Stamps of the Levant

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Map showing overview of the Ottoman Empire in 1862
Map showing overview of the Ottoman Empire in 1878
In 1882: note that Bosnia & Herzegovina was administered by Austria since 1878.
Map showing overview of the Ottoman Empire in 1912

Introduction

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Stamps of the Levant is a broad category of stamps emitted by several European countries for use within the borders of the Ottoman Empire. Most notable ones are those issued by Germany, Great Britain, Austria, France, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Romania, Russia (in the order for the Yvert&Tellier French catalog). They were finally out of service in 1923 (a clause of the Treaty of Lausanne), although most were closed in 1914 due to the war. Levant refers to the East (where the sun rises).

Lombardy-Venetia and Austria

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The Lombardy-Venetia stamps were used before stamps specific to Austrian Levant in 1867.

Quality postmarks are to be located in the offices by current country in the more specific gallery Stamps of Austrian post offices abroad.

1867 issue

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Not to be confused with the more frequent issues in fine whiskers (except the 50 sld.).

1876-1883 issues

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Fine whiskers, 2 to 25 soldi.

Austrian post office in Jerusalem located inside the Jaffa Gate

Ship mail - Paquebot postmarks

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Stamps of Austrian post offices with a ship (harbour landing) cancellation. Examples COL VAPORE from ALESSANDRIA, BERUTTI, SMIRNE, COSPOLI, SIRA or TRIESTE.

1883 Eagle issue

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Michel N°8-13. Known for fake postmarks (2 soldi).

Surcharges with the Turkish currency

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Sept 1886 - May 1888 Eagles with Turkish currency

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Michel N°14-19

Sept 1890 - 1892

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Michel N°20-27 - Values 8 para to 20 piaster (surcharges).

1891 and 1896 issues

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Mi N°28-31. 2 to 20 piaster overprint on kreuzer/gulden. Valid until 30-9-1900.

January 1900 - June 1901 issues

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Michel N°32-38: 10 para to 20 piaster in one line without varnish bars ohne Lackstreifen. With varnish bars Mi39-42.

1903 - 1907 issues

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Michel N°43-46: 10 para to 2 piaster in 2 lines, with varnish bars. Michel N°47-52: same without varnish bars.

So-called Stamps of Crete - Österreichische Post auf Kreta

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Stamps in French currency, but used also in Austrian Levant post offices. Only unused stamps here!

1908 Jubilee issues

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In Turkish (Michel N°s 53-61) or French (Michel Kreta 17-22) currency.

The Danube Steamboat Shipping Company (DDSG)

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Office of the Donaudampfschiffahrtsgesellschaft in Trieste.

The Erste Donau-Dampfschiffahrts-Gesellschaft, or D.D.S.G. 'Donau Dampfschiffahrts Gesellschaft' (DDSG) (the word means Danube Steamboat Shipping Company) was a shipping company founded in 1829 by the Austrian government for transporting passengers and cargo on the Danube. In 1846 it received the right to transport mail within and from their sites (Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire) to the state border of Austria-Hungary. D.D.S.G. issued its own stamps. A private company made the train liaison between Cernavoda and the Black See (stamp issued in 1867).

France

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The first French post office in Levant was opened in Constantinople in 1812. It was suspended during 1827-35 as a consequence of the Greek War of Independence. France began issuing stamps for its offices in the Levant in 1885. Some French Offices in the Ottoman Empire stamps were denominated in centimes and francs. Others were denominated in centimes, paras and piasters. World War I forced the closure of all the post offices on 13 October 1914. After the war, only the office in Istanbul reopened, operating from August 1921 to July 1923. Stamps of France were again surcharged, with values from 30 paras to 75 piasters.

Offices in the Ottoman empire were located in Alexandretta (now İskenderun), , Castellorizo, Kustendje (now Constanţa), Latakia, Mersin, , Rodosto (now Tekirdağ), Sulina, Tulcea and Varna (current countries info needed).

Post offices in Crete

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Post offices were located in Candia (now Iraklion) and Canea (now Chania).

Post offices in Egypt

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Post offices in Alexandrie, Port Said.

Cover from BEYROUT to Lyon with 2 pence & France 50 c pair tied 5080 at ALEXANDRIE Egypte. Lot sold 9,000 SF in 2000 (Cihangir collection). August 1874.

Post offices in Greece

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Offices were located in Cavalla, Dedeagach (now Alexandroupoli), Port Lagos, Prevesa, Rhodes, Salonica (now Thessaloniki), Vathy (Samos island) and Volos.

Post offices in Lebanon

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Post offices were located in Beirut (1840) and Tripolis.

Post offices in Palestine (Israel)

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Post offices were located in Jerusalem in 1900, Jaffa, ....

Post offices were located in Constantinople, Galata, Gallipoli, Sinope, Smyrna (now İzmir), Trebizond..

Germany - Deutsche Post in Türkei

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German post office in Galata, one of three German offices in Constantinople (others in Pera and Stamboul) 1905.
German post office in Jerusalem.

In use between 1870 and 30-9-1914. International (French) currency since 1908. Cancellations before 1884 were made on German stamps as Kolonial Vorläufer.

Covers before 1884

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Post office in Constantinopel.

With stamps of the Norddeutscher Postbezirk

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With stamps of the German Empire

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1884 overprinted issue

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Stamps of 1879 surcharged. Valid until 1-2-1891. D.P. for DEUTSCHE POST.

1889-1913 overprinted issues

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All issues are overprints with the Levant currency in use.

French currency in 1908

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Great Britain

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British Embassy mail started in 1832. In November 1854 an Army post office was established in Constantinople as a sorting and forwarding office for forces in the Crimea. The PO was opened for public service (postmark 'C' in oval of bars) in September 1857; further offices were opened in Smyrna in 1872 (postmark 'F87') and Beirut in 1873 (Postmark 'G06'). A second office was opened at Stamboul (postmark 'S' in oval bars) in 1884 but this was closed in the 1890s and did not reopen until 1908. Stamps of Great Britain were used before 1885.

Post offices in the 1919-1923 period

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Known at Constantinople and Smyrna, following occupation by Allied armies.

Italy

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General issue

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Both Venice and Naples maintained postal connections with the Levant in the 18th century but these had lapsed before unification. In 1873 Italian postal agencies were established in Constantinople, Smyrna, and Beirut.

The general stamps of Italy of 1863 were in 1874 overprinted 'ESTERO' ('ABROAD') and had some corner ornamental design alterations. The general issue was intended to meet the demand of all Italian post offices abroad: Buenos Aires (Argentina), Montevideo (Uruguay), Erithrea, Alexandria, Tunesia, Libya and The Ottoman Empire. In 1881 a second issue followed, Estero overprinted 1879 stamps. Area of usage of these stamps and the forerunners can be identified by its number cancellation eg. 234: Alexandria (1863-1884), 235: Tunis (1852-1897), 3336: La Goletta (1880-1897), 3051: Tripolis (1869-1911.

Usage of 'ESTERO' overprinted stamps stopped at the end of 1889, because specific stamps per area were issued. Some remaining Estero stamps were officially cancelled to order for the philatelic market, by two numeral-bar cancels made in Rome: 3364 (Susa) and 3862 (Massaua).

Post office in Egypt

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Office was located in Alexandria.

Romanian office in Constantinopel

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Overprinted POSTA ROMANA 1919 CONSTANTINOPEL in a double circle. 6 values.

Russian post offices

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Russian post and telegraph Office in Trebizonde.

Russian post offices were located in Beirut, Constantinopel, Dardanelles, Jaffa, Jerusalem, Kerassund, Mersina, Mount Athos, Mytilene, Rizeh, Saloniki, Smyrna, Trebizonde.