Saudi Arabia: Development Of The Postal Service (1801 - 2001)

Introduction | Pre-Stamp | Free Franking Ottoman Official Mail | Ottoman Mail 19th C | Ottoman Mail 20th C | Ottoman Mail WWI | Hijaz - King Hussein | Hijaz - King Ali | Najdi Sultanate Post | Hijaz and Najd | Saudi Arabia | Map

2 Free Franking Ottoman Official Mail (1844 - 1904)

Official FREE FRANK cover, sealed at back by red wax, was sent from MADINAH to ISTANBUL. There are no postal markings but the enclosed letter was sent by a religious official of the Holy Mosque of Madinah to a high-ranking official in the office of the Prime Minister, and is dated 12 February 1844 or 31 years before the opening of the first Madinah P.O. in 1875.

Official Free Franking cover sent from JEDDAH 2/4/61 to the Minister of Finance in ISTANBUL; on front m/s notes representation to Ministry 2/5/61. Petition inside signed by Governor and Comptroller of Jeddah and the Mayor of Madinah requesting urgent action in sending required funding for the Hijaz.

Bilingual wax seal of HIJAZ SANITATION SERVICE, JEDDAH (dated 1285 A.H., equivalent to 1869-70) on back, offset on front. Sender's manuscript "PETITION TO IMPERIAL MINISTRY OF HEALTH"; Ministry clerk's "Reply sent 10/2/1874". Original letter most probably sent towards the end of 1873. As with all Ottoman seals, the date refers to the year of introduction. Most sources state that the Ottoman P.O. in Jeddah opened in 1871. Although the date of this seal (1869-70), Type JD-3, is at least a year earlier, it is an Official handstamp and as such, would not have been applied at the post office.

MAKKAH to ISTANBUL, franked and sealed (back) by negative "DOCTOR, HEALTH AFFAIRS OF MAKKAH THE REVERED 1299", (1883-84), Type MK-5. Manuscript "MAKKAH 27/12/83"; SMYRNA transit with unclear date and no arrival. Rectangular negative handstamp reading "IMPORTANT CORRESPONDENCE" (below franking) was used as a form of REGISTRATION for official mail. Sender's m/s "PETITION TO PRESIDENT OF HEALTH AFFAIRS COUNCIL, ISTANBUL".

Cover sent by a soldier stationed in MAKKAH ("From Makkah" m/s at upper right) to a battalion clerk in the 3^rd Army in Janina Castle, now IOANIA in Greece. Cover was at first censored by a unit in Makkah with small black intaglio seal at bottom left. In JEDDAH it was struck with the red seal reading "JEDDAH DELIVERY COMMISSION 318" (=1900-01) before entering the military postal service. At back is a bilingual "JANINA" c. 25/11/04 in blue. (Certificate)