A Short Introduction To The Philately Of Palestine

According to reports a commemorative sheet for the 2008 Arab Postal Day had been prepared as a joint issue with other Arab Postal Union states. The sheets for some participating countries (eg. Qatar) were jointly printed in Singapore and shipped to the coordinating postal authority in Qatar. A selection from other states is shown below in reduced size.

Like the two commemorative sheets of 2004, the delivery did not reach Palestine (ie. the Ministry of Telecom & Information Technology in Ramallah) so far; the consignment is presumed to have been impounded (seized, confiscated) by Israel. The stamps remain therefore unissued as of today.

In my opinion it is almost certain that, like in 2005, the stock will eventually reach MTIT and be officially issued. Collectors should be warned not to pay excessive prices for such pieces. A reputable Lebanese dealer, 4W Stamps, has been offering these commemorative sheets in January 2009, asking for bids starting at US$ 99 on ebay. In recent auctions (April 2009) prices of around US$ 25–50 have been realized.

Printed in Singapore 2008: one commemorative sheet (170x60.5mm) with two stamps at 350 fils and 500 fils (70x29mm).

Thanks to Paul Phillips and Thomas Schubert for keeping me informed.

According to reports, both the PNA (Fatah, controlling the West Bank) and Hamas (controlling the Gaza Strip) have prepared series of stamps commemorating Jerusalem's status as Capital of Arab Culture 2009.

The PNA stamps have not yet been issued, no copies have reached the philatelic market so far. The images below are computer graphics designs. The issue of the "Hamas" stamps has been announced in a press conference in Gaza on 17.03.2009 by Prime-Minister Ismail Haniyeh, Economics Minister Ziad al-Zaza, Culture Minister Dr. Osama al-Issawi, and the head of the "Supreme National Committee of Jerusalem the Capital of Arab Culture 2009" Dr. Attallah Abu al-Subbah. The actual postal use of the Hamas-issued stamps (even within Gaza itself) is as yet unclear.

PNA ("Palestinian Authority"): 4 stamps (150, 250, 350, 500 Fils) and 1 block (1000 Fils) – unissued.
Hamas ("The Palestinian Authority"): 1 block with 3 stamps (100, 150, 500 Fils) (printed in a sheet of four), 1 block (1000 Fils), 1 stamp (150 Fils) (as block and also as sheet of 10).

Other Arab states (Iraq, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Libya, UAE, Egypt, Syria, Sauidi Arabia, Jordan, &c.) have issued stamps as well, a selection is shown below (all in reduced size).

Thanks to Moustafa Assad of 4W Stamps and Thomas Schubert (and others) for the information and some of the images.

(reduced) (reduced)