A Short Introduction To The Philately Of Palestine

During 2002 Palestine issued two stamp series and one block:
  •   National Costumes (22.06.2002)
  •   Historical Vistas: Jerusalem, Aizarya, Nablus (21.09.2002)
  •   Christmas 2002: Maria with her Child (block) (20.12.2002)

A series of four stamps was issued on 22.06.2002 depicting three traditional women's dresses under the title "National Costumes". The stamps are denominated at 50, 100, and 500 Fils with a total value of 650 Fils. They were printed by Bundesdruckerei GmbH Berlin in sheets of 10 (2x5). Print run: unknown. Perforation: K 14.

Two official FDCs were issued:
  •   Bundesdruckerei GmbH Berlin produced an FDC using the generic envelope with the stamps cancelled by a special first-day postmark dated 22.06.2002.
  •   the Philatelic Office in Gaza produced three FDCs (one stamp each) with the motif relevant to that stamp computer-printed on the left; the stamps were cancelled by a generic Postmark PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY–PALESTINIAN POST / First day Issue dated 22.06.2002.

The dresses depicted are from three regions:
  •   50f: Ramallah
  •   100f: Bethlehem
  •   500f: Hebron (?)

Another series on this theme was issued in 1995: Costumes (Zobbel nos. 33–36).

External links:
  •   Dresses (Kawar Arab Heritage Collection)
  •   Costumes from Palestine (Palestinian Heritage Foundation)
  •   Palestine Costume Archive
  •   Palestinian Traditional Clothing (Raqs NZ)

Zobbel	Value	Size	Perfor.	Printed	Notes
197	50f	46x27.3m	K 14	n/a	sheets of 10 (2x5)
198	100f
199	500f

On 21.09.2002 Palestine issued a stamp series depicting historical vistas of the towns Jerusalem (Pool of Bethesda), al-Aizarya (Bethany), and Nablus, based on the Louis Haghe engravings of David Roberts' paintings from his journey in 1839. The three stamps are denominated at 450, 650, and 850 Fils and were printed by Bundesdruckerei GmbH Berlin in sheets of 10 (5x2). Total value: 1,950 Fils. Print run: unknown. Perforation: K 13.75.

• Zobbel no. 200 (450f): "The Pool of Bethesda April 12th, 1839" by David Roberts, RA (original painting: pencil and watercolour). Engraving by Louis Haghe, lithograph, published in: 'David Roberts: The Holy Land, Syria, Idumea, Arabia, Egypt and Nubia,' vol.I, pl.11? (London: F.G. Moon, 1842).
• Zobbel no. 201 (650f): assumed "Bethany April 1st?, 1939" (2nd painting?)
• Zobbel no. 202 (850f): "Entrance to Nablus April 17, 1839" by David Roberts, RA (original painting: pencil and watercolour). Engraving by Louis Haghe, lithograph, published in: 'David Roberts: The Holy Land, Syria, Idumea, Arabia, Egypt and Nubia,' vol.I, pl.41 (London: F.G. Moon, 1842).

[...] After pausing a few days at St. Catherine's Monastery in Sinai, the party moved along the Gulf of Aqaba. At Aqaba they dined with the local sheikh, with whom they negotiated safe passage to Hebron via Petra and Mount Hor. Enduring sandstorms, bandits, illness, and physical hardships along the way, the group arrived in the village of Hebron, where they stayed with the only Christian family from 16-18 March 1839. [...] Having learnt that Jerusalem was quarantined for plague, they made a detour via Beth Gebrin, the ancient Eleutheropolis, Gaza, Askelon, Ashdod, Jaffa, and Lod. They entered Jerusalem on Good Friday; the quarantine was removed that morning, and they were just in time for Easter celebrations. Accommodation was hard to come by, but luckily they met Elias, with whom they had stayed in Hebron, and he was able to find them lodgings. [...] Roberts produced a series of finished watercolours, including the present lot, which he had worked up from sketches made during his tour. The two sketches made at Hebron were among the contents of Roberts's studio sale [...] Belgian engraver Louis Haghe produced a total of 248 lithographs based on this later series of watercolours, which were published monthly in sets of six, to form two series; The Holy Land (1842-5) and Egypt and Nubia (1846-9). [...] Source: Bonhams, auction 17849, lot 139 (London, 15.09.2010)

External links:
  •  The Pool of Bethesda (Medina Arts)
  •  Entrance to Nablus (Wiki Gallery)
  •  Entrance to Nablus (Palestine Remembered)
  •  Entrance to Nablus (Medina Arts)
  •  Entrance to Nablus (Nablus Guide)
  •  Description of Robert's journey (Jordan Jubilee)
  •  More of Robert's work (Medina Arts)

An official FDCs was issued, bearing a special oval postmark (depicting Jerusalem) dated 21.09.2002.

A further series of historical town vistas was issued in 1997: Gaza and Hebron (Zobbel nos. 72–73).

Zobbel	Value	Size	Perfor.	Printed	Notes
200	450f	35x35mm	K 13.75	n/a	sheets of 10 (5x2)
201	650f
202	850f

A block was issued in December (16 or 20.12.2002) on the occasion of Christmas depicting the painting Maria with her Child (Die Madonna mit ihrem Kind, 2002?) by Palestinian artist Ibrahim Hazimeh (*1933). The block contains one stamp denominated at 1,000 Fils and was printed by Bundesdruckerei GmbH Berlin. Print run: unknown. Perforation: K 14:13.75.

Two official FDCs were issued:
  •   Bundesdruckerei GmbH Berlin produced an FDC using the generic envelope with the block cancelled by a special first-day postmark dated 20.12.2002 (using the German abbreviation of December: DEZ).
  •   the Philatelic Office in Gaza produced an FDC with a computer-printed motif on the left, the block is cancelled by a generic postmark PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY–PALESTINIAN POST / First day Issue dated 16.12.2002.

Hazimeh designed or had his paintings used for several further postage stamps and blocks of Palestine: 50 Years Arab League 1995, The Blue Madonna 2000, Art of Peace 2001, Peace for Bethlehem 2001, Worship of the Virgin Mary 2005, and 60 Years Arab League 2005.

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

Zobbel	Value	Size	Perfor.	Printed	Notes
203	1,000f	25.5x43.4mm	K 14:13.75	n/a	Block: Zobbel Bl. 21 (95x85.6mm)