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

3 Ottoman Mail - 19^th Century

c. 1876 cover to JEDDAH with six India l pa and single 2 pa cancelled by barred BOMBAY B-22 (no date) via "ADEN JUN 21" (no year) with circular 'T' Tax mark applied at Aden. On arrival at the Ottoman Post Office in Jeddah, two 1876 2 Pres. on 2 pi used as POSTAGE DUES and tied by boxed Arabic 'JEDDAH' Type JD-4 in blue. Two diagonal slits for disinfection probably made at CAMARAN ISLAND LAZARET or at ADEN STEAMER POINT.

MAKKAH double circle cds, "MEKKEI MUKERREME" 11/2/91 side cancel and Registry cachet dated 1298 (=1882-3) on letter to Office of Prime Minister in ISTANBUL; m/s name of sender and "No. 216 / grams 25" at bottom; franked total of 3 pi, 2 pi REGISTERED RATE and 1 pi for extra 10 g above 15 g limit. Tied by dateless, Turkish-only cds "MAKKAH THE REVERED". This, the earliest recorded cancel of Makkah, was probably introduced in 1870 when the P.O. was opened, used until c. 1897. Bilingual Type MK-10 in use 1884 - 1892; both known in blue and black.

Undated Turkish-only ABHA cds c.1892 or later on 2 x 20 pa + 2 pi (3 pi A.R. RATE) to INEBOLU (presently INEGÖL, east of Bursa); no transit or arrival. Manuscript "AVIS DE RECEPTION" at top left and "FROM ABHA No. 85 GRAMS 11" lower left. Also known in black, Type AB-1, first recorded cancel for Abha, probably introduced at opening of P.O. in 1875. Abha was the administrative centre for the Asir Sanjak (Vilayet of Yemen). By 1884, official records indicate that both Abha and Qunfudah, main port of the Asir Sanjak, had ordinary internal and international post but the latter also had the possibility of registered mail. By the early 20th century, Abha would offer greater services. (RPS cert.)

Urgent commercial message from MUNICH 8/3/95 on Registered Bavaria 10 pf U.P.U. Postal Card with added 5 pf (unsually undercharged) via PORT SAID, SUEZ, JEDDAH 28/3 and MAKKAH 3/4 to MADINAH with undated double circle arrival above Reg. label. M/s "NOT KNOWN" top left; Madinah Postmaster has attached paper with m/s "UNABLE TO FIND, RETURN TO SENDER" on back. Returned via SUEZ 8/9 and ALEXANDRIA 9/9; red "BUREAU DES [unclear] 10 XI 95 EGYPTE" over stamps; back to MUNICH 10/10.

Negative seal cds "YANBU BY THE SEA 1315" (= 1897-8), Type YN-1, tying pair 20 pa for 1pi ORIDINARY RATE via SEA POST OFFICE 20/12/97 to KARACHI 28/12, then in India. Type YN-1 is the first recorded cancel for Yanbu. It was in use between 1897 to c. 1905; only known in black.