The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin

Editor: Tobias Zywietz

ISSN: 2702-4199

The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin is a platform to publish research, reports, comments and enquiries on all aspects of Philately as well as related collecting areas:
  • Stamps
  • Stationery
  • Postal History
  • Social Philately
  • Topical/Thematic Philately
  • Deltiology (postcards)
  • Philography (autographs)
  • Numismatic/Notaphily (coins/banknotes)
  • Fiscal Philately (revenue and tax stamps)
  • Erinnophily (cinderellas and ephemera)
The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin is concerned with countries of the wider Middle East:
  • Arabian Peninsula and Gulf States
  • Ottoman Empire and Turkey, Foreign Posts
  • Syria and Lebanon
  • Jordan
  • Palestine and Israel
  • Iraq
  • Egypt and Sudan
  • Iran

The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin pursues a policy of political and religious impartiality and neutrality. We believe in tolerance and understanding amongst philatelists and collectors. We are open-minded and respect the views and convictions of our readers and contributors.

The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin is distributed exclusively as a free PDF-download through this website. You can register to be notified of developments and future issues by sending me an e-mail. Registration entitles you to place an advert for free.


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The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 26 (Spring 2024)
Middle East Philatelic Bulletin - MEPB 26 Cover
  • İstanbul Views on Ottoman Postcards – Part 1: The Beyazıt Fire-Watch Tower and the Fire Fighters of İstanbul (Hakan Yılmaz)
  • Plate Errors of the Empire Stamps – Passer Revised: Part 2: The 10 Paras Stamps (Hans Paul Soetens)
  • Specialities of Ottoman Philately (III): The 25 Piastres Changeling of the 1876 Empire Issue (Hans-Dieter Gröger)
  • The Blockage in the Suez Canal in June 1885 (Bo Andersson)
  • Local Mail in İstanbul (I): Lianos & Cie. (Hubert Gerzabek)
  • Constantinople State Printing Office: Postal Newspaper Wrappers for the Postage-Free Dispatch of the Official Newspaper Takvīm-i Vakāyi (Volker Fredebold)
  • Collecting Educates, that’s for sure! Slate Mining in Veniziani-Gradsko (North Macedonia) (Folkert Bruining)
  • The Thessalian Railways (Atadan Tunacı and Folkert Bruining)
  • In Bolthausen’s Footsteps: Holy Land Souvenir Covers (David K. Smith)
  • A Brief Look at Haifa Telegraph Cancels (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Overland Mail Haifa–Baghdad: The Earliest Covers sent Eastwards Before the Official Opening (Rainer Fuchs)
  • Palestine Mandate Rare Destinations (II): Ecuador – August 1933 to April 1948 (Ed Kroft)
  • The Jordanian Postmarks of Oil Pumping Stations H4 and H5 in the Great Syrian Desert (Bernd-Dieter Buscke)
  • The Only Two Coil Stamps of Transjordan (Avo Kaplanian)
  • An Irrelevant Case? On the Integrity of Iraq Post Concerning the Tawafan Al-Aqsa Stamps (Mohammed Dhia Al-Shirwani)
  • Book Reviews:
    • Microhistory of the Turkish Posts 1920–2015 – Volume 1: 1920–1950 (Mehmet Akan & Timur Kuran) (Tobias Zywietz)
    • Mail in the Levant – Beirut (Semaan Bassil) (Tobias Zywietz)
    • Guide To The Postal Stationery of Iraq (Clayton Rubec & Akhtem Al-Manaseer) (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Reactions, Comments, Queries Section:
    • The Dolmabahçe Imperial Palace Post Office: Saray-ı Hümayun – Palais Impérial (Hakan Yılmaz, Volker Fredebold)
    • The Validity of Saudi-Arabian Stamps : Are modern Saudi-Arabian Stamps Vignettes invalid for Postage? (Martin Bohnstedt)
    • Turkey 1938 Obligatory Tax Stamps “P.Y.S” (Posta Yardım Sandığı): Where did the Revenues go to? (Tobias Zywietz, Otto Graf)
    • Research Note on Reply Coupons of Iran Type Lo16 (Parviz Sahandi and Wolfgang Leimenstoll)
    • Digital Resources: “Reference manual of Saudi Arabian forgeries” (R. J. Thoden) (Peter Moorer)
    • RFI: US Military Post Offices in Jordan (Bernd-Dieter Buscke)
    • Research Request: The Registered Mail of the Ottoman Empire 1840–1923 (Alan Mellaart)
    • Jordan: Rare “Emirate East of the Jordan” Cachet (1947) (Avo Kaplanian)
    • Quo vadis, Bale? The Fate of the Bale Catalogues for Palestine (Tobias Zywietz)
    • UPU Circular on Illegal Postage Stamps of Palestine (Tobias Zywietz)
    • Egypt: New Discovery of an Ismailia Registration Postmark (Bernd-Dieter Buscke)
  • Archive Section
    • Archival Resources on the British Post Offices in the Persian Gulf Region Part I: British Library Asian and African Studies Collection (Calvin H. Allen, Jr.)
  • Handbook Section
    • The Revenue Stamps of Crete – Part A: The Ottoman period 1845–1898 (Oscar van der Vliet)
  • Recent Philatelic Journals (Tobias Zywietz)

The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 26

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The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 26

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The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 25 (Winter 2023)
Middle East Philatelic Bulletin - MEPB 25 Cover
  • Plate Errors of the Empire Stamps – Passer Revised I: The 2 Piastres Stamps (1876–1890) (Hans Paul Soetens)
  • Specialities of Ottoman Philately (II) – Turkey Duloz 1876: Proofs and Trials for the Unissued 5 and 25 Piastres (Hans-Dieter Gröger)
  • Quarantine at Brindisi in 1882: Disinfection of P&O Mail (Bo Andersson)
  • The Two Postal Conventions of 1884 and 1892 between Ottoman Turkey and Persia (Björn Sohrne)
  • New Postmark Discoveries from the Cisr-i Mustafa Paşa–Dersaʿadet (Svilengrad–İstanbul) Railway (Willy Pijnenburg)
  • An Interesting Prediction : New Postmark Discoveries from the Cisr-i Mustafa Paşa–Dersaʿadet (Svilengrad–İstanbul) Railway (II) (Folkert Bruining)
  • Railway Mail Service in Ottoman Europe (IV): Some Interesting Additions (Folkert Bruining & Atadan Tunacı)
  • The Palekura Opium Plantation (Otto Graf AIJP)
  • The Oriental Travels of Julius Bolthausen – Part 4: Bisecting Austrian Levant Stamps in Caifa 1908 (Tobias Zywietz)
  • The Dolmabahçe Imperial Palace Post Office : Saray-ı Hümayun – Palais Impérial (Volker Fredebold)
  • Market Report: Palestine Post Office Postal Stationery Wrappers (Dr. John A. Courtis)
  • Walter Mittelholzer’s Balkan Flight 1934 (Schalk W. de Klerk)
  • Palestine Mandate: Rare Destinations (Ed Kroft)
  • Book Reviews:
    • Iraqi Occupation of Kuwait (Al-Hajeri) (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Reactions, Comments, Queries Section:
    • The Validity of Saudi-Arabian Stamps (Martin Lovegrove)
    • Société Britannique de Secours aux Blessés Militaires (British Red Cross) in Smyrna in 1878 (Martin Rhein)
    • Philatelic Literature: Holy Land Postal History digitised (Tobias Zywietz)
    • Dubai 1968 Butterflies: New Discoveries (Ralf Kollmann, David Greyfield)
    • RFI: 1948 POW Mail with Censor “Iraqi General Command” (Peter Gassmann, )
    • RFI: Egyptian-style ‘Interpostal’ Seal for Tarsous (Adana) “POSTE IMÉRIALE OTTOMANES / TARSOUS” (Omar Wassef)
    • Digital Resources at the Istituto di Studi Storici Postali “Aldo Cecchi” (Tobias Zywietz)
    • A 1920s Turkish Stamp Album: “ پول البومى ” (pūl albümi) (Tobias Zywietz)
    • L’Orient Philatélique Digitised (Tobias Zywietz)
    • Dissolution of the Oriental Philatelic Association London (OPAL) (Tobias Zywietz)
    • Ankara 2023 National and International Stamp Exhibition – Results (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Archive Section:
    • The Postal Convention of 1884 Between the Ottoman Empire and Persia (compiled and translated by Tobias Zywietz)
    • The Postal Convention of 1892 Between the Ottoman Empire and Persia (compiled and translated by Tobias Zywietz)
    • The 1905 Amendment to the Postal Convention of 1892 Between the Ottoman Empire and Persia (compiled and translated by Tobias Zywietz)
  • Recent Philatelic Journals (Tobias Zywietz)

The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 25

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The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 25

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The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 24 (Summer 2023)
Middle East Philatelic Bulletin - MEPB 24 Cover
  • The Wing of Islam – The Postal Service in Egypt and Syria in the Umayyad, Abbasid, and Mamluk Periods (Bruno Crevato-Selvaggi)
  • Mr. Scudamore’s Appointment (Tobias Zywietz/Asaf Tanrıkut/Seref Bornovali)
  • The 1882 Anglo-Egyptian War and the Sea Post Office (Bo Andersson)
  • Specialities of Ottoman Philately (I) : Foreign Post Office Letters for Inland Destinations (Hans-Dieter Gröger)
  • Once upon a Time there were three Rabbis … ROPiT Jerusalem 14.12.1906 (Willy Pijnenburg)
  • Railway Mail Services in Ottoman Europe (III) : Railway Stations after the Balkan Wars and First World War (Folkert Bruining & Atadan Tunacı)
  • Ottoman Military Mail & Censorship in WWI (Hubert Gerzabek)
  • International Reply Coupons of Iran (Parviz Sahandi)
  • Taxed Mail of the Gaza Strip under Egyptian Rule (Avo Kaplanian)
  • Curious Stamps from Damascus (II): The Martyrs Obligatory Tax Stamps of 2015/2020 (Johann Baumgartner/Moritz Traub)
  • İstanbul Mosques on Ottoman Postcards – Part 2: Ayasofya (Hakan Yılmaz)
  • Book Reviews:
    • Pellecom & Stragier: Alexandria Postal Historical Study from the Earliest Days until 1918 (reviewed by Tobias Zywietz)
    • Holy Land: Turkish Post in Palestine 1851–1918 The Itamar Karpovsky Collection (reviewed by Tobias Zywietz)
    • Kaczmarczyk: The Postal Issues of Syria, Lebanon and the Alaouites 1919–1945 (reviewed by Tobias Zywietz)
    • Crevato-Selvaggi & Macrelli: Libia : Storia, Posta, Filatelia I (reviewed by Tobias Zywietz)
  • Reactions, Comments, Queries Section:
    • Photograph of the Austrian Post Office in Jerusalem, 1905 (Tobias Zywietz)
    • Asaf Tanrıkut: Türkiye Posta ve Telgraf ve Telefon tarihi ve teşkilât ve mevzuatı (Tobias Zywietz)
    • Kuwait’s refusal of mail franked with certain Iranian postage stamps (Ralf Kollmann)
    • Disruption of Airmail Services between West Germany and Iraq and Iran at the Start of the First Gulf War (October 1980) (Ralf Kollmann)
    • The Arab-Israeli Clandestine Mail Revisited (Jan Heijs)
    • Régistre d’Échangistes de Cartes Postales Illustrées et de Timbre Poste: RECP – one of many postcard and stamp exchange clubs (Tobias Zywietz)
    • Syrian ADPO ZO Revenue Stamps: New Discoveries (Bernardo Longo)
    • Dubai 1968 Butterflies: New Discveries (Ralf Kollmann)
    • RFI: Arab postage stamp depictions of maps of Palestine, 1948–1967 (Michael Sharnoff)
  • Archive Section:
    • Postal Conditions in Turkey (1875) (Karl Braun)
    • The Turkish Posts (Postal Secretary Unger)
  • Recent Philatelic Journals (Tobias Zywietz)

The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 24

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The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 24

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The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 23 (Spring 2023)
Middle East Philatelic Bulletin - MEPB 23 Cover
  • Postage Due Covers from the Turkish-Bulgarian Postal War of 1886 to 1888 (Hans-Dieter Gröger )
  • A Golden “Oildie” (Oscar van der Vliet)
  • Mail from Bombay disinfected in Persia 1897 (Bo Andersson)
  • Railway Mail Services in Ottoman Europe (II) Ottoman Railway Station Post Offices and TPOs (Atadan Tunacı and Folkert Bruining)
  • İstanbul Mosques on Ottoman Postcards – Part 1: Ayasofya General Views (Hakan Yılmaz)
  • Ottoman Officers’ Field Post Stamps and Military and Field Post Postmarks (Hofrat Ing. Hubert Gerzabek)
  • Iranian Parcel Post 1876–1981 (Colis Postaux) (Saeed Bakhtiari Soltani, edited by Fariborz Goodarzi)
  • Emergency Post Cards of Turkey (Otto Graf, AIJP)
  • The Arab-Israeli Clandestine Mail Revisited (Avo Kaplanian)
  • Kuwait’s refusal of mail franked with certain Iranian postage stamps (Jan Heijs and Wolfgang Elsner)
  • Curious Stamps from Damascus (I): The Withdrawn 2016 National Day Stamp (Johann Baumgartner with additions by Tobias Zywietz)
  • Book Review:
    • The Ottoman Post Offices and Services in Iraq (Kemal Giray) (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Reactions, Comments, Queries Section:
    • German Levant: Printed Matter Wrapper, Jerusalem & Beirut 1900 (Hakan Yılmaz, Tilmann Nössig)
    • The Postal Conditions in Tripoli (Libya) in 1879 (Gerhard Rohlfs, Andreas Birken, Tobias Zywietz)
    • German Consulate in Trabzon: Trade Report 1871 (RFI: Ottoman Postal Route to Persia via Trebizonde, Erzurum, Bayazid, and Tabriz) (Tobias Zywietz)
    • International Reply Coupons of Turkey: Greek Occupation of the Island of Lesbos with Mytilene 1912 (Wolfgang Leimenstoll)
    • Mixed Results for Ottoman Era Material at a Recent Auction (Tobias Zywietz) (Tobias Zywietz)
    • Syrian IRC: Spectacular Auction Result for a very rare Version (Wolfgang Leimenstoll)
    • RFI: “Licence of Vehicles” at Amman Central Post Office (Bernd-Dieter Buscke)
    • RFI: Jordan Cachets – what is their use and meaning? (Bernd-Dieter Buscke)
    • RFI: Saudi Arabia 1950s Censorship? (Govenco, Djeddah) (Bernd-Dieter Buscke)
    • RFI: Turkish Post operating in Northern Syria (Jinderes, Shayk al-Hadid, Rajo Afrin, Azaz, Marea, Al-Rai, Jarabulus, Tell Abiad, Ras al-Ayn) (Tobias Zywietz, Moritz Traub)
    • RFI: Queen Elizabeth II State Visit to Jordan, March 1984 (Irv Osterer)
    • RFI: Palestine Fiscal Stamps (ʾiradat) and MOPIC (Thomas Schubert, Arthur Harris)
    • The Air Defence School (FLAK-Schule) at San Stefano (Yeşilköy) (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Archive Section:
    • Maritime and Road Traffic in Constantinople (1875) (Postsecretair Unger)
  • Recent Philatelic Journals (Tobias Zywietz)

The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 23

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The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 23

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The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 22 (Winter 2022)
Middle East Philatelic Bulletin - MEPB 22 Cover
  • German Post in Turkey: Early Printed Matter Frankings with North-German Stamps 1870/71 (by Tilmann Nössig and Joachim Gerhold)
  • Telephones in Constantinople (but only for the Sultan) (by Tobias Zywietz)
  • British Railway Company Cancellations of the Ottoman Empire in Western Anatolia (by Atadan Tunacı)
  • Railway Mail Services in Ottoman Europe (I) – C.O., C.O.S.M., J.S.C. (by Atadan Tunacı and Folkert Bruining)
  • Undelivered Postal Items in Ottoman Jerusalem (Austrian Post) – An Introduction (by David K. Smith)
  • A 1914 Christmas Letter (by Yvonne Berger)
  • The Ottoman Field Post Office 44 (by Osman Levend Seral (edited by Tobias Zywietz))
  • Gems from the Adolf Passer Collection (II): The Kilis-Provisionals 1921 (by Hubert Gerzabek)
  • The Opening of the Haifa–Baghdad Overland Mail as reported by The Times in 1923 (compiled by Tobias Zywietz)
  • Palestine Mandate: Rare 1928 Registration Envelope without Imprinted Stamp (by Rolf Wernecke and Tobias Zywietz)
  • Recent Postal Developments in Palestine (by Thomas Schubert)
  • The Zotero Philatelic Resources Library (by Peter Moorer)
  • Book Reviews:
    • Stempels van Scheepsagenturen & de Regionale Scheepvaart in het Egeïsche en Ionische Zee (Hans Paul Soetens)
    • Collecting Hejaz Railway (Martin C. Lovegrove)
    • Post Offices of the Ottoman Empire (M. Bülent Papuççuoğlu)
    • The Revenue Stamps of the Palestinian Authority (Arthur Harris)
  • Reactions, Comments, Queries Section:
    • Mayo’s “Chisel”: The Overprint Variety AY with MiNr. 739 (Osmanlı Postaları 1337) (Willy Pijnenburg, Martin C. Lovegrove)
    • German “Marine Schiffspost” in Turkey, WWI: MSP 14, 29, and 69 – Ships: General, Loreley, Goeben (Sultan Yavuz Selim), and Breslau (Midilli) (Hakan Yılmaz and Tobias Zywietz)
    • A.D.P.O. – “Palestine” Revenue Stamps in French (Martin Lovegrove, Richard B. Rose)
    • Arab–Israeli Clandestine Mail: Cover and IRCs (Peter Moorer)
    • Photograph of Bahrain Air Field, 1934 (Tobias Zywietz)
    • Agenzia Del Lloyd Austriaco Alessandria: One of the Rarest Lloyd Cachets on an 1857 Passenger Ticket (Christopher C. Smith)
    • Research Request: Austrian Steam Navigation 1834-1845 (Study of the Austrian Post Offices Abroad) (Christopher C. Smith)
    • Palestine Mandate: Saving Stamp Card (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Archive Section:
    • A Short History of the Turkish Posts (contributed by the Turkish Postal Administration)
  • Recent Philatelic Journals (Tobias Zywietz)

The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 22

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The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 22

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The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 21 (Summer 2022)
Middle East Philatelic Bulletin - MEPB 21 Cover
  • Gems of Ottoman Maritime Mail (Hubert Gerzabek)
  • Agenzia Del Lloyd Austriaco Alessandria (Oscar van der Vliet)
  • Turkey Coat-of-Arms: Rarities and Varieties (Hans-Dieter Gröger)
  • The Postal Connections from Constantinople to Germany until the End of 1871 (Tilmann Nössig)
  • Kouléli Bourgas of all Places … (Folkert Bruining)
  • Advertising Postcards sent from Jerusalem in 1899 and 1903 (David K. Smith)
  • Foreign Post Offices in Jerusalem – Photographs
  • A 1915 Cover from Rızā Bey to Enver Paşa (contr. by Hakan Yılmaz and Osman Levend Seral)
  • Ottoman Censorship Markings of WWI – Part IV: Insured Letters with Wax Seals (Hans Paul Soetens)
  • The Handling of International Mail by Turkish Censors During World War I (I) (Otto Graf)
  • The Air Defence School (FLAK-Schule) at San Stefano (Yeşilköy) (Peter B. Feuser)
  • A.D.P.O. – “Palestine” Revenue Stamps in French (Richard B. Rose)
  • Walter Mittelholzer’s Persia Flight 1924/25 (Schalk W. de Klerk)
  • A Rare 1936 Lebanon Cover to Brazil via Zeppelin (Alexios Papadopoulos)
  • Book Reviews:
    • Egypt – The Rural Postal Service (Mike Murphy/Ibrahim Shoukry) (Tobias Zywietz)
    • Ottoman Revenue Stamps of the Hejaz Railway (Steve Jacques) (Tobias Zywietz)
    • The Stamps of Bukhara (Wolfgang Baldus) (Tobias Zywietz)
    • The Comprehensive Guide to Iraq Fantasy Stamps 2003–2021 (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Reactions, Comments, Queries Section:
    • An Uprated German Domestic Reply-Postcard, 1916 (Jens Warnecke)
    • Julius Bolthausen Covers and Postcards (Peter Keeda)
    • Request for Information: Ottoman Railway Station Postmarks (Folkert Bruining)
    • Holy Land Hotel Cachet: New Hotel Haifa Palestine A. Nassar 1898 (Tobias Zywietz)
    • Turkey: Small Tughras Plate Error? “PAPAS” (2pa 1911, MiNr. 180) (Eric Rosen)
    • Research Request: Lebanon Consular Stamps (Tobias Zywietz)
    • RFI: Ottoman Postal Route to Persia via Trebizonde, Erzurum, Bayazid, and Tabriz (Björn Sohne)
    • The Joint Telegraph Office at Pera (Ottoman Posts/Eastern Telegraph Co.) (Tobias Zywietz)
    • The Ottoman Postmarks Projects – Joint Research by AROS, OPAL, and ONEPS (Tobias Zywietz)
    • RFI: Existence of Postmark Usunca Owa in Bulgaria (Usundsha Ova, Uzundja-ova, Uzundzhovo) (Tobias Zywietz)
    • RFI: Compagnie Perso-Ottomane de Navigation à Vapeur (S. Atychidès and Th. B. Vahratoglou) (Björn Sohne)
  • Archive Section:
    • Postage-Paid Seals of the Ottoman Empire in the Pre-Philatelic Period (İsmail Hakkı Tevfik Okday)
  • Recent Philatelic Journals (Tobias Zywietz)

The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 21

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The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 21

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The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 20 (Spring 2022)
Middle East Philatelic Bulletin - MEPB 20 Cover
  • Gems from the Adolf Passer Collection (I) (Hubert Gerzabek)
  • Beware the Certificate: Bosnia to Austria Postage Due 1866? (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Constantinople City Post 1869–1882 and Liannos Private Post 1865–1867 (John Patrick Garton)
  • Turkey Empire 1891: Complete Sheet of the 20 Paras Stamp Overprinted “Imprimé” (Hans-Dieter Gröger)
  • The Bombay–Aden Sea Post Office (Mike Dovey)
  • From Smyrna to Molyvos (Mytilene) 1903 (Ot Louw and Folkert Bruining)
  • İstanbul Postmen’s Delivery Cachets 1913–1929 (Volker Fredebold)
  • Ottoman Censorship Markings of WWI – Part III: Positive Censor Markings İ–Z (Hans Paul Soetens)
  • Indian Army FPO 33 at Belbeis POW Camp (Egypt) (Robert Gray)
  • A 1919 Letter from Baghdad to İstanbul via London (Hakan Yılmaz)
  • Iraq 1926: Essays for Proposed Overland Mail Stamps (Rainer Fuchs, FRPSL, AIJP)
  • More Interesting Proofs and Essays of (Trans)Jordan (Avo Kaplanian)
  • Is this Stamp with a White Spot worth a Thousand Dollars? Random Flaws of Jordan’s 1954/55 Definitives (Avo Kaplanian)
  • Aden Meter Marks (edited by Neil Williams and Tobias Zywietz)
  • Postal Wars: World Refugee Year 1959/1960 (Jan M. Heijs)
  • Registration Etiquettes and Cachets used in the Aden Protectorate States: Further Examples of ‘white’ Registration Etiquettes (Neil Williams)
  • Book Review: Turkey Ottoman Empire Military Censorship During World War I 1914–1918 (John Patrick Garton) (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Book Review: Ottoman Post Offices and Services in Albania (Kemal Giray & Otto Graf) (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Reactions, Comments, Queries Section
    • Request for Information: Private Mail in US Diplomatic Pouch (Neil Williams)
    • International Reply Coupons of Turkey: Greek Occupation of the Island of Lesbos with Mytilene 1912 (Hans Paul Soetens)
    • A curious 1941 Air Mail cover: France to Aden via Syria? (Neil Williams)
    • RFI: 1937 Atatürk Block (Souvenir Sheet) (Rod Allen, Wolfgang Schmidt)
    • Book Notice: “Iridescent Kuwait: Petro-Modernity and Urban Visual Culture since the Mid-Twentieth Century” (Laura Hindelang)
    • Forgeries of the Jordan 1942 Definitive Set (Bernd-Dieter Buscke)
    • Transjordan/Hejaz 1924 3 qirsh brown and brown-olive and two ‘Makkah Arms’ covers from Amman via Haifa–Kantara T.P.O. (Martin Lovegrove)
    • Indian Censor 112 on E.E.F. cover Sinai–Alexandria in June 1917 (Sami Sadek)
    • Request for Information: Scientific Examination of Stamps via Spectrometry and XRay (Sharjah, Ras Al-Khaima, and Qatar) (Peter Moorer)
    • RFI: Ottoman Postal Route to Persia via Trebizonde, Erzurum, Bayazid, and Tabriz (Björn Sohne)
    • RFI: Iraq–Kuwait Postal War (Jan Heijs) (Jan Heijs)
    • The Ottoman Postmarks Projects – Joint Research by AROS, OPAL, and ONEPS (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Archive Section:
    • Ottoman Censorship Instructions 1914 (edited by Tobias Zywietz)
    • The Turkish Post Before the Introduction of Stamps in Lebanon (İsmail Hakkı Tevfik Okday)
  • Recent Philatelic Journals (Tobias Zywietz)

The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 20

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The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 20

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The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 19 (Winter 2021)
Middle East Philatelic Bulletin - MEPB 19 Cover
  • Beware the Certificate: Anatolia to Austria 1871 Untaxed (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Mission Bopp: Persia via Baghdad 1916 (Arno Schmolke, Horst Borlinghaus, Walter Stegmüller, Rolf Haspel, Heiko Kregel)
  • Ottoman Censorship Markings of WWI – Part II: Positive Censorship Markings A–H (Hans Paul Soetens)
  • Hejaz Railway Revenue Stamps on a 1916 Quarry Bill (by Tobias Zywietz with help from Osman Levend Seral and Hakan Yılmaz)
  • Turkey 1917: Ox Head Overprints on Cover (Hubert Gerzabek)
  • A First Hand with Second Hand – The First Revenue Stamps in Former Ottoman Territories (Oscar van der Vliet)
  • From Britain to India by Imperial Airways: The First Steps (Schalk W. de Klerk)
  • The International Reply Coupons of Mandated Syria (Syria, Latakia, Lebanon) 1926–1945 (contributed by Wolfgang Leimenstoll and Hálfdan Helgason)
  • Use with Caution: How Comprehensive is Norman J. Collins’ “The Crown Agents Requisition Books”? (Alex Ben Arieh)
  • More Interesting Proofs and Essays of (Trans)Jordan (Adel Al-Sarraf)
  • More World Refugee Year Palestine Slogan Markings (Avo Kaplanian)
  • More Lebanon Gum-Side Surcharges (VII) (Phil Le Page)
  • The Modern Definitive Revenue Stamps of Jordan 1995–2020 (Avo Kaplanian)
  • Book Review: Aspects of Palestinian Postal History (David Trapnell) (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Book Review: The Postal History of the Ottoman Post in the Holy Land (Zvi Aloni & Joseph Hackmey) (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Reactions, Comments, Queries
    • NOTOS European Philatelic Exhibition, Athens, 19th–22nd November 2021 (Tobias Zywietz)
    • International Reply Coupons of Turkey: Greek Occupation of the Island of Lesbos with Mytilene 1912 (Bernd-Dieter Buscke, Wolfgang Leimenstoll)
    • RFI: Arabian Gulf States Postal History Quarterly (Tobias Zywietz)
    • RFI: Iraq Registration Fee 1921 (Thomas Johansen)
    • RFI: UAE Postage Rates / Ras al-Khaima U.P.U. member? (Folkert Bruining, Khalid Omaira)
    • RFI: Private Mail in US Diplomatic Pouch (Martin Rhein)
    • Arabian Philatelic Association International: New Website (Tobias Zywietz)
    • The WWI Censor Seals of the Ottoman Empire (Hakan Yılmaz)
    • Pogon Ambulant Post Office: A Rural Postal Service in Ottoman Times? (Ercan Oktay Richter)
    • 2002 Fluorescent Overprint on Definitive Revenue Stamps of Jordan (Fareed Tawara)
    • The Agony of Quarantine in Smyrna in 1890: İzmir Quarantine Administration 1889 (Osman Levend Seral)
    • Selling the Impossible – Palestine ‘Blues’ 1918: 5 Mils Overprint in Grey Colour? (Adel Al-Sarraf)
    • Jordan: 1 mil Definitive 1942 in complete cancelled-to-order Sheet (contributed by Hatem Rawhi Al-Khatib)
  • Archive: Postal History and Related Notices from the Official Gazettes for Palestine – Part 12: 1933 (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Recent Philatelic Journals (Tobias Zywietz)

The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 19

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The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 19

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The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 18 (Summer 2021)
Middle East Philatelic Bulletin - MEPB 18 Cover
  • The Art of Islam (Hubert Gerzabek)
  • Mail from Perim Island (Yemen) (II) (Folkert Bruining)
  • A Visit to the Quarantine Station at Anatoli-Kawak on the Bosporus in 1884 (Tobias Zywietz)
  • The Agony of Quarantine in Smyrna in 1890 (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Reports from the 1902 Cholera Epidemic in Palestine (Tobias Zywietz)
  • The WWI Censor Seals of the Ottoman Empire (Philip Longbottom)
  • Ottoman Censorship Markings of WWI - Part I: Negative Censorship Markings (Hans Paul Soetens)
  • The Red Crescent Exhibition Constantinople 1917 (Jens Warnecke)
  • The Earliest Ottoman Reply Coupon from Smyrna 1915 (Hakan Berkil)
  • Selling the Impossible Palestine ‘Blues’ 1918: 5 Mils Overprint in Grey Colour? (a critical evaluation by Tobias Zywietz)
  • Introduction of the French Trans-Desert Motor Service Damascus–Baghdad in Competition to the British Overland Mail Haifa–Baghdad (Rainer Fuchs)
  • Some Interesting Proofs and Essays of (Trans)Jordan (Avo Kaplanian)
  • Slogan Marks of the World Refugee Year (Laurence Fisher and Dr. Ofir Winter)
  • Palestine Rare Destinations: Iceland 1947 (Max Michel Mann)
  • Jordan’s Postcard for King Hussein’s Fiftieth Birthday 1985 (Dr. David K. Smith)
  • Market Report: Supplies of Post Office Postal Stationery Wrappers of Middle East Countries 2011–2020 (Dr. John A. Courtis)
  • Book Review: Mohamed Aly Post (Ramadan) (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Book Review: The Bombay–Aden Sea Post Office 1868–1914 (Dovey & Bottrill) (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Prisoners of War at the Ottoman Front during WWI (Giray) (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Reactions, Comments, Queries
    • RFI: Philatelic Literature in Arabic (Russel Turner, Peter Moorer)
    • RFI: Pogon Ambulant Post Office – A Rural Postal Service in Ottoman Times? (Folkert Bruining)
    • RFI: Turkey 1921/1922: Is there a third Adana overprint series? (Willy Pijnenburg)
    • RFI: Jordan Postage Rates 1920–1967 (Bernd-Dieter Buscke)
    • New Discovery: Gum-side Printing of the 1923 5p Ay Yıldız (Jens Warnecke)
    • RFI: Jordan: Military Cancel (Arab Legion) “M 30” (1955) (Bernd-Dieter Buscke)
    • The Hashemite Philatelist – An April Fools’ Joke from 1968 (Khalid Omaira)
    • The Palestine Post Tariff 2020 – Correction (Thomas Schubert)
    • RFI: Iraqi Postmarks Research (Rainer Fuchs, FRPSL, AIJP)
    • Mysterious Cover from Saudi Arabia to Cairo 1973 with Israeli Military Connection (Dr. Uwe Gräbe)
    • The Dissolution of The Holyland Philatelic Society (HPS) (Tobias Zywietz)
    • RFI: UAE Postage Rates (Folkert Bruining)
    • International Reply Coupons of Turkey: Greek Occupation of the Island of Lesbos with Mytilene 1912 (Wolfgang Leimstenstoll)
    • Jerusalem General Post Office: Telephone trunk exchange & supervisors' desk, 1938. (Tobias Zywietz)
  • A few Words about the Hand-Stamps of Turkey (Léon T. Adjemian)
  • The Postal Hand-Stamps of Turkey before the Existence of Postage Stamps (Léon T. Adjemian)
  • Anthony Bluett: Over the Ladder of Tyre A Soldier’s Observations of the Great Famine in Lebanon (Tobias Zywietz / Bernardo Longo / LibanPhil)
  • Postal and Communications Information in the 1872 Guide-Annuaire d’Égypte (compiled by Tobias Zywietz)
  • Recent Philatelic Journals (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Obituary: Ot Louw (Folkert Bruining)

The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 18

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The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 18

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The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 17 (Spring 2021)
Middle East Philatelic Bulletin - MEPB 17 Cover
  • The Αustrian Post in Thessaloniki (Alexandros Savopoulos )
  • The Turkish Post in Bulgaria: New Discoveries (Dr. Georgi Popov)
  • “Via Quetta” – The Earliest Incoming Mail to Persia (Björn Sohrne)
  • Emergency Measures of the Ottoman Post during the First World War (Jens Warnecke)
  • On the Use of Turkey’s 1916 Leander’s Tower Postal Card (Otto Graf)
  • Two Mysterious Baghdad–Haifa Overland Mail Route Instruction Hand-Stamps (Rainer Fuchs)
  • Three New Jordanian Censor Markings (Bernd-Dieter Buscke)
  • Mail from Perim Island (Yemen) (Folkert Bruining and Ot Louw)
  • The Yellow Fleet (Great Bitter Lake Association) (Peter Valdner)
  • The Palestine Post Tariff 2020 (Thomas Schubert)
  • Comments, Requests, Queries
    • Constantinople & Danube Line Of Steamers / T.B. Morton & Co. (Kamil Fatih Arli)
    • Request for Information: Palestine " إيرادات" (ʾiradat) Overprint (Arthur Harris)
    • Research Request: “Le Loi sur le Timbre” – Ottoman Fiscal Stamp Law 1893 (Tobias Zywietz)
    • Request for Information: International Currency Relations for Postage Due Calculations (Martin Davies)
    • Request for Information: The Yemenophile / Research Request: Royalist Yemen Stationery (Andreas Svrakov)
    • Research Request: Israeli Postal War against Palestine 1995 (Jan Heijs)
    • Request for Information: Mysterious Cover from Saudi Arabia to Cairo 1973 with Israeli Military Connection (Harris Wolman, Martin Lovegrove)
    • Request for Information: Palestine Mandate Booklet Stamps (Rolf Wernecke)
    • Request for Information: Egyptian Charity Label Giza Ambulance (ANPA) (Axel Brockmann)
    • More Lebanon Gum-Side Surcharges (Phil Le Page)
    • The End of the Overland Mail Baghdad–Haifa (III): Transdesert Transport Companies – Ani & Aboody Transport Company (Rainer Fuchs)
    • Request for Information: Jordan Postage Rates 1920–1967 (Bob Stuchell, Bernd-Dieter Buscke, Avo Kaplanian)
  • Archive: Postal History and Related Notices from the Official Gazettes for Palestine – Part 11: 1932 (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Recent Philatelic Journals (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Jerusalem Railway Station with Locomotive "Ramleh"

The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 17

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The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 17

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The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 16 (Winter 2020)
Middle East Philatelic Bulletin - MEPB 16 Cover
  • “Filthy beyond Belief” : A Postal Card from Djeddah 1893 (Tobias Zywietz/Ercan Oktay Richter)
  • Bon Samaritain (Khan al-Hathrur) (IV) (Folkert Bruining/Tobias/Rainer von Scharpen)
  • Proofs of Turkey’s 1916 Leander’s Tower Postcards (Jens Warnecke)
  • The Austro-Hungarian Medical Corps in Turkey (Horst Taitl)
  • Photographs of Austrian Troops in Palestine 1916/17 (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Forgeries of 1918/19 O.E.T.A. Revenues (EEF Overprints) (Richard B. Rose)
  • Varieties and Forgeries of the Quarter Qirsh Makka Arms Stamp of Hejaz and Transjordan (Martin Lovegrove)
  • Turkey’s Red Crescent Stamps: Regulations Governing their Usage (Otto Graf)
  • Ay Yıldız: About stumbling, tumbling and leaning numbers (Willy Pijnenburg)
  • Transdesert Transport Companies (IV): Compagnie Auto-Routière du Levant (Rainer Fuchs)
  • Revenues of Aden Crown Colony (Gary Brown/Neil Williams)
  • The Red Lion and Sun Society of Iran Philatelic and Semi-Philatelic Reflections (Werner Lade)
  • Nablus AM/PM Postmarks Revisited (IV) (Avo Kaplanian)
  • Book Review: Great Bitter Lake Association (Valdner) (Colin Fraser)
  • Reactions, Comments, Queries
    • Request for Information: Palestine " إيرادات" (ʾiradat) Overprint (Arthur Harris)
    • Turkish Occupation of Thessaly 1897/98 (Hakan Yilmaz)
    • New Study Group: Hejaz-Transjordan Study Group (Martin Lovegrove )
    • Genuine or Forgery: Hejaz 1924 10p Varieties (Syed Imtiaz Hussain Rizvi/Martin Lovegrove )
    • Request for Information: Ottoman Postal Route to Persia: via Trebizonde, Erzurum, Bayazid, and Tabriz (Björn Sohne)
    • Request for Information: Libyan Postal History and John N. Davies (FRPSL) (Tobias Zywietz)
    • Photograph of Gaza Post Office in Ottoman Times (Atadan Tunaci)
    • Request for Information: Jordan Postage Rates 1920–1967 (Tobias Zywietz)
    • E.E.F. Army Post Offices in Palestine: The Conumdrim of APOs SZ52 to SZ55 (Joel Weiner)
    • More Lebanon Gum-Side Surcharges (Tobias Zywietz)
    • Request for Information: Palestine Mandate Booklet Stamps (Max Michel Mann)
  • The India Post Office in the Middle East (Geoffrey Rothe Clarke)
  • Recent Philatelic Journals (Tobias Zywietz)

The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 16

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The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 16

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The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 15 (Summer 2020)
Middle East Philatelic Bulletin - MEPB 15 Cover
  • The Austrian Post Office in Çeşme (Tscheschmé) (Leonhard Döderlein)
  • Bon Samaritain (Khan al-Hathrur) (III) (David K. Smith, Folkert Bruining, Tobias Zywietz)
  • The Gülnihal: A Turkish Hospital Ship (Aram Daregobian, Richard B. Rose)
  • Jerusalem I Overprinting (II): The Visiting Card of Modestos Sapuntjoglou (Tobias Zywietz, Joel Weiner)
  • Jordanian Postmarks of Maʿān (II) (Bernd-Dieter Buscke)
  • Forgeries of the 1923/24 Transjordan Overprint on The Makka Arms Issue of Hedjaz (Martin Lovegrove)
  • Heliopolis Philatelists Club (Jos Strengholt)
  • The Red Crescent Aid Organisations in Islamic Countries (Jens Warnecke)
  • 1943 First Day Covers from Syria: Dr. Hoexter, Mr. Flouty and the Mystery of a Dead President (Tobias Zywietz, Bassam Hama)
  • The All-Arabic Jordanian West Bank Censor Markings (II) (Bernd-Dieter Buscke)
  • Book Review: The Egyptian Maritime Postal History (Salam) (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Reactions, Comments, Queries:
    • ʿAmmān–Darʿā T.P.O. Postmark Indexes (Bernd-Dieter Buscke, Folkert Bruining)
    • More Lebanon Gum-Side Surcharges (Phil Le Page)
    • Late Use of Jordanian Postal Forms (Bernd-Dieter Buscke, Avo Kaplanian)
    • From Scotland to Sudan (Alexios Papadopoulos)
    • The International Reply Coupons of Syria and Lebanon (Wolfgang Leimenstoll)
    • Libyan Postal History and John N. Davies (Hakan Berkil)
    • The Postal History of Heliopolis 1909–1952 (Jos Strengholt)
    • Palestine Stamp Magazine (Joseph Aron)
    • Jordan’s Stampless Air Letter Sheets (Bernd-Dieter Buscke)
    • The Yemonophile (Khalid Omaira, Neil Williams)
    • Iran’s 1906 “Service Intérieur” Surcharges (Behruz Nassre)
    • Meter Marks used in Iran and Lebanon (Luc Guillard)
    • The French Consular Issues of 1948 (Tobias Zywietz)
    • Sudan Embossed Revenues & Sudan Social Insurance Stamps (David Sher)
  • Archive: Postal History and Related Notices from the Official Gazettes for Palestine – Part 10: 1931 (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Recent Philatelic Journals (Tobias Zywietz)

The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 15

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The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 15

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The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 14 (Spring 2020)
Middle East Philatelic Bulletin - MEPB 14 Cover
  • The İstanbul Provisionals: An Update (Willy Pijnenburg)
  • Reprints of Iran’s 1906 “Service Intérieur” Surcharges (Lee Coen)
  • From Scotland to Sudan: A Tale of a Great Britain Post Office Postal Stationery Wrapper (Dr. John A. Courtis)
  • The Postal History of Heliopolis 1909–1952 (Jos Strengholt)
  • Jordanian Postmarks of Maʿān (Avo Kaplanian)
  • Egypt Essays, Proofs and Varieties from the Joseph Chalhoub Collection (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Iraq Railway Post Stamps: The Booklet of the Fifth Issue (Rainer Fuchs)
  • The Imperial Reply Coupons of Palestine – A New Discovery: Type II (Rolf Wernecke)
  • The All-Arabic Jordanian West Bank Censor Markings (Avo Kaplanian)
  • Registration Etiquettes used in the Aden Protectorate States (Mike Pettifor & Neil Williams)
  • RFI: 1983 Israeli Censorship on West Bank Mails (Marc Parren)
  • Jordan: New 2019 Commemorative Reply Coupon (Wolfgang Leimenstoll)
  • Book Review: The Werner Schindler Collection of Austrian Levant (Die Österreichische Post in der Levante) (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Book Review: The Postage Stamps of Aden 1937–1968 (P. Bond) (Neil Williams)
  • Book Review: Sultanate of Oman Postal System 1966-2016 (H. Al-Attar) (Cal Allen)
  • Book Review: The Revenue Stamps of the Palestinian Authority (A. Harris) (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Archive: The Postal Services in Palestine 1913 (Ernst J. Schmitz)
  • Recent Philatelic Journals (Tobias Zywietz)

The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 14

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The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 14

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The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 13 (Winter 2019)
Middle East Philatelic Bulletin - MEPB 13 Cover
  • A Thessaly Cover with Surprises (Otto Graf)
  • Turkey 1897 Overprint Error “Cniq” on Cover (Hakan Berkil)
  • A Rare Ottoman Cover from Amman, 1918 (Robert Stuchell)
  • The Old General Post Office of Jerusalem (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Photographs from the Jerusalem I Overprinting Process at Greek Convent Press (Tobias Zywietz)
  • ʿAmmān–Darʿā T.P.O. Postmark Indexes (Folkert Bruining)
  • The Danish Missionary Society in Syria II (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Iraq Railway Post Stamps First Issue Booklet (Rainer Fuchs)
  • A Curious 1933 Cover from Heliopolis (Jos Strengholt)
  • The End of a Legend: The ‘lost’ First Jordanian Postmark of Nablus (Bernd-Dieter Buscke)
  • Jordan’s Stampless Air Letter Sheets (Avo Kaplanian)
  • Another Printing Variety of Jordan’s 35 Fils Air Letter (Bernd-Dieter Buscke)
  • Late Use of Jordanian Postal Forms in the Israeli Occupied West Bank (Avo Kaplanian)
  • Late Use of Jordanian Postal Forms in the Israeli Occupied West Bank: Numbered P.O. Cachets (Dr. Wolfgang Elsner)
  • Book Review: Der Orient-Express 1883–1914 (Dorr) (TZ)
  • Archive: The French Consular Issues of 1948 (Dr. Siegfried Ascher)
  • Archive: Postal History and Related Notices from the Official Gazettes for Palestine – Part 9: 1930 (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Archive: Friedrich Perlberg’s Palæstina-Album (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Recent Philatelic Journals (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Obituary: Gary Brown (Malcolm Groom)
  • Obituary: Andreas Birken (Tobias Zywietz)

The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 13

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The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 13

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The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 12 (Summer 2019)
Middle East Philatelic Bulletin - MEPB 12 Cover
  • New Ottoman T.P.O. Cancel Discovered: Smyrna–Dinar (İzmir–Geyikli) (Hakan Berkil)
  • The Turkish Occupation of Thessaly 1897/98: Some Covers and their Background (Otto Graf)
  • Bon Samaritain (Khan al-Hathrur) Updated (Folkert Bruining and Tobias Zywietz)
  • The Old General Post Office of Jerusalem on Historical Photographs – Revisited (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Two or three lines under the Mosque: Varieties of Palestine’s First Registration Envelope (Rolf Wernecke)
  • Research Appeal: The International Reply Coupons of Syria and Lebanon
  • Levantine Discord: The Rejection of the First Stamps of Hatay by Syria and Lebanon (Wolfgang Elsner)
  • Covers from the Sanjak of Alexandretta during the Crisis of 1938/1939 (contr.: Chaker Areksoussi, ‘Liban Phil,’ ‘Ruud van Nistelrooy,’ et al.)
  • The Stamps of Alexandretta and Hatay amidst the Conflict (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Alexandretta: Non-Philatelic Appendices (Tobias Zywietz)
  • The End of the Overland Mail Baghdad–Haifa (III): Transdesert Transport Companies (Rainer Fuchs (FRPSL, AIJP))
  • Research Appeal: Aden and Yemen Meter Marks
  • Printing Varieties of Jordan’s 35 Fils Air Letter (Avo Kaplanian)
  • Post-WWII Iraqi Censorship – Part I: Baghdad 1958–1972 (Marc Parren)
  • Archive: Postal History and Related Notices from the Official Gazettes for Palestine: Index 1919–1929 (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Recent Philatelic Journals (Tobias Zywietz)

The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 12

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The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 12

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The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 11 (Spring 2019)
Middle East Philatelic Bulletin - MEPB 11 Cover
  • When Did Turkey Introduce Postal Services for Occupied Thessaly? (Otto Graf)
  • More Bolthausen Picture Post Cards (Tobias Zywietz, David Pearlman)
  • The Danish Missionary Society (Østerlandsmissionen) in Syria (Tobias Zywietz, Luigi Martinoja)
  • A New Miss Newton Cover: Palestine to Iraq 1923 (Rainer Fuchs)
  • Palestine Mandate Postmark Record Sheets III (Joel Weiner)
  • The End of the Overland Mail Baghdad–Haifa (II): The 1947 Contract with Haim Nathaniel (Rainer Fuchs)
  • Arab-Israeli War 1948: Malta to Cyprus Surface Mail Censored in Egypt (Marc Parren)
  • The Jordan Revenue and “Aid” Overprint Stamps (Avo Kaplanian)
  • Kathiri State of Seiyun (Aden) Air Letters (Gary Brown)
  • Aden Meter Marks (Neil Williams, Gary Brown)
  • The Reply Coupons of Jordan II (Hálfdan Helgason, Avo Kaplanian, Wolfgang Leimenstoll, Bernd-Dieter Buscke)
  • Late Use of Arab Postal Forms and Cachets in the Israeli Occupied Territories (Wolfgang Elsner)
  • Sale of the Georg Roll Stock of Palestine (Tobias Zywietz)
  • International Philatelic Literature Exhibition “ITALIA 2018” (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Recent Philatelic Journals (Tobias Zywietz)

The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 11

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The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 11

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The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 10 (Autumn 2018)
Middle East Philatelic Bulletin - MEPB 10 Cover
  • Joss & Löwenstein Perfins Revisted (Vladimír Münzberger)
  • The Oriental Travels of Julius Bolthausen – Part 2: More Bolthausen Picture Post Cards (Tobias Zywietz)
  • A 1924 Share of Beyrouth-Baghdad-Téhéran-Autombile (Eastern Transport Company) (Rainer Fuchs)
  • A 1928 Dubai Paquebot Cover via Overland Mail to Antwerp? (Rainer Fuchs)
  • The Missing Press Drop of the 1929 Zeppelin Orient Flight (Dieter Leder, Tobias Zywietz)
  • The Raid on the Bethlehem Post Office 1938: Where is the Disaster Mail (Tobias Zywietz)
  • The End of the Overland Mail Baghdad-Haifa (Rainer Fuchs)
  • The Late Use of Mandate Postmarks in the West Bank 1948-50 (Bernd-Dieter Buscke)
  • British Mandate Postmarks and Registration Labels used in the West Bank of Jordan (Avo Kaplanian)
  • Egypt in Palestine: Philatelic Souvenir Covers 1948/1954 (Tobias Zywietz)
  • The Reply Coupons of Jordan: a Research Request
  • Suspension of Mail Service Israel–Gaza in 2009: An Internal Israel Post Notice (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Digitisation of Philatelic Knowledge: Holy Land Postal History (Mark Sommer)
  • Archive: The Postal Service in Palestine in 1922 including Postage Stamps of Palestine and Trans-Jordania, 1918–1922 (Harry Charles Luke, Edward Keith-Roach, Dr. C.R.B. Eyre, Tobias Zywietz)
  • Archive: Press Reports of the 1929 Zeppelin Orient Flight (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Recent Philatelic Journals (Tobias Zywietz)

The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 10

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The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 10

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The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 9 (Summer 2018)
Middle East Philatelic Bulletin - MEPB 9 Cover
  • How to Sell a Parable: The Ottoman Post Office Bon Samaritain (Khan al-Hathrur) (Folkert Bruining, Tobias Zywietz)
  • Austrian Levant Perfins: O&M – Observatoire et Musée Scientifique de Jerusalem (Peter Keeda)
  • The Late Use of the Small Ottoman Date-Bridge Postmark of Kerek in Transjordan (Bernd-Dieter Buscke)
  • The Palestine Mandate London II (Waterlow) Issue: The Mystery of the Missing Upper Panes of the 9, 10, and 20 Piastres (Perf. 14) (Avo Kaplanian, Jacques Kaufmann)
  • Embossed Egyptian Fiscals (Wolfgang Morscheck (Bad Säckingen))
  • Some Remarks about the Ay Yıldız Issue (Otto Graf)
  • A 1931 Rerouted Overland Mail Cover: London–Hit–Haifa–Jerusalem–Afule (Rainer Fuchs)
  • The Raid on the Bethlehem Post Office in September 1938 (Tobias Zywietz)
  • The “Wartime Economy Use” of a Palestine Meter Mark Cover (Rainer Fuchs)
  • Nablus AM/PM Postmarks Revisited (III) (Avo Kaplanian)
  • Egypt Stamps and Rates: What, no Stamp? (Edmund Hall)
  • Reply Coupons of The Arab Postal Union (Hálfdan Helgason, Tobias Zywietz)
  • More Lebanon Gum-Side Surcharges (Johann Baumgartner)
  • Jordan’s Touristic Post Cards (Avo Kaplanian)
  • New Books: The Transition from Palestine to Israel (van de Laar)
  • Book Review: Venice and the Levant (Venezia e il Levante) (Rigo)
  • Book Review: "Postkrieg" Catalogue (Burhop/Heijs)
  • New Books: Ein wahrhaft irdisches Jerusalem (Zahn)
  • World Stamp Championship “ISRAEL 2018” (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Recent Philatelic Journals (Tobias Zywietz)

The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 9

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The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 9

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The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 8 (Spring 2018)
Middle East Philatelic Bulletin - MEPB 8 Cover
  • Joss & Löwenstein Perfin on an Egyptian Postal Stationery Card (Vahe Varjabedian)
  • Request for Information: Levant Perfins (Georg Sand, Tobias Zywietz, Dick Scheper)
  • The Plate Varieties Of The London II (Waterlow) Issue of Mandate Palestine – Updated (Avo Kaplanian)
  • The Late Use of the Hejazi Postmark of Maʿān in Transjordan 1920–1927 (Bernd-Dieter Buscke)
  • The Annexation of Maʿān District in 1925 (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Overland Mail Baghdad–Haifa: The Route Instruction Label of the British Post – Second Addendum (Rainer Fuchs)
  • A Unique Quadruple Rate Overland Mail Cover (Rainer Fuchs)
  • Palestine Mandate Postmark Record Sheets Revisited (Joel Weiner)
  • Domestic Cancel on Iraqi International Reply Coupon (Tobias Zywietz, Halfdan Helgason)
  • 1957 Egyptian Mail Rejected by France (Pierre Louis Grech)
  • 1957 Egyptian Mail Rejected by France – Additional Information (Jan Heijs)
  • Lebanon Cedar Definitives with Surcharge Revisited (Tobias Zywietz, Luigi Martinoja, Phil Le Page, Albert Massaad)
  • World Cultural Heritage in Jordan: Madaba and other Christian Sites (Dietrich Ecklebe)
  • New Books: Palestine Related Stamps (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Postal History and Related Notices from the Official Gazettes for Palestine – Part 8: 1929 (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Postal History and Related Notices from the Official Gazettes for Palestine - Part 3: 1923/1924 – Addendum 2 (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Recent Philatelic Journals (Tobias Zywietz)

The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 8

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The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 8

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The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 7 (Autumn 2017)
Middle East Philatelic Bulletin - MEPB 7 Cover
  • The Late Use of Postmarks of the Kingdom of Syria in Transjordan 1920–1928 (Bernd-Dieter Buscke)
  • Iraq Railway Post: A New Discovery? (Rainer Fuchs)
  • Postmark Record Sheets of the Palestine Mandate (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Jordan Palestine Aid Obligatory Tax Stamps: Revenue Overprint Varieties of 1947 and 1953 (Avo Kaplanian)
  • Nablus AM/PM Postmarks Revisited (II) (Avo Kaplanian)
  • 1957 Lebanon Cedar Definitives with Surcharge on the Reverse (Rainer Fuchs)
  • World Cultural Heritage in Jordan: The Decapolis (Dietrich Ecklebe)
  • Book Review: The Paper Money Collectors’ Guide - Ayman Dayekh (Mahdi Bseiso)
  • Book Review: Baghdad in British Occupation - Freddy Khalastchy (Tobias Zywietz
  • Book Review: Amsterdamse Postzegelsociëteit: APS Tachtig 1937 2017 (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Where have all the Overland Mail Baghdad–Haifa Collectors gone? (Rainer Fuchs)
  • Royal Philatelic Society London Acquires Edward B. Proud’s Invaluable Archive
  • Postal History and Related Notices from the Official Gazettes for Palestine – Part 7: 1928 (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Postal History and Related Notices from the Official Gazettes for Palestine – Part 3: 1923/1924 – Addendum (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Recent Philatelic Journals (Tobias Zywietz)

The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 7

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The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 6 (Summer 2017)
Middle East Philatelic Bulletin - MEPB 6 Cover
  • Syrian Hejaz Railway Postmarks:Hamidiye Hicaz Demiryolu Deraʿa (Folkert Bruining, Dr. Atadan Tunaci)
  • Ounces or Grammes? Request for Information on Weight Units used by Iraqi Post in the 1920s (Rainer Fuchs
  • Overland Mail Baghdad–Haifa: The Route Instruction Label of the British Post – An Addendum (Rainer Fuchs)
  • The Pictorial Coil Stamps of Mandate Palestine: Paste-Up with Plate Number Discovered (Tobias Zywietz, Bassam Hama)
  • Restricted Use of British Postal Orders in Egypt and Palestine (Tobias Zywietz, John Gledhill, Jack Harwood)
  • The First Post Office in Sharjah (Khalid Omaira)
  • Cumulative Index to R. Howard Courtney’s The Arab World Philatelist 1978–1982 (Tobias Zywietz, R. Howard Courtney)
  • Request for Information: Small Tughra Bey’iye Stamps on Cover (Andreas Birken)
  • Postal History and Related Notices from the Official Gazettes for Palestine – Part 6: 1927 (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Recent Philatelic Journals (Tobias Zywietz)

The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 6

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The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 6

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The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 5 (Spring 2017)
Middle East Philatelic Bulletin - MEPB 5 Cover
  • Baghdad Provisionals Revisited (Kemal Giray, Tobias Zywietz)
  • Overland Mail Baghdad–Haifa: A Very Special Iranian Overland Mail Cover (Rainer Fuchs)
  • Syrian Hejaz Railway Postmarks: Request for Information (Folkert Bruining)
  • Syrian Hejaz Railway Postmarks: Alep–Damas and the Postmarks of the Palestine Branch Line after WWI (Tobias Zywietz)
  • A Kuwait Cover with 1948 Syrian Censorship (Thomas Johansen)
  • Iraqi Censorship Post-WWII (Marc Parren)
  • A New Variety of Transjordan Palestine 1948 2m? (Tobias Zywietz, Kamal Kawar, Avo Kaplanian & Bernd-Dieter Buscke)
  • Nablus AM/PM Postmarks Revisited (Tobias Zywietz, Paul Phillips, Avo Kaplanian)
  • Ottoman Empire at Spring Stampex 2017 (Tobias Zywietz, Rainer Fuchs)
  • A Curious Palestine Slogan Meter Mark from Yemen (Lawrence Fisher)
  • The Postal Stationery of Israel (Sid Morginstin)
  • Israel Postal Rates 1983–1984 (Sid Morginstin)
  • Postal History and Related Notices from the Official Gazettes for Palestine – Part 5: 1926 (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Recent Philatelic Journals (Tobias Zywietz)

The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 5

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The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 5

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The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 4 (Winter 2016)
Middle East Philatelic Bulletin - MEPB 4 Cover
  • Two Rare Ottoman Holy Land Covers at Auction (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Post for Baron Krobatin (Andreas Birken)
  • Unknown Ottoman Censor Marks: Deurt-Yol and Damascus (Otto Graf)
  • Overland Mail Baghdad–Haifa: The Route Instruction Label of the British Post Office (Rainer Fuchs)
  • The 'one & only' Postcard of Jordan (Avo Kaplanian)
  • Prisoners of War Censorhip Middle East: The Censor Labels (Giorgio Migliavacca)
  • World Cultural Heritage Destroyed – Part 3: Yemen (Dietrich Ecklebe)
  • Review: Guide To The Postal Stationery of Iraq - Rubec/Al-Manaseer (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Review: Holy Land: Foreign Post Offices in Palestine 1852-1914 - The Itamar Karpovsky Collection (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Queries & Research Notes: Uprating of International Reply Cards (Eric Scherer)
  • Queries & Research Notes: Le Timbre Levantin (Tobias Zywietz with material from Edmund van Gilder)
  • Queries & Research Notes: Iraqi and Jordanian Occupation of Tulkarm 1948/49 (Lawrence Fisher)
  • The Archive Section: Postal History and Related Notices from the Official Gazettes for Palestine – Part 4: 1925 (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Recent Philatelic Journals (Tobias Zywietz)

The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 4

(Regular Version, 78 MB)

The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 4

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The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 3 (Summer 2016)
Middle East Philatelic Bulletin - MEPB 3 Cover
  • A Rare Ottoman Cover from Amman, 1918 with newly discovered Amman Censor Mark (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Could Indian Army F.P.O. 318 have come to Greece? How 318 turned out to be 313 (Robert Gray & Tobias Zywietz)
  • A 1948 Nahariya Emergency Mail Cover (Daryl Kibble)
  • Two Nablus Postmarks Discovered after 60 Years (Bernd-Dieter Buscke)
  • Jordan’s Nablus Postmarks: More Discoveries (Tobias Zywietz)
  • The 1999 Christmas Block of the Palestinian National Authority: Addendum (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Egypt Barcode Registration Labels (Mike Murphy)
  • Research Notes: Request for Ottoman “Empire” Varieties (Andreas Birken)
  • Research Notes: Cilicia – An Update (Bob Bradford)
  • Book Review: The Sultanate of Nejd (Riachi) (Richard B. Rose)
  • Book Review: Airmails Across The Middle East 1918–1930 (Kimpton) (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Archive: Postal History and Related Notices from the Official Gazettes for Palestine – Part 3: 1923/1924 (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Recent Philatelic Journals (Tobias Zywietz)

The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 3

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The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 3

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The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 2 (Spring 2016)
Middle East Philatelic Bulletin - MEPB 2 Cover
  • Tantur Hospital and the 2 Heller ‘Jerusalempilgermarke’ (Edgar Karl Haberer)
  • The Mystery of the 'Habbaniya Provisionals' (Rainer Fuchs)
  • The Registration Envelopes of Jordan (Avo Kaplanian)
  • The 1999 Christmas Block of the Palestinian National Authority (Tobias Zywietz)
  • World Cultural Heritage Destroyed: Assur, Niniveh, Hatra, and Bosra (Dietrich Ecklebe)
  • Book Review: Gli annulli postali libanesi 1918–1945 - Longo (Rainer von Scharpen)
  • Book Review: L'Italia in Africa Orientale Vol. 1 - Crevato-Selvaggi & Macrelli (Jürgen Glietsch)
  • Archive: Postal History and Related Notices from the Official Gazettes for Palestine – Part 2: 1921/1922 (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Recent Philatelic Journals (Tobias Zywietz)

The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 2

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The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 2

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The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 1 (Autumn 2015)
Middle East Philatelic Bulletin - MEPB 1 Cover
  • The Oriental Travels of Julius Bolthausen: The Picture Postcards (Tobias Zywietz)
  • The Mail Robbery between Jaffa and Jerusalem in March 1912 (Tobias Zywietz)
  • An Introduction to Perfins of the Levant (Dick Scheper)
  • Air Mail Service in French Cilicia 1920 (Jean-Bernard Parenti)
  • The Provisional Postmark of the Italian Military Post Office in Smyrna in 1922 (Jürgen Glietsch)
  • The Kingdom of Kurdistan 1922-24 (Rainer Fuchs)
  • The Old General Post Office of Jerusalem on Historical Photographs (Tobias Zywietz)
  • The 2012 Christmas Stamps of the Palestinian National Authority (Tobias Zywietz)
  • World Cultural Heritage Destroyed: Palmyra (Dietrich Ecklebe)
  • Book Review: Introduction to French Postal History in Tripoli - Semaan Bassil (Rainer von Scharpen)
  • Book Review: Jérusalem et la Poste Française - Raphaël Livnat (Rainer von Scharpen)
  • Archive: Postal History & Related Notices from the Gazettes for Palestine - Part 1: 1919/1920 (Tobias Zywietz)
  • Recent Philatelic Journals (Tobias Zywietz)

The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 1

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The Middle East Philatelic Bulletin 1

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