issued was the Coronation stamp, 12 May 1937, overprinted 15 centimes, There was only one definitive stamp issued during George VI's reign, the ½d dark green, with an overprint of 5 centimes. All of the stamps overprinted in French currency were withdrawn from sale on 8th January, 1938 British Occupation of former Italian Colonies. Middle East Forces : Tripolitania Six of the set of 8 stamps of Great Britain issued 3rd May 1951. The overprint was "B.A./ Tripolitania" the initials BA standing for British Administration, and the currency was M(ilitary)A(dministration) L(ire). British Postal Agencies in Eastern Arabia with Indian currency. Certain Arab states in Eastern Arabia, whilst remaining independent, had British Postal Administrations. Bahrain and Kuwait and Qatar used British stamps overprinted and surcharged in local currency. In addition British stamps were surcharged with value only for use in Muscat as the original set with Indian overprints were first put on sale there. These were also for use in Postal Agencies of Dubai, Doha. Muscat an independent Sultanate in Eastern Arabia with an Indian, and subsequently a British postal administration, the latter of which was closed on 29th April 1966. The KGVI stamps issued with the sterling values cancelled and overprinted with Indian currency included the definitive issue of 1946 ½ d to 2/6d, 1948 the Royal Silver Wedding of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth 1948 this set, the Olympic Games of 1948 1949 the 75th Anniversary of the UPU, and finally the pale colour low value definitives of 1950-1955. Introduction definitive stamps Definitive stamps inverted watermarks High Value stamps Coil stamps and leaders Sheet markings stamps in booklets Forces mail and Airletters Commemorative issues Overprints Wartime slogans

Copyright 2005 By EARS Leisurewrite Sources : SG Great Britain Specialist catalogue Vol.2, SG Commonwealth Catalogue 1974 edition.

Contact us right here Return To our Home Page OR Return to our Stamps page