Egypt Stamp Spelling Question

I somehow always associate Egypt with British presence (maybe WWII North African fighting?). So seeing an Egyptian soldier with a British helmet and a British Lee-Enfield rifle kind of collides with "defense" spelling (which would be a post WWI American spelling). So, how come not "defence"? Is it an intentional "nose-up" to Britain or something else?

Nothing to do with American spelling and not a 'nose-up' to the British. French has been the language of diplomacy since medieval times. Postal use of the French language relates to French influence in Egypt from their period in possession prior to the British and Ottomans and the later presence of French Post Offices in Egypt. The French language was used on Egypt's stamps during the following periods and in the following forms;

1879 - 1914:
Postes Egyptiennes

1925 - 1956:
Royaume D'Egypte
Postes D'Egypte
Egypte
Republic D'Egypte

This is a good place to start for information on Egypt and its stamps;

http://www.stampdomain.com/country/egypt/


Terry
Edited for additional information. TC.

Terence
Great link! Make me want to collect Egypt but then it's not the first time I fall in love with one's country stamps. Just can collect them all.

Hi timbres667

This is the lady that got me hooked on Egypt stamps. The green £1 Nefertiti has a red shift and is known as "Bloody Nefertiti". I also have a strip of four blue 500m Nefertiti stamps with the same red shift. I had not heard of the blue variety of this error so I am not sure if it is common or not.

Terry

That bust of Nefertiti resides in Germany since 1913 and really has the Egyptians T'd off because they won't give it back.

Yes, in Berlin, and I recall reading that some outfit claimed it was a fake, probably to coax the Germans into giving her up. They ain't buying it though and there she sits.

Terry