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

8 Najdi Sultanate Post (1925 - 1926)

Government of India "ON HIS MAJESTY'S SERVICE" envelope crossed out to read "ON FIELD SERVICE MES EXP FORCE", sent by H. St. John Philby at the start of his first mission to Arabia; m/s note "UQAIR 14 + 16/11/17" indicating location and date of writing made by Philby's wife upon receipt; cover went via BAHRAIN 20/11 to BOMBAY 30/11, where it was censored. In 1917 and 1918, H. ST. JOHN PHILBY, British Political Officer from the India Office was sent on two missions to Ibn Saud by Sir Percy Cox, Resident in Basra, for the MESOPOTAMIA EXPEDITION FORCE. At the time, there were no postal services in any of the Najdi territories. Ibn Saud would establish the "NAJDI SULTANATE POST" in the Hijaz as it came under his control in late 1924-25, with postal services in Central and Eastern Arabia coming later c. 1930.

MAKKAH 9/7/25 tying TRIPLE RATE 9q (3 x 3 q Hijaz Railway fiscals, handstamped "FIRST HAJJ UNDER NAJDI SULTANATE / 1343 / WEDNESDAY", commemorating the annual Hajj pilgrimage). Transit postmarks of QUNFUDAH 28/7 (on front), MASSAWA 8/8 and PORT TAUFIQ 15/8 to SARAJEVO, Bosnia 21/8. As the larger ships did not call at Qunfudah, Saudi mail was undoubtedly carried across the Red Sea in local native dhows to Massawa for the onward journey. The "Najdi Sultanate Post" raised the FOREIGN and REGISTERED RATES up to 3q from the Hashimite 2q. The Qunfudah cancel, QN-5, is a new Saudi type which was probably introduced at the same time the Makkah P.O. was re-opened; it is only known in black.

"MEDINE 1" 21/1/26 on 6 x 1q Hijaz Railway Fiscals handstamped " AL SAUDIYAH, SULTANATE OF NAJD" for 6q DOUBLE FOREIGN RATE via PORT SAID 5/2 to BOMBAY 21/2. "AL SAUDIYAH / AL SULTANAT AL NAJDIYAH" handstamp, shown below, was used briefly in Madinah after the entry of Saudi forces. Study of the few known covers and pieces reveals that the handstamp was applied at sending, on covers already stamped, as the h/s is sometimes partially struck on the envelope. Mint stamps with this h/s are ususally forgeries.

Letter to a prominent trader in JEDDAH (no arrival cds) from QUNFUDAH 9/10/1344 (equivalent to 22/4/26), tying a piece of margin from a Hijaz fiscals sheet in lieu of the required 1q stamp for the SINGLE DOMESTIC RATE. Either shortages of stamps in Makkah or delay in delivery caused the postmaster in Qunfudah to write above and over the selvage: "FEE PAID NUMBER 72". As so very few examples of this usage have been recorded, it is difficult to know how long this condition existed. However in the 5 days between the dates of this cover and a recorded piece posted 17/4 and marked "FEE PAID NUMBER 42", it is interesting to note that 30 letters were so marked.

2 strikes of new bilingual "DEBA" c. end November 1926 (date slugs missing) on 3q FOREIGN RATE (2q Railway Tax and 1q surcharged on ½q, both with Najdi Sultanate Post h/s) via "EL-WAJHE" (octagonal transit alongside, illegible date) and PORT TAUFIQ 5/12/26 to SUEZ 6/12/26. "DEBA", now known as DHUBA, is a Red Sea port close to the entrance of the Gulf of Aqabah and 179 kms southwest of Tabuk, a stop on the Hijaz Railway. Dhuba used to be the traditional landing point for Egyptian pilgrims after crossing the Red Sea on their way to Makkah.