A Short Introduction To The Philately Of Palestine

During the year 2000 Palestine issued six stamp series and three blocks:
  •   Easter 2000 (stamps + block) (23.04.2000)
  •   Year of the Children (15.05.2000)
  •   Visit of the Pope to the Holy Land (31.05.2000)
  •   Bethlehem 2000 (booklet) (28.06.2000)
  •   President Arafat in Berlin (21.08.2000)
  •   Marine Fauna of the Mediterranean (8.11.2000)
  •   The Blue Madonna (block) (9.12.2000)
  •   Christmas 2000 (stamps + block) (25.12.2000)

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Palestine issued a stamp series on 23.04.2000 commemorating Easter as well as the celebrations "Bethlehem 2000": the five stamps (denominations: 150, 200, 300, 350, and 650 Fils) and the block (2,000 Fils) depict three more Giotto works. The stamps were printed by Cartor Securty Printing, La Loupe (France) in sheets of 10 (2x5). Total value: 3,750 Fils. Print run: unknown. Perforation: K 13.25
Two official FDCs were issued: one contains Zobbel nos. 138–142, the other Zobbel Bl. 15, both with a special first day postmark dated 23.04.2000.

The stamps use three different motifs (details from a painting, a fresco, and a crucifix) by Italian renaissance artist Giotto di Bondone (ca. 1266–1337):
  •   150f, 200f: The Last Supper (Ultima cena, ca. 1306) (painting, Alte Pinakothek, Munich)
  •   300f, 350f: The Mourning of Christ (Compianto sul Cristo morto, 1303–1305) (fresco, Scrovegni chapel, Padua)
  •   650f, 2,000f: Padua Crucifix (Crocifisso di Padova, ca. 1304) (Scrovegni chapel, now Musei civici degli Eremitani, Padua)

The first stamp commemorating the "Bethlehem 2000" celebrations was issued in 1998: Christmas 1998 block. Further series were issued in 1999 (Bethlehem 2000 (1999), Christmas 1999) and 2000 (Bethlehem 2000 booklet, Christmas 2000).

To make the differentiation of the Bethlehem 2000 stamps more easy, I have created a
           Guide to the Cartor Christmas and Easter Stamps (1999, 2000, 2001)
where all the stamps are shown and classified.

External links:
  •   Sette tavolette con storie di Gesù (contains "The Last Supper", Italian Wikipedia)
  •   "The Last Supper" (Alte Pinakothek, Munich)
  •   "The Mourning of Christ" (Italian Wikipedia)
  •   The Padia Cruxifix (Italian Wikipedia)

Zobbel	Value	Size	Perfor.	Printed	Notes
138	150f	51.1x36.2mm	K 13.25	n/a	sheets of 10 (2x5)
139	200f
140	300f
141	350f
142	650f
143	2,000f				block: Zobbel Bl. 15 (155x98.7mm)

A series of stamps was issued on 15.05.2000 commemorating the "Year of the Children" and depicting four children's paintings. The four stamps with a total value of 900 Fils (50, 100, 350, and 450 Fils) were printed by Bundesdruckerei GmbH Berlin in sheets of 10 (5x2). Print run: unknown. Perforation: K 13.75.
An official FDC was issued with the stamps cancelled by a special first day postmark dated 15.05.2000.

Zobbel	Value	Size	Perfor.	Printed	Notes
144	50f	35x35mm	K 13.75	n/a	sheets of 10 (5x2)
145	150f
146	350f
147	450f

On 31.05.2000 Palestine issued a series of stamps commemorating the "Pilgrimage to the Holy Land" (20–26.03.2000) of Pope John Paul II. to Jordan, Palestine, and Israel. The five stamps, denominated at 500, 600, 750, 800, and 1,000 Fils (total value: 3,650 Fils) depict the Pope meeting President Arafat (500, 750, and 1,000 Fils), the Pope holding mass (600 Fils), and contemplating in the Grotto of the Nativity in Bethlehem. The Stamps were printed by Bundesdruckerei GmbH Berlin in sheets of 10 (5x2). Print run: unknown. Perforation: K 13.75.
An official FDC was issued with the stamps cancelled by a special first day postmark dated 31.05.2000.

Zobbel	Value	Size	Perfor.	Printed	Notes
148	500f	35x35mm	K 13.75	n/a	sheets of 10 (5x2)
149	600f
150	750f
151	800f
152	1,000f

On 28.06.2000 Palestine issued a stamp booklet as part of its series commemorating the "Bethlehem 2000" celebrations. The booklet contains seven sheets (ie. 14 pages) of which three contain one stamp each at 2,000 Fils. The images used are from paintings by Fra Angelico, Giotto, Gentile da Fabriano, and a photograph by Jean-Paul Véret-Lemarinier (more details). The booklet exists in two versions:
  •   red tape (regular version): Zobbel MH 001
  •   gold tape (believed to be a trial version by printers Cartor): Zobbel MH 001b
The size of the booklet is 156x99mm, its total value 6,000 Fils. The booklet was produced by Cartor Securty Printing, La Loupe (France) using 22 carat gold applications. Print run: unknown.
No official FDC was issued for this stamp booklet although sets of three FDCS (each with one sheet) cancelled 29.06.2000 do exist.

For complete details (all pages shown and described) see Stamp Booklet 1.

The first stamp commemorating the "Bethlehem 2000" celebrations was issued in 1998: Christmas 1998 block. Further series were issued in 1999 (Bethlehem 2000 (1999), Christmas 1999) and 2000 (Easter 2000, Christmas 2000).

To make the differentiation of the Bethlehem 2000 stamps more easy, I have created a
           Guide to the Cartor Christmas and Easter Stamps (1999, 2000, 2001)
where all the stamps are shown and classified.

Zobbel	Value	Size	Perfor.	Printed	Notes
153	2,000f	36x50.5mm	K 13.25	n/a	Pane 1: Zobbel MHBl. 001
154	2,000f	51x36.2mm			Pane 2: Zobbel MHBl. 002
155	2,000f	36x51.4mm			Pane 3: Zobbel MHBl. 003

Taken from Stamp Booklet 1

A series of two stamps was issued on 21.08.2000 commemorating the state visit of President Yasir Arafat to Germany, the stamps depict Arafat meeting Chancellor Gerhard Schröder (*1944) and Federal President Johannes Rau (1931–2006) and are headed "Berlin – A Landmark on the Path to Peace". The two stamps are denominated at 200 and 300 Fils, respectively, the total value is 500 Fils. They were printed by Bundesdruckerei GmbH Berlin in sheets of 10 (2x5). Print run: unknown. Perforation: K 14.
An official FDC was issued with the stamps cancelled by a special first day postmark dated 21.08.2000.

Zobbel	Value	Size	Perfor.	Printed	Notes
156	200f	43.2x26mm	K 14	n/a	sheets of 10 (2x5)
157	300f

A sheetlet was issued on 8.11.2000 depicting animals living in the Mediterranean. The eight stamps, all denominated at 700 Fils, were printed together se-tenant (4x2) in one sheetlet sized 174.7x105.8mm, with a total value 5,600 Fils. The sheetlet, Zobbel ZdKb 8, was printed by Bundesdruckerei GmbH Berlin. Print run: unknown. Perforation: K 13.75.

The animals depicted are:
  •   field pos. 1 (Zobbel 158): parrotfish (Scaridae)
  •   field pos. 2 (Zobbel 159): mauve stinger (Pelagia noctiluca)
  •   field pos. 3 (Zobbel 160): ornate wrasse (Thalassoma pavo)
  •   field pos. 4 (Zobbel 161): Mediterranean rainbow wrasse (Coris julis)
  •   field pos. 5 (Zobbel 162): red starfish (Callopatiria granifera)
  •   field pos. 6 (Zobbel 163): common octopus (Octopus vulgaris)
  •   field pos. 7 (Zobbel 164): purple sea urchin (Paracentrotus lividus, or Sphaerechinus granularis)
  •   field pos. 8 (Zobbel 165): striated hermit crab (gen. Dandanus)

An official FDC (sized 255x177mm) was issued containing the entire sheet, Zobbel ZdKb 8, bearing four strikes of the special first-day postmark dated 8.11.2000.

Zobbel	Value	Size	Perfor.	Printed	Notes
158	700f	35x35.3mm	K 13.75	n/a	printed se-tenant in a sheet of 8 (4x2): Zobbel ZdKb 8
159	700f
160	700f
161	700f
162	700f
163	700f
164	700f
165	700f

(block: size reduced to 3/4)

A block was issued on 9.12.2000 on the occasion of Christmas depicting a detail from the painting "The Blue Madonna" by Palestinian artist Ibrahim Hazimeh (*1933). The block contains one stamp denominated at 950 Fils and was printed by Bundesdruckerei GmbH Berlin. Print run: unknown. Perforation: K 14:13.75.
A FDC was issued, bearing a special first-day postmark dated 9.12.2000.

Additionally, Bundesdruckerei GmbH Berlin produced a folder for Chistmas 2000 (sized 105x210mm, pictured below), with Zobbel Bl. 16 point-glued into it. A part of the cover is cut out to make part of the stamp visible. The folder is known with (sent by the embassy as Christmas/New Year's greetings card) or without (sold by the stamp trade) the signature of Palestine's ambassador to Germany, Abdallah Frangi.

Hazimeh designed or had his paintings used for several further postage stamps and blocks of Palestine: 50 Years Arab League 1995, Art of Peace 2001, Peace for Bethlehem 2001, Maria with her Child 2002, Worship of the Virgin Mary 2005, and 60 Years Arab League 2005.

External links:
  •   Ibarhim Hazimeh's homepage
  •   Exhibition in Berlin, 2003
  •   Exhibition in Berlin, 2007/8

Zobbel	Value	Size	Perfor.	Printed	Notes
166	900f	32.7x55.3mm	K 14:13.75	n/a	Block: Zobbel Bl. 16 (69.7x110.5mm)

Palestine issued a stamp series on 25.12.2000 commemorating Christmas as well as the celebrations "Bethlehem 2000": the six stamps (denominations: 100, 150, 250, 350, 500, and 1,000 Fils) and a block (2,000 Fils) depict three more renaissance paintings. The stamps were printed by Cartor Securty Printing, La Loupe (France) in sheets of 10 (2x5, 5x2 for 350 and 1,000 Fils), the block contains one single stamp. Total value: 4,550 Fils. Print run: unknown. Perforation: K 13.25.
Two official FDCs (sized 272x155mm) were issued: one contains Zobbel nos. 167–172, the other block Zobbel Bl. 17, both with the same special first day postmark dated 25.12.2000.

The stamps use three different Italian renaissance motifs (details from paintings and frescos) by Fra Angelico (ca. 1395–1455) and Gentile da Fabriano (ca. 1370–1427):
  •   100f, 500f: Fabriano's Nativity (Natività, ca. 1423), painting in the predella in "Adoration of the Magi"
  •   150f: Fabriano's Adoration of the Magi (Adorazione dei Magi, 1423), painting, Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence
  •   250f: detail from Fra Angelico's The Annunciation (Annunciazione, ca. 1438/55), fresco, Museo di San Marco, Florence
  •   350f, 1,000f, 2,000f: detail from Fra Angelico's Madonna of the Star (Madonna della stella, ca. 1424), painting in the Museo di San Marco, Florence.

The first stamp commemorating the "Bethlehem 2000" celebrations was issued in 1998: Christmas 1998 block. Further series were issued in 1999 (Bethlehem 2000 (1999), Christmas 1999) and 2000 (Easter 2000, Bethlehem 2000 booklet).

To make the differentiation of the Bethlehem 2000 stamps more easy, I have created a
           Guide to the Cartor Christmas and Easter Stamps (1999, 2000, 2001)
where all the stamps are shown and classified.

External links:
  •   Gentile da Fabriano: "Adoration of the Magi" (Italian Wikipedia)
  •   Gentile da Fabriano: "Nativity" in the predella of "Adoration of the Magi" (Italian Wikipedia)
  •   Fra Angelico: "The Annunciation" (Italian Wikipedia)
  •   Fra Angelico: "Madonna of the Stars" (Italian Wikipedia)
  •   Florence museums: Uffizi and San Marco

Zobbel	Value	Size	Perfor.	Printed	Notes
167	100f	51x36mm	K 13.25	n/a	sheets of 10 (2x5)
168	150f
169	250f
170	350f	36x51mm			sheets of 10 (5x2)
171	500f	51x36mm			sheets of 10 (2x5)
172	1,000f	36x51mm			sheets of 10 (5x2)
155	2,000f	36.1x51.4mm			block: Zobbel Bl. 17 (56.1x71.5mm)