The Stamps Box

Ali Barbouti, Architect

January 2025

“Ali’s stamps box, embarked on its own journey from Iraq across several countries before finally reaching him in Canada. The collection had about 1,560 stamps from more than 60 different countries. Most of the stamps span from the late 1880s to the late 1960s.”

The Beginning

Since the beginning of civilization, effective communication has been essential for rulers, especially during times of war or disaster. This need led to the development of various methods over the centuries. Two of the earliest civilizations to establish an intricate communication system were the Babylonian and Sumerians. They used couriers who traveled between staging posts to deliver messages. This state communication system was primarily for official use, but private individuals could also use it, though at their own expense. However, some sources suggest that the earliest postal service in the area which is the present-day Iraq, was operated by Assyria, with commercial letters written in cuneiform on clay tablets enclosed in addressed clay envelopes. Fig 1 and Fig 2 are examples of these clay letters and envelops.

In ancient Egypt around 2400 BCE, Pharaohs used couriers to send decrees. The Persian Empire, under King Cyrus the Great in the 6th century BCE, established the Angarium, a relay system with horsemen ensuring swift message delivery. The Roman Empire later advanced this with the Cursus Publicus, a state-run postal service with a network of roads and way stations.

The Greek had their own communication system, so did two civilizations outside the Mediterranean which developed sophisticated and rapid communication networks of their own; the Chinese and the Incas.

 

(Fig 1) Clay tablet and tablet-case; complete; letter; Old Babylonian. approximately 2000 BC-1600 BC. Asset number 415504001, © The Trustees of the British Museum. Shared under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) licence.

(Fig 2) Cuneiform tablet with a small second tablet: private letter. Period: Middle Bronze Age–Old Assyrian Trading Colony. Date: ca. 20th–19th century BCE. Geography: Anatolia, probably from Kültepe (Karum Kanesh). Culture: Old Assyrian Trading Colony. Medium: Clay. Object Number: 1983.135.4a, b.The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Fast forward to the 19th century, when British postal rates were high, complex, and inconsistent. To simplify matters, Sir Rowland Hill proposed in 1837 an adhesive stamp to indicate pre-payment of postage, as it was normal for the recipient to pay postage on delivery and to be charged by the sheet and the distance traveled.

This new system started in 1840 when the United Kingdom issued the world’s first adhesive postage stamp, the “Penny Black,” which was a black stamp with straight edges, featuring the profile of Queen Victoria. This allowed letters of up to 14 grams (1⁄2 ounce) to be delivered at a flat rate of one penny, regardless of distance.

Stamps with straight edges were the norm when they first started and had to be cut out with scissors, which was time-consuming and often resulted in uneven edges. To solve this problem, a new system of stamp perforation was introduced in the 19th century using a machine that punches small holes between the stamps, allowing for easy tearing along the perforated lines.

This system made it easier to handle stamps, ensured a clean and standardized way to separate them, and preserved their condition, preventing damage. This practical innovation helped postal workers and anyone who used stamps to handle them with ease.

 

(Fig 3) UK, 1840, The Balck Penny. Image from internet,

Over time, stamps evolved from mere functional items into intricate works of art, representing the cultural, historical, and social identity of their issuing countries. Stamps are not just pieces of postal history but also artifacts that represent a country’s journey during transformative periods. They offer insights into the nation’s identity and pride through history. It’s always intriguing to see how stamps capture the essence of their time and convey stories through their designs and themes.

The History of Stamps in Iraq:

Post offices were opened by the 1860s in major Iraqi cities such as Baghdad, Basra, Mosul, and Kirkuk during the Ottoman Empire. The British in India operated post offices in Baghdad and Basra as well until the beginning of World War I in 1914.

Post offices in Iraq operated since 1860s.

(Fig 4) The QA Sisters Club in Basra during The Great War ( above the post office). Image source: Mesopotamia World War One Photographs of Basra and Baghdad during WWI taken by nurse Ethel Smithies from QAIMNS (Queen Alexandra Imperial Military Nursing Service, today known as QARNAC, UK).

(Fig 5) Enlargment of the previous image. The entrance of the post office in Basra.

British Occupation of Iraq 1917-1921

In 1917, during World War I, British and Indian troops fought their way from Basra to Mosul. This occupation was part of the larger British campaign against the Ottoman Empire, which controlled the region at the time. The British aimed to secure the oil fields and strategic routes through the Middle East. During this period, they used stamps of India overprinted with “I.E.F.” (Indian Expeditionary Force) on their military mail. They also overprinted various Ottoman stamps with “IRAQ IN BRITISH OCCUPATION.”

In 1920, the League of Nations granted Britain a mandate over the region. This mandate aimed at establishing order and governance in the newly formed state. The British administration worked to merge the three Ottoman provinces of Mosul, Baghdad, and Basra into one political entity called Iraq, creating a nation out of the diverse religious and ethnic elements inhabiting these lands.  

101) Iraq

102) Iraq

103) Iraq

104) Iraq

(101-104) British Occupation of Iraq, 1918, Turkish pictorial issue of 1914 overprinted & surcharged, reissued in 1918.

British Mandate of Iraq 1921 -1932 

In 1921, the British installed Faisal I as the King of Iraq, and the Kingdom of Iraq was created under British administration. This period, known as Mandatory Iraq, lasted until 1932, when Iraq gained nominal independence, although British influence remained significant.

The Iraqi postal service began during the British mandate of Iraq in the 1920s. The authorities issued the first complete series by 1923, which included a set of 12 stamps featuring different designs of Iraq’s ancient history, denominated in annas and rupees, the currency at that time. These stamps were designed by Edith Cheesman and Marjorie Maynard. King Faisal I’s first stamp was issued in 1927, followed by a series of 13 stamps in 1931.

105) Iraq

106) Iraq

107) Iraq

108) Iraq

105) British Mandate of Iraq, 1923, Al-Adamiyah Mosque, Baghdad. 106) British Mandate of Iraq, 1923, Gufas on the Tigris. 107) British Mandate of Iraq, 1923, Arch of Ctesiphon (Taq Kisra). 108) British Mandate of Iraq, 1923,  Al-Kadhimiya Mosque, Baghdad.

The Kingdom of Iraq – Independence 1932- 1958 

A new currency (fils and dinar) was established upon Iraq’s independence in 1932, and the existing Faisal I stamps were overprinted with the new currency and issued on 1 April 1932. These were followed soon after (9 May) by stamps of the previous design denominated in the new currency.

Following King Faisal I’s death, stamps featuring King Ghazi were introduced. These stamps bore similar designs but updated to showcase the new king. After King Ghazi’s premature death in 1939, a new series was issued featuring scenes of Iraq, which offered a glimpse into the country’s natural and historical landmarks.

Later, stamps featuring King Faisal II, initially portrayed as a young boy in the 1942 series, appeared on several stamp issues as he grew older, reflecting his progression from a child to a young adult.

The first commemorative stamps emerged in 1949, celebrating the Universal Postal Union’s 75th anniversary. In 1953, the coronation of King Faisal II was marked by a special set of stamps. The stamps were part of a special issue dated May 2 1953,  featuring a crown, flags, palm trees, and the three stamps of King Faisal II.

109) Iraq, 1953, Coronation of King Faisal II.

110) Iraq

111) Iraq

112) Iraq

113) Iraq

114) Iraq

110) Iraq, issued between 1923-1932, King Faisal I overprint with fils domination. 111) Iraq, 1932, King Faisal I (1883-1933). 112) Iraq, 1934, King Ghazi (1912-1939). 113) Iraq, 1953,  Coronation of King Faisal II, (1935-1958). 114) Iraq, 1958, King Faisal II, overprint with Republic of Iraq.

115) Iraq

116) Iraq

117) Iraq

118) Iraq

119) Iraq

115) Iraq, 1942, Mausoleum of Sitt Zubaidah. 116) Iraq, 1942, King Faisal II (1935-1958) as a child. 117) Iraq, 1948,  King Faisal II (1935-1958). 118) Iraq, 1949, 75th Anniversary of Universal Postal Union. 119) Iraq, 1955, 6th Arab Engineering Conference, Baghdad.

Republic of Iraq 1958

After the overthrow of the monarchy in the 1958 revolution headed by General Abdul Karim Qassim, this period was noted for a round of celebratory stamps, many featuring him as a popular leader. Later presidents Abdul Salam Aref and succeeded by his brother Abdul Rahman Aref also appeared on stamps, though less frequently. After the 1968 revolution, which brought the Baath party to power, stamps of President Ahmed Hassan Al-Baker were issued, followed by stamps of President Saddam Hussein, who appeared on many Iraqi stamps.

Iraqi stamps have depicted a vast array of subjects, from ancient Mesopotamian artifacts to modern infrastructure, effectively serving as a miniature gallery of the nation’s history and achievements. Each stamp tells a story, capturing the essence of Iraq’s cultural, historical, and social identity through different eras. Stamps also commemorated pivotal events, notable figures, and national milestones, reflecting the country’s evolution and pride in its heritage.

120) Iraq

121) Iraq

122) Iraq

123) Iraq

124) Iraq

120) Iraq, 1960, General Abdul Karim Kassim (1914-1963). 121) Iraq, 1965, Presidant Abdul Salam Aref (1920-1966). 122) Iraq,1967, President  Abdul Rahman Aref (1916-2007). 123) Iraq,1969, President  Ahmed Hassan Al-Bakr.(1914-1982). 124) Iraq,1980, President Saddam Hussein (1937-2006).

My Journey with Stamps:

My fascination with stamps began at the age of ten, during the colorful 1960s. Stamp collecting was a common hobby among my peers. We would eagerly peel stamps off any mail we received, soaking them carefully in water to remove them from envelopes. Once dry, we meticulously organized them in stamp albums, categorizing them by country and theme. Trading stamps with friends was a regular activity and obtaining a rare or colorful stamp by trading several common ones was a thrill we all cherished.

My dear friend Samir Hamdi, who lived a few houses away, was a stamp collector, and we used to meet several times per week to discuss and trade stamps. Whenever a family member traveled, they would bring me first-issue stamps from the country they visited, which enriched my collection.

However, as I progressed into middle school and my teenage years, other interests took precedence, and my stamp collection was gradually forgotten. The albums, once my treasures, were relegated to a shelf in my bedroom.

Ali Barbouti and Samir Hamdi, at a stamp trading session , the stamp album seen on the side table.

Ali’s stamps box, embarked on its own journey of 10 years from Iraq across several countries before finally reaching him in Canada. 

After graduating from university, I left Iraq, taking only a few personal belongings with me. I hoped to work abroad for a few years to explore and gain experience, then return home, but unfortunately, things didn’t work out that way. Iraq entered turmoil a year after my departure, lasting for decades. My mother, understanding the sentimental value of my stamps, ensured they were preserved and kept an eye on them. In the nineties, during the sanctions imposed on Iraq, travel was banned, and only a few visitors were allowed into the country.

When a relative visited in the late 1990s, my mother entrusted them with my albums, which then embarked on their own journey across several countries before finally reaching me in Canada a decade later. With the demands of building a career and raising a family, I rarely had time to revisit my collections. Yet, as I entered retirement, I found the perfect opportunity to reconnect with this childhood passion. Rediscovering my albums has been like opening a time capsule. The stamps, with their vivid colors and intricate designs, bring back memories of simpler times. My collection had about 1,560 stamps from more than 60 different countries across the globe. Most of my stamp collection history spans from the late 1880s to the late 1960s when I went to middle school.

Now, I take great joy in exhibiting some of the rarest and most cherished stamps from my collection, particularly those from the Kingdom of Iraq, the Middle East, and various other countries, some dating back to the early last century. Each stamp tells a story, not just of the past, but of my personal journey and the resilience of my heritage.

Sharing these stamps with the world feels like fulfilling a long-awaited promise to my younger self and to my mother, who ensured that this small piece of my heart was kept safe through the years. Since it would be difficult to exhibit my entire collection, I selected samples from different countries and tried to provide the year each stamp was issued along with a brief description of its topic.

The collection had about 1,560 stamps from more than 60 different countries. Most of the stamps span from the late 1880s to the late 1960s.

Iraq 

125) Iraq

126) Iraq

127) Iraq

125) Iraq, 1966,  First date cover – Inauguration of Iraqi Airways new Trident Jets. 126) Iraq, 1965, First date cover – 2nd F.A.O. Dates Conference, Baghdad. 127) Iraq, 1966, First date cover – 3rd Arab Football Cup, Baghdad.

128) Iraq

129) Iraq

130) Iraq

131) Iraq

132) Iraq

133) Iraq

128) Iraq, 1959, Coat of Arms of the Republic. 129) Iraq, 1960, Poet Maroof Al-Rasafi (1872-1945). 130) Iraq, 1962, 1200 years Anniversary of Baghdad City. 131) Iraq, 1963, Fight Against Hunger. 132) Iraq, 1964, Arab Music Conference, Baghdad. 133) Iraq, 1965, General Census of 1965.

134) Iraq

135) Iraq

136) Iraq

137) Iraq

134) Iraq, 1965, Centenary of International Telecommunication Union, 135) Iraq, 1965, 7th Anniversary of the Revolution. 136) Iraq, 1965, Birthday of Prophet Mohammed. 137) Iraq, 1966, Birthday of Prophet Mohammed.

138) Iraq

139) Iraq

140) Iraq

141) Iraq

142) Iraq

143) Iraq

138) Iraq, 1967, Iraqi Costumes. 139) Iraq, 1968, White Eared Bulbul (Pycnonotus Leucotis). 140) Iraq, 1962, Anniversary of 1200 Years of Baghdad. 141) Iraq 1965, 2nd Anniversary of Rmadan Revolution. 142) Iraq, 1965, Dier Yassin Massacre 1948. 143) Iraq, 1966, Arab International Tourist Union.

Arab Countries 

201) Syria

202) Syria,

203) Lebanon

204) Lebanon

205) Lebanon

201)  Syria, 1921,  A 1920 Ottoman stamp overprinted with O.M.F. (French Military Occupation Syria). 202) Syria, 1923, A 1903 French Stamp, “La Semeuse” (The Sower). This stamp was part of a definitive series and has become an iconic design in French philately. The stamp is overprinted with O.M.F (French Military Occupation). 203) Lebanon, 1932,  Fiscal Cedar Design.  204) Lebanon, 1932, Beit Al-Din Palace. 205) Lebanon, 1960, President Fuad Chehab. 

206) Palastine

207) Palastine

208) Jordan

209) Jordan

210) Jordan

206) Palastine, 1927,  Dome of the Rock. 207) Palestine, 1953, Egyptian stamp of King Farouk overprinted with 3 bars to obliterate portrait & overprinted with Palestine. 208) Jordan, 1955, King Hussein II (1935-1999). 209) Jordan, 1958, Airplane, Artemis temple. 210) Jordan 1964, Meeting of King Hussein, Pope Paul VI & Patriarch Athenagoras.

211) Saudi Arabia

212) Saudi Arabia

213) Saudi Arabia

214) Kuwait

211) Saudi Arabia, 1939, Tughra of King Abdul Aziz Al-Saud. 212) Saudi Arabia,1950, 50th Anniversary of King Abdul Aziz Al-Saud entry to Riyadh. 213) Saudi Arabia, 1964, Installation of Prince Faisal Ibn Abdul Aziz as King. 214) Kuwait, 1945, Stamp of India 1940-1943, Overprinted with Kuwait.

215) Kuwait

216) Bahrain

217) Qatar

218) Qatar

219) Dubai

215) Kuwait, 1960, 10th Accession of Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah to the Throne in 1950. 216) Bahrain,1954,  Queen Elizabeth II portrait overprinted with Bahrain. 217) Qatar, 1966, Protection of the Nubian Monuments. 218) Qatar 1966, Shiekh Ahmed bin Ali Al-Thani. 219) Dubai 1964,  Honouring Astronauts.

220) Eygpt

221) Eygpt

222) Eygpt

223) Eygpt

224) Eygpt

220) Egypt, 1884, Sphinx in front of Cheops Pyramid. 221) Egypt,1893, Official Stamp 1893-1914. 222) Eygpt, 1914, Sphinx. 223) Eygpt, 1927, Royal Crest. 224) Eygpt, 1934, King Fuad I (1868-1936).

225) Eygpt

226) Eygpt

227) Eygpt

228) Eygpt

225) Eygpt, 1948, Arrival of Egyptian Troops at Gaza – Map & Infantry Column. 226) Eygpt, 1949,  Death Centenary of Mohammed Ali (1769-1949). 227) Eygpt, 1965, 13th Anniversary – President Gamal Abdul Nasser. 228) Eygpt, 1957, Memorian –  Poet Ahmad Shawky (1868-1932) and Poet Hafez Ibrahim (1872-1932).

229) Eygpt

230) Libya

231) Libya

232) Algeria

229) Eygpt,1951, Marriage of King Farouk and Nariman Sadek. 230) Libya,1952, King Idris Al-Senussi (1890-1983). 231) Libya, 1960, Crowned Symbols of Cyrenaica, Tripolitania & Fezzan. 232) Algeria, 1927, Bay of Algiers.

233) Algeria

234) Morroco

235) Morroco

236) Morroco

237) Somalia

233) Algeria, 1950, Grapes. 234) Morroco,1956, King Mohammed V. 235) Morroco 1927, Meknes (Porte Bab el-Mansour). 236) Morroco, 1962, King Hassan II (1929-1999). 237) Somalia, 1966, Bananas.

Europe

301) UK

302) UK

303) UK

304) UK

305) Ireland

301) UK, 1881, Queen Victoria (1819-1901). 302) UK,1917, King George V.  303) UK, 1966, King of the Orient. 304) UK, 2003, 21st Birthday of Prince William. 305) Ireland, 1967, Saint Patrick.

306) France

307) France

308) Spain

309) Gibraltar

310) German Realm

311) German Realm

306) France 1931, Women of the Fachi Tribe. 307) France, 1926, Louis Pasteur. 308) Spain, 1955, General Franco. 309) Gibraltar, 1938, King George VI (1895-1952) . 310) German Realm, 1922, Germania. 311) German Realm, 1923, Inflation Series (Value in Millions).

312) German Realm

313) Germany DDR

314) Austria

315) used in Austria

316) Monaco

312) German Realm, 1942, Adolf Hitler (1889-1945), Chancellor. 313) German Democratic Republic (DDR), 1961, Walter Ernst Paul Ulbricht (1893-1973). 314) Austria, 1920, Coat of Arms. 315) German Realm used in Austria, 1955, Paul von Hindenburg (1847-1934), 2nd President. 316) Monaco, 1956, Wedding of Prince Rainier III and Grace Kelly.

317) San Marino

318) Holland

319) Romania

320) Yugoslavia

321) Hungary

321) Poland

317) San Marino, 1946, Air Mail Stamps. 318) Netherland, 1951, Queen Juliana (1909-2004). 319) Romania, 1955, Miner. 320) Yugoslavia, 1963, Klamath Weed (Hypericium Perforatum). 321) Hungary, 1953, Postage Due. 322) Poland, 1960, Warsaw Historic Town.

North America

401) USA

402) USA

403) USA

404) USA

405) USA

401) USA,1938, William McKinley (1843-1901), 25th President of the USA. 402) USA, 1940, Torch of Enlightenment. 403) USA, 1943, Four Freedom Precancel. 404) USA, 1962, 50th Anniversary of Arizona Statehood. 405) USA, 1964, John F. Kennedy (1917-1963) Memorial.

406) Canada

407) Mexico

408) Saint Pierre & Miquelon

406) Canada, 2000, Tall Ships Race, Halifax. 407) Mexico,1956, Leon Guzman (1821-1884), Ignacio Ramirez (1818-1879). 408) Saint Pierre & Miquelon, 1947, Soldier Bay, Langlade.

Africa  

501) South Africa

502) Cameroon

503) Belgian Congo

504) Mozambique

505) Central Africa Republic

501) South Africa, 1940, Van Riebeek’s Ship. 502) Cameroon, 1946,  Domestic Cattle – Zebu (Bos primigenius indicus), Herdsman. 503) Belgian Congo, 1948, “Ngadimuashi” female dance mask. 504) Mozambique, 1953, Common Scarlet (Axiocerses harpax). 505) Central Africa Republic, 1973, Apollo XVII.

Asia

601) Turkiye

602) Turkiye

603) Turkiye

604) India

605) India

601) Tukiye ,1890, Revenue stamp. 602) Turkiye 1908, Revenue stamp. 603) Turkiye, 1965, Presidant Kamal Ataturk (1881-1938) . 604) India, 1937, King George VI & Mail Train. 605) India, 1949, Bodhisattva. 

606) Pakistan

607) China

608) China

609) Hong Kong

610) Taiwan

611) Japan

606) Pakistan, 1951,4th Anniversary of Independence. 607) China, 1923, Junk Ship.  608) Peoples Republic of China, 1949, Mao Tse-Tung. 609) Hong Kong 1954, Queen Elizabeth II. 610) Taiwan, 1950, Portrait of Koxinga, Cheng Cheng Kung. 611) Japan, 1946, Noh Mask.

612) Japan

613) South Korea

614) South Vietnam

615) Laos

616) Cambodia

612) Japan, 1965, First date cover – The Prelude. 613) South Korea,1964, King Sejong & Korean Alphabet. 614) South Vietnam, 1955, The Phoenix. 615) Laos, 1953, Sitting Buddha Statue. 616) Cambodia, 1964, Prince Norodom Sihanouk (1922-2012).

617) Thailand

618) Thailand

619) Indonesia

620) Indonesia

621) Ceylon

622) Ceylon

617) Thailand, 1949, King Bhumibol Adulyadej. 618) Thailand, 1955, 400th birth Anniversary of King Naresuan the Great. 619) Indonesia, 1960, President Sukarno. 620) Indonesia, 1960, Para Rubber Tree. 621) Ceylon, 1950, Sigiriya (Lion Rock). 622) Ceylon, 1950, Shrine, Polonnaruwa-Kiri-Vehera-Dagoba.

Australia 

701) Australia

702) Australia

701) Australia, 1949, Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.702) Australia, 1954, Queen Elizabeth II & Duke of Edinburgh).

Notes:

  • All stamps in this article are from Ali Barbouti private collections unless otherwise stated.
  • Fig 3, and stamp 123 and 124 images are sourced from the internet.
  • Stamp images in this article do not reflect actual size.
  • Most of the stamp’s information was obtained from “Stamp Identifier” APP / Colnect stamp collection.
  • Material presented in this article is based on personal information and research to the best of the author’s knowledge.

Bibliography:

  • Cartwright, M. (2019, September 10). Letters & Post in the Ancient World. World History Encyclopedia.
  • Bellis, Mary. (2024, June 25). History of Mail and the Postal System. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/history-of-mail-1992142.
  • Jason O’Donnel. (undated). The History of Parcel Couriers: From Ancient Relays to Modern Delivery Giants. BlueCrest. 
  • Touillon-Ricci, Mathilde. (2018). Trade and contraband in ancient Assyria. British Museum. 
  • Woods, John.E. Blake,Gerald Henry. The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. British Occupation and the Mandatory Regime. Last updated Jan 13, 2025
  • Wikipedia. Postal Stamps and Postal History of Iraq.
  • Zeir,Ula. 2018. Baghdad in British Occupation: the Story of Overprinted Stamps. British Library.

About Ali Barbouti,

Ali Barbouti an architect and entrepreneur, born in Baghdad/Iraq and a Canadian since the 1990s. Graduate from Baghdad University, Department of Architecture. Ali started his career in the design development of mixed-use and residential projects; working on a variety of projects with the Iraq Consult in Baghdad; Kuwaiti Engineer Office (KEO) in Kuwait; Kirby Building Systems in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. His career and interest progressed into the construction field reaching a position of Director with Al-Latifia Trading & Contracting in Saudi Arabia where he remained for over 20 years.

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