Interpostal seals were primarily used to seal packets of letters sent within the Egyptian postal system. Sometimes multiple packets were tied together into bundles with string, the interpostal being placed over the knot. Use this way indicated the office of origin. In some cases the seals were used for repair purposes. Shown below are two scarce examples of this type of usage.
Ernest A.Kehr numbered and valued over 800 different seals in his 1962 booklet "The Interpostals of Egypt, 1864-1892." Many are relatively common unused but much less frequently found used. Collectors should be aware that Kehr Type VIII seals have been extensively faked.
Catalog: Kehr Type VIb, #379
Date issued: 1878
Printing: Dark red on white
Perforation: Die cut
Inscription: Bilingual Italian/Arabic "POSTE KHEDEUIE EGIZIANE / GABINETTO DEL VICE DIRETTORE" ("Egyptian Khedival Post / Cabinet of the Vice Director")
Control Number: None
Description: Entire from Mexico City, Mexico City to Cairo, Egypt salvaged from the 1905 wreck of the S.S. Cairo. Bilingual French/English "SAUVÉ DU NAUFRAGE DU 'CAIRO' / SAVED FROM THE WRECK OF S.S CAIRO" handstamp was struck on face and a red Kehr Type VIb interpostal seal was used to secure backflap.
Catalog: Kehr Type IX, #731
Date issued: 1884
Printing: Blue on white
Perforation: Die cut
Inscription: Bilingual French/Arabic "POSTES EGYPTIENNES / ALEXANDRIE" ("Egyptian Post / Alexandria")
Control Number: None
Description: Registered 1890 cover from Genoa, Italy received damaged in Alexandria, Egypt and repaired with two interpostal seals plus officially impressed red wax. The letter was then forwarded to Cairo.
Courtesy of Jim Kotanchik by permission.
|
- Buying, Selling, & Trading Officially Sealed Mails of the World - |
by T. Hirn
E-mail:thirn@poseal.com
Updated March 10, 2007