VIRTUAL JEWISH MUSEUM

Collage of pre-state stamps

Ottoman.Cancellations

Turkey opened its first post office in 1840 and eventually operated 40 offices in Palestine. Weekly courier service handled the small volume of mail. Early postmarks are in Turkish. After joining the Universal Postal Union, French was added. All offices ceased operations with the capture by British forces in WWI.

Ottoman post office

An Ottoman post office. Most likely in the Old City of Jerusalem.

Ottoman.Jerusalem

Mailed 1915 at Jerusalem to Cincinnati Ohio. Officially printed Ottoman postcard. During World War I so a large circular military censor mark imprint. Also an imprint of the religious institution that received it. Once-a- week service began in Jerusalem in 1852 Collins postmark # 13.

Jewish Quarter

This office opened in the Old City in 1895. The first postmarks were in Hebrew and Turkish, serving the Jewish population there. Later ones, like this,were in English/French letters. Collins postmark # 7. The letter went to Jaffa and was carried privately to Rishon L'Zion, which didn't yet have a post office.

Jaffa

Jaffa post office opened in 1866. Jaffa was the most mportant port until WWI. This postcard is imprinted 'Turkey' instead of 'Ottoman Empire' It was mailed in 1895 at Jaffe to St. Petersburg Russia. Three transit and receival postmarks show its receipt in Russia. Actually datelined Jerusalem. Collins postmark # 7.

Ottoman.Camp Imperial

German Kaiser Wilhelm II visited the Holy Land in November-October 1898. To accomodate him a temporary post office was set up near his lodging. The special postmark reads 'Camp Imperial Jerusalem'. A receival mark at Berlin is dated 10 Nov 1898. Collins postmark # PM1.

France.pre-philatelic

France was the first to operate a foreign post office here, opening in 1852. Before stamps came into use, envelopes were sent either marked pre-paid or delivered c.o.d. Offices were maintained in Jaffa, Jerusalem, and Haifa. This pre-philatlic cover was mailed at Jaffa 11 April 1857 and delivered in Ireland on 30 April. The fee collected at delivery was 1 shilling 6 pence. Stamps were introduced in October.

France.cancellations

France used its regular stamps until 1885 when special issues for the Levant were introduced. Here are Jerusalem, Jaffa, and Haifa cancellations.

French P.O.

This was the French office in Jerusalem, located on Jaffa Street.

France.Jerusalem

The Jerusalem office opened in 1900. Mailed at Jerusalem 8 September 1904 to Belgium.

France. Jaffa

Jaffa office was the first, in 1852. This colorful postcard was mailed 12 March 1907 to New Jersey, arriving 1 April.

France.Haifa

The Haifa ('Caiffa') office opened in 1906. This card was mailed 12 April 1911 to Germany.

Austria.cancellations

Austria was handling mail here much earlier but opened offices beginning in 1852. It was by far the most poplar of all the postal services. Here are cancellations from Jerusalem, Jaffa, and Haifa.

pre-state.Austrian office photo

Austrian post office

This was the Austrian post office located in Jerusalem, inside Jaffa Gate.

Austria.Jerusalem

This card was submitted for mailing at Bethlehem on 24 December 1899. It was taken to Jerusalem where postmarked on the 25th by the Austrian post office. It arrived in Bad-Kissingen, Germany on 17 January 1900, as shown by the receival mark.

Austria.Jaffa

Mailed in Jerusalem in November 1901 to Jaffa where it arrived on the 15th. The receival mark of the Jaffa post office is sharp and clear.

Austria.Haifa

Mailed at Haifa ('Syria' !) on 23 August 1907, to Saargemund, Germany, where it was received and backstamped on 30 August.

Austria.Rischon L'Zion

The various postal services competed for Jewish business. Austria delivered local mail free of charge attempting to attract long distance business. Many such covers bear no stamp; some like this one show a JNF label which didn't pay postage but represented a donation to J.N.F. Delivery to this settlement was signified by the post mark which reads 'Rishon LeZion by Austrian Post'. Known on covers dated 1903 - 1908.

Austria.Rischon.free

Austria delivered this inland mail from Jaffa to Rischon Le Zion. No stamp or payment required. Postmarked at Jaffa 18 ? September 1906. The free service was apparantly offered from about 1904 to 1914.

Austria.Petach Tikva

The first Jewish postage stamp of the Holy Land was this local issue instituted by Petach Tikvah to pay for outgoing mail to other communities. Austria delivered this mail. Letters abroad required this label plus full Austrian postage stamps. In use 1909-10. The local council kept the 14 Para charge.

Austria.Petach Tikva.cancelled

Austria operated the Petach Tikvah post office. This used example shows the P.T. postmark and also the Austrian Jaffa postmark. The stamp began its journey in Petach Tikvah where it was cancelled, was carried to Jaffa where it was cancelled again, and then continued to its final destination. Turkey banned use of the stamp in 1910 and took over the post office of Petach Tikvah.

Russian post office

Photo of the russian post office. Most likely in Jerusalem.

Russia.cancellations

Russia was handling mail here much earlier and in 1856 founded a Palestine steamship company - Russian Steam Navigation and Trading Company - (abbreviated R.O.P.i.T.) which doubled as a postal service. The local agencies served as post offices. Russian stamps were overprinted with local cities.

Russia.Jerusalem

The Jerusalem office opened in 1901. This envelope, with ROPIT Jerusalem postmark, was mailed to Germany on 10 August 1907. It arrived and was backstamped on September 4th.

Russia.Jaffe

The Jaffa office opened in 1857. This card was mailed there on 19 April 1901, to Bonn Germany. It arrived on 9 May and receival stamped. There is a reply card attached which was not used.

Germany.Jerusalem Post Office

Germany opened this post office in Jerusalem on 1 March 1900. It was located on Jaffa street in the Anglo-Palestine building.

Germany.cancellations

The Germans opened a post office at Jaffa in October 1898 on the occasion of Kaiser Wilhelm II visiting Palestine. The Jerusalem office opened in March 1900. In August1908 they began to use French currency in addition to Turkish, as indicated by the overprints on the stamps. Offices closed on 30 September 1914.

Germany.Jerusalem

Mailed at Jerusalem 20 October 1904 to Bavaria, Germany. It arrived and was backstamped on 2 November.

Germany.Jaffa

Mailed at Jaffa 17 September 1912 to Basel Switzerland. Pictured is a view of the Jaffa shore.

Italy.cancellations

Italy opened its Palestine post office in 1908 - the last European power to do so. Due to the Balkan war it was closed from October 1911 until December 1912. There was no need for it and it operated at a heavy deficcit, but was a matter of national prestige for Italy. This is their stamp, overprinted Jerusalem in Italian and also 10 Para for the Turkish denomination.

Italy.Jerusalem office

Open 1908 until 1914.

Italy.Jerusalem

This colorful card mailed in Jerusalem on 20 May 1914, to Vienna Austria.

British.Military.EEF

All post offices, Turkish and foreign, closed when the British Egyptian Expeditionary Forces ('EEF') took control during WWI. In February 1918 the military administration issued 2 blue stamps - 1 Piastre for foreign-bound mail and 5 Milliemes for local letters and foreign- bound postcards. The postmarks read 'Field Post Office', handled by the military.

British.EEF.Expanded

The military administration stamps, marked EEF, were expanded to 11 values in different colors: 1,2,3,4,5 Milliemes and 1,2,5,9,10,20 Piastres. These were in use from July to December 1918. The denominations are based on Egyptian currency.

British.EEF.Cover

Postally used EEF stamps on cover. Mailed from Jerusalem 19 December 1918 to Egypt. The military postmark reads: 'O.E.T.A.E.E.F.' = Occupied Enemy Territory Administration Emergency Expeditionary Force.

British.EEF.Civil Administration

Civilian administration replaced the military administration of Palestine on 1 July 1920. Under the British Mandate, Sir Herbert Samuel took over as High Commissioner. To mask the military markings, the stamps were overprinted 'Palestine' in Arabic, English and Hebrew. Same colors and denominations. In use until 1927.

British.EEF.overprint types

1920-27. These overprinted stamps were issued 5 times - 3 times in Jerusalem and twice more in London. Each issue is collected by its minute identifying marks, focussing on the size and placement of the overprinting.

British.Mandate.pictorials

In 1927, the Palestine Pound for coins, currency, and postage stamps was introduced. Pictorial designs on 18 denominations replaced the EEF overprints: Rachel's Tomb (3), Tower of David (3), Dome of the Rock (5), Tiberias mosque (7). They remained in use until the new state was formed on 14 May 1948.

British.Mandate.cover

Mailed with pictorial stamps from Tel Aviv on 4 February 1940, to New York.

British.Mandate.cover

Mailed with pictorial stamps at Haifa 13 May 1946 to New York. Sent registered and forwarded from New York to Maine.

British.Mandate.special offices

These postmarks are from special well-known office locations in Jerusalem. Meah Shearim is known for its devout Haredi population and shops that go with them. Mahane Yehuda is a popular market with hundreds of specialty shops.

pre-state.British.mandate.pictorials.Meah and Machane

British.Mandate.Last Day

Mailed from Tel Aviv to Givat Brenner postmarked 5 May 1948. This was the last day of British Mandate postal operation. The British didn't officially leave until May 14, leaving a glaring gap in postal service.

interim.Jerusalem.JNF

The British announced a May 5th closing date but actually closed Jerusalem offices on April 25, leaving no postal system. The city was under seige, with more urgent concerns. A May 8th cease-fire enabled some service. The new stamps were not available here until June 20th. Recently- issued JNF labels were overprinted with 'Doar' - Postage - in 3 denominations, for printed matter, domestic letters, and registered mail. This is the 1st issue, of May 9th.

Interim.Jerusalem.JNF

A second printing, on May 10th, moved the word Doar to the bottom of the label. A 3rd printing, of only the 5 mil, was made on May 24th.

Interim.Jerusalem.cover

Mailed in Jerusalem on 16 May 1948, the 1st day of Israel's new postal service, using the JNF labels. Five 2nd issue 5-mil stamps paid the registartion fee. The sender mailed this item to himself, and may never have opened it. The special cancellation proudly states in Hebrew 'Post of Jerusalem'.

Interim.Minhelet Haam.cover_edited

Around the country, a 'People's Administration' known as 'Minhelet Ha'am' stepped in to maintain service. Stocks of JNF labels were overprinted 'Doar' and used as stamps. Eaach town had its own name included in the cancellation. This cover was mailed locally in Haifa and according to the backstamp was delivered on May 14, Independence Day!

Interim cover. combined

The British DID keep the Haifa office operational until May 5. The Jewish government permitted Mandate stamps to be used through May 14. The above cover was apparantly mailed on 10 May . A 20 Mil Mandate stamp was combined with a label overprinted '5 Mil' to cover the 25 Mil registration fee. Above the addresse is typed in Hebrew 'Registered'.

Interim.Yavniel.cover

Located near the Sea of Galilee in the Lower Galil, this village was founded in 1901 by Russian pioneers, near the site of the ancient Biblical town mentioned in Joshua. Yemenite and North African immigrants settled here after 1948, and 3 neighboring villages also united with it. The missing Yud in the cancellation is due toa defective device.

Interim.Kofer Hayishuv

Another label used provisionally was the Kofer Hayishuv ('Tax of the Population'). They were already being used to aknowledge a voluntary donation towards self-defense and social services. They were used for postage May 1 - 15. 10 mils was the fee for an in-country letter. This usage was pre-mature, cancelled 21 April, and accepted.

French Consulate 1948_edited

Based on the old Capitulation treaties, the French Consul-General established his own service. Diplomatic labels were overprinted: first 2 values on May 5th and a 2nd issue on May 15th. A 3rd issue, authorized on May 26, consisted of regular French 6 Franc stamps overprinted 'Jerusalem 20 milliemes'. These last cost 7 Palestine Mils and paid for sea mail. Use of these stamps continued into the summer.

French Consulate cover

This is a scarce postally-used example of the French overprint. Mailed in Jerusalem by a French consulate attache to Versailles, France, and then forwarded. The cancellation reads 'Jerusalem / French Post'. Still honored at the end of August !

Rishon LeZion Armored Car

With the outbreak of hostilities in March, the route from RLZ to Tel Aviv became passable only with armored vehicles. On 5 April RLZ opened a daily emergency delivery service, by armored car. The charge was 40 Mils, paid with this special label. As Minhelet Ha'Am service spread, this service terminated on 6 May.

RLZ Armored Car.Nahalat Yehudah

On 20 April, the service was extended to suberb Nahalat Yehudah. This envelope was mailed there (see the cancellation). Mail was brought to RLZ by bicycle courier, stamped with their date stamp, and added to the mail bag bound for Tel Aviv. 'By Armored Car' is typed at the top, and an 'EXpress' sticker added below.

Nahariya.Sea Mail

Arabs blocked the Acre-Nahariya road starting 17 March, isolating the western Galil from the rest of the country. On 22 March a motor boat service between Haifa & Nahariya began, bypassing the blockade. The seamail service cost 10 Mils & a special cancel was stencilled onto the envelope. It reads: 'Emergency Mail Haifa/Nahariya/Isolated Western Galil', and the date. Another 10 Mils was charge for eventual delivery in Haifa - total 20. This variety used April 21-25. Service ended May 13.

Haifa to Nahariya.delivery.yellow stamp_edited

For delivering mail arriving from Haifa to Nahariya a 10 mil fee was charged. A local yellow city tax stamp was used to show payment. This envelope postmarked Haifa 26 April and the label cancelled with a Minhelet Ha'am cancel at arrival.

Tel Aviv to Nahariya.delivery.red label

When the supply of yellow town council labels was exhausted, red lables marked 11 Mils were used. Here a JNF label bears a Tel Aviv Minhelet Ha'am cancellation and a red Nahariya delivery label with a faint M.H. Nahariya cancellation. This cover may have been created as a collector item.

Nahariya.Emergency Stamps

On 25 April the local council of Nahariya took control of the postal service and issued new local stamps inscribed 'Nahariya-Haifa Emergency Post'. 10 Mils for a postcard, 20 for a letter, and 50 for registration or parcels. Used from 25 April until 12 May. Once the blockade was broken, all mail was transported by land.

Nahariya.Emergency.Cover.1st issue

Mailed at Nahariya 9 May, taken to Haifa by boat, to then be delivered to Kefar Blum. The emergency stamp of 20 mils is cancelled by the sea mail stencil. The 20 Mils of Mandate stamps paid for the continued delivery from Haifa.

Nahariya.Emergency Stamp.2nd Issue

To meet heavy philatelic demand, a 2nd issue, inscribed 'Emergency Mail' (instead of 'Emergency Post') was released on May 16th. The stamps and postmark continued to be used on land mail until May 23rd, when the emergency postal system was terminated.

Nahariya.Emergency.2nd issue.Cover

This second issue was put on sale on Sunday May 16th. Like the first, many of the stamps were used by collectors, creating interesting historical souvenirs. Perhaps like this cover, conveniently showing 1 corner copy of each value. Cancelled 18 May.

Tzefat.Siege Stamp

The Jews of Tzefat were surrounded by an Arab majority. The Mandate post office was closed 26 February due to danger. Then bribed British patrols took mail out, but they left on April 16. Emergency stamps were issued May 4th, printed on the inside of security envelopes. Used until new stamps arrived on May 15th.

Tzefat.Emergency.Cover

Mailed at Tzefat on 7 May to Tel Aviv. Apparantly addressed to the Anglo-Palestine Bank in Haifa but that was crossed out and a Tel Aviv address added. Cancelled with a 'Tzefat Post' cancellation in red.

Mandate.Interim.Israel cover_edited

Mailed registered on 16 May (first day !) locally in Tel Aviv. The 25 mil fee was paid with 2 new Israeli stamps and 3 leftover Minhelet Ha'am labels, reflecting those 2 periods. All stamps were cancelled with a British Mandate canceller still in use. It reads 'Registered Tel Aviv'. 3 administrations !

Three Period Cover

Prepared specifically for collectors, this envelope purposely records the turbulent changing of the Holy Land mail. First a Mandate stamp is cancelled on the last day of their service, with their canceller. Next 2 labels overprinted 'mail' are cancelled with the interim Minhelet Ha'am canceller. Finally a new Israeli stamp is cancelled with a State cancellation dated 16 May, the first day of issue. 3 periods !

First State of Israel Stamps

The 1st official stamps of Israel were issued May 16, 1948. (The state was declared on Friday afternoon the 14th, the next day was the Sabbath, so these were issued on Sunday - a regular workday). This first-day cover bears the entire 9 value set, whose high values represented a lot of money in 1948. The designs are ancient Jewish coins minted during the 1st & 2nd revolts against Rome at the beginning of the Common Era. They are saying 'We are the continuation of ancient Jewish life here'.

pre-state.ottoman.Jrslm_edited