Egypt First Issue

Scott describes Egypt's Jan 1, 1866 issue as "surcharged", but does not identify the stamps that were surcharged.

Gibbons describes this issue as various designs "with black inscriptions".

This sounds like the inscriptions are part of the original design of the stamps - basically a bi-color issue, not a surcharge on an previously printed design.

Also, the 'basic stamps' have the same denomination as the "inscriptions".

What is the story behind this issue?

Because we all like pictures, here is a charity stamp issued by UAR (Egypt) in 1966 for the Centenary of the First Egyptian Stamp (Scott B32, Gibbons MS873:



Can anyone provide some posts of the actual issues?

The first issue of 7 stamps can be found at this link. The further link in the blog does not appear to work.

http://stampcollectingkingdom.blogs...p-issue.html

Images, but no information.

I find that, generally, most sites have pictures, but not much information.

That's why SCF is so valuable - Pictures AND information.

D-STAMPS------What do you want to know,I specialise in EGYPT stamps .
The first definitive stamps were issued January 1,1866.They were printed by Pellas Brothers,Genoa .Peforated 12 1/2 watermarked Pyramid and Sun .Various designs with Turkish overprint in black.The 5,10 20 paras,5 and 10 Piastres stamps were printed by stone lithography[background and overprint}.The 2 piastres stamp was lithographed while its overprint was typographed. The 1 piastre was entirely typographed.The issue became obsolete on the 1st. of September 1867.
As a collector you need to watch for the proofs and very deceptive imitations of these stamps,the best article on the subject is by Ibrahim Chaftar --The Forgeries "Salama" of 1866 Issue----it was published in English and French in L'Orient Philatelique in 1972 and 1973.

Hi DStamp,

The Egyptian first issue 1866 stamps were issued under Turkish suzerainty and they are not surcharges but Arabic designs and values (7) overprinted in Turkish written in Arabic script.

The best catalogue for Egyptian stamps is Leon Balian's "Stamps of Egypt". Hard cover, possibly out of print, but copies pop up on Amazon and ebay. I paid $45 for a fine used copy in dust wrapper, but I have seen them at around $100 or so. Meanwhile this link will take you to an excellent site for Egyptian stamps and postal history........

http://www.stampdomain.com/country/.../index.shtml

Terry

Ps. I have just seen floortrader's post. This is sound info. He is the man to talk to.

TC.

Nice topic and great info.
Here is a Proof set of the first Egyptian Stamps, on thin, smooth, unwatermarked paper.







One or two are in poor condition and some have hinge remains

Just to add to the excellent info in the previous posts, this issue had a number of printing problems and is rarely found above mediocre condition. The paper was supplied by a firm in Turin and was of poor quality. It was thick paper and the inks were absorbed into it leaving staining and 'ink runs'. Efforts by Pellas Bros. to improve the situation seemed to make the problems worse. Hence the poor quality of the issue.

Salaam.

Londonbus1

Is the miniature sheet in the first post described by Scott as a Charity issue ? Bit misleading isn't it ?

Hi Londonbus1,

It is a charity stamp mini sheet listed in Balian's Stamps of Egypt under "1966 Jan 2nd: Post Day and 100th Anniversary of the First Egyptian Postage Stamps140m+60m". The 40m presumably being the contribution to the charity fund. No charity specified but I have come across a Postal Employees Social Fund reference elsewhere. A possible link with UPU World Post Day maybe? Though I believe that is in October.

Terry

Floortrader,
Thanks for the info, especially going beyond Scott and Gibbons catalogs.

The two catalogs differ as to the black printing being a surcharge or part of the intended design. So my question was which of these explanations is 'probably' correct.


TC,
Thanks for confirming that the black inscription adds Arabic to the design. So it is not a surcharge but part of the intended design.


Londonbus1,
Great scans of the proofs. The actual issued stamps I've seen don't look anywhere that good.

I'm beginning think that maybe a 'space-filler' would look as good as a sound copy.

As for the description the type of issue, Scott classes it under 'Semi-postal' which is probably a better description for most stamps with a 'charity' portion included in the denomination.

Yes, if you read under my scans you will have seen the reason why that is/was. However, reasonable copies can be found with some searching...but then the price is the next factor !

good Luck.

Londonbus1

PRICE IS THE FACTOR --------agree with LONDONBUS,when you look at material like Cape of Good Hope triangles ,German States and Italian States the price difference between average copies and very fine copies is huge and something a lot of collectors and sellers on E-BAY don't understand this simple concept that PRICE IS THE FACTOR in the condition of the stamp .

Floortrader,

I absolutely agree. For me that's what makes the classics so much fun - finding what I want, in the condition I want, at a reasonable price (or better) for the condition.