EGYPT ON STAMPS

6 May 2008

Egypt - Congres International

Although I was originally trying to restrict my collection to the topics listed on the side bar of this Blog, I came across this lovely set of mint stamps and could not resist getting them :¬). I think there's something reassuringly old fashioned about them and I've now started collecting similar items so watch this space...

They show the God Thot writing King Fuad's name in hieroglyphics. They were issued in 1925 for the Congres International de Geographie, International Geography Congress, in Cairo (SG 123-5).

Nubian Monuments - Egypt

This stamp was issued by Egypt in 1976 (SG 1300). It depicts the Goddess Isis at the Temple of Kalabsha.

UNESCO Campaign - Chad

Set of 3 stamps issued by Chad in 1964 for the UNESCO Campaign for the preservation of Nubian monuments (SG 112-4). Each depicts Ramses II on his war chariot, from a painting at Abu Simbel.

Queen Nefertiti - Egypt

Sorry, not a great picture here. This stamps was issued in Egypt in 1994 and shows Pharaoh Akhenaten, Queen Nefertiti and their children (SG 1932).

Nubian Monuments - Kyrgyzstan

A stamp from Kyrgyzstan, part of a set issued in 1995 which depicts the Great Temple of Ramses II at Abu Simbel (Michel #97?).

5 May 2008

Nubian Monuments - Egypt/China Joint Issue

Joint commemorative issue of Egypt and China, celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. One stamp shows the small temple of Queen Nefertari at Abu Simbel, the other, the South Gate Pavillion in China.

One interesting detail, which may not be quite visible in this picture, is that Abu Simbel has been spelt Abu Simple!!

The Souvenir Sheet, which shows the Sphinx and Pyramids of Giza, the Great Wall of China and includes both stamps, was produced in relatively small quantities and is now rather expensive. The stamps are still quite reasonable in comparison.

Nubian Monuments - Egypt

Stamp from Egypt issued in 1995 (SG 1967), depicting the statues of the innermost shrine in Ramses II's temple at Abu Simbel.

The temple was precisely oriented so that on two days a year, in February and October, the first rays of the morning sun would shine down the entire length of the temple to illuminate the back of the shrine. Following the move to higher ground, it is believed that these events now take place a few days later than originally intended.

On these occasions, the sun shines for 20 minutes on the holy seated statues of Ramses II, Amun-Ra (the sun god) and Ra-Horakhty (the god of the rising sun). Ptah - the statue on the far left - god of the underworld and darkness, remains in the dark.

4 May 2008

1922 - Egypt Proclamation of Monarchy

This is one of my more valuable items, the mint 100m Slate (SG 108) which is worth £17. It was issued in 1922 and is overprinted with "The Kingdom of Egypt, 15 March 1922".

It shows Ramses II's Rock Temple at Abu Simbel. This, and the temple of Queen Nefertari were undiscovered until the beginning of the 19th Century. They were first explored by the Italian Egyptologist Giovanni Battista Belzoni in 1817.

1922 - Egypt Proclamation of Monarchy

This stamp is the 20m Olive, depicting the Archway of Ptolemy III at Karnak (SG 106). Issued in 1922, it is overprinted with "The Kingdom of Egypt, 15 March 1922" in Arabic.

1922 - Egypt Proclamation of Monarchy

Here's another mint stamp in the series, the 10m Lake. It was issued in 1922, overprinted with "The Kingdom of Egypt, 15 March 1922" (SG 103). It depicts the colossi of Amenophis III at Thebes.

Pharaoh Amenophis III (also known as Amenhotep III) was Akhenaten's father. Egypt was at the height of power and influence and prospered during his lengthy reign, from around 1391 BC to 1353 BC. Amenophis III is known as one of the greatest "Builder Pharaohs", building magnificent temples at Karnak, Luxor as well as in Nubia.

The two Colossi shown on the stamp, known as the Colossi of Memnon, measure 18m high and are the only remnants of his mortuary temple on the Thebes floodplain - the temple itself has long been swept away by the Nile.

1922 - Egypt Proclamation of Monarchy

This mint, 5m Pink stamp depicting the Sphinx at Giza was issued in 1922. It is overprinted in Arabic with "The Kingdom of Egypt, 15 March 1922" (SG 102).

1922 - Egypt Proclamation of Monarchy

This mint 4m stamp was issued in 1922. It is an existing design, overprinted with "The Kingdom of Egypt, 15 March 1922" (SG 101)

1922 - Egypt Proclamation of Monarchy

Egypt was declared an independent kingdom on 15 March 1922 and Sultan Ahmed Fuad became king.

Stamps in existing designs were overprinted with "The Kingdom of Egypt, 15 March 1922" in Arabic, underneath a crown.

This mint stamp is the 2m Vermillion depicting Cleopatra from the Temple of Dendera (SG 99).

1878 - Surcharged Stamps

In 1878, the 2 1/2 pi Violet stamp (SG 40) was surcharged with 5pa (SG 42) and 10pa (SG43) in English and Arabic.

Both the stamps and the surcharge applied to them were printed at Blaq (Cairo), the Government Printing Works.

There are many variations of these stamps, particularly ones with the surcharge inverted and also tete-beche pairs which can sell for up to £3500!!

1884 - Surcharged Stamp

This is the 20pa surcharge (SG 57) on a 1879 5pi Green (SG 49).

This one is a very rare variety with a lightly printed extra surcharge a cheval. Can you see it?

Apparently, there are only two of this variety in existence (more details on the Golowe's Stamps site).

3 May 2008

UNESCO Campaign - Vatican

Vatican stamps issued in 1964 for the UNESCO Campaign to save Nubian monuments (SG 423-6).

Two of the values depict the entrance to a tomb with the frieze around the doorway showing the way into the Afterlife (early Christians plastered over a picture of a god and inserted St Peter the Apostle); the other two show Trajan's Kiosk.

MAXICARDS

FIRST DAY COVER

Issued on 10 March 1964

UNESCO Campaign - Indonesia

A set of four stamps issued by the Republic of Indonesia in 1964 for the UNESCO Campaign to preserve Nubian monuments (SG 1009-12).

Two stamps depict a colossal statue of Ramses II while the other shows Trajan's Kiosk (aka Pharaoh's Bed).

First Day Cover, 08 March 1964

UNESCO Campaign - Togo

Here's a colourful set of three stamps from the Republic of Togo, issued in 1964 for the UNESCO Campaign (SG 370-2).
The first one depicts the Goddess Isis of the Temple of Kalabsha; the second is one of the monumental statues of Ramses II and the third is a view of Philae Temple.