Overland Mail Baghdad-Haifa Pages
The Overland Mail Baghdad-Haifa is a relatively little known part of the middle east postal history, formed after the 1st world war by two young New Zealanders (Captain Norman Nairn and Driver-Mechanic Mr. Gerald Nairn) who had served with the Royal Army Corps These Pages try to explain primarily the postal history aspect of this company, however, for a good measure also historical facts and background information's like company pamphlets and other miscellaneous items are shown. | ||
| Website Awards (click to enlarge)  |  This picture gives you an idea how adventurous the mail transport and travel through the desert has been. Please click on the image to view it in full size (1.65 MB). That image will open in a new image layer. | Website Awards (click to enlarge)  |
| HELP REQUIRED / REQUESTED (Updated 14 July 2018) | Whereabouts of known items (Updated 14 July 2018) |
| Norman Collins Archive, REQUEST FOR HELP TO IDENTIY ITEMS! (Updated 20 APRIL 2017) |
Whats new!
| March 12, 2020 | The third reported copy of Imprinted Envelope type IE-13 (2) added, the latest reported use. |
| March 10, 2020 | In an old auction offering i noted tow cover with the Route Instruction Label L-12. Both covers with number L-12 (2) and L-12 (3) are now added. |
| March 3, 2020 | New discovered picture postal card form UK to Iraq with Route Instruction Label L10 of the British Post, the latest reported date of use, added. This is also the only Postal Card sent by the Overland Mail. Correctly franked with 4 1/2d (1 1/2d Postage, 3d Overland Mail surcharge). |
| January 21, 2020 | Transcripts and translations of the postal regulations from Hungarian Post pertaining the Overland Mail Haifa-Baghdad (Service Transdesertique) have been found. |
| January 19, 2020 | The first postal regulations from Hungarian Post pertaining the Overland Mail Haifa-Baghdad (Service Transdesertique) have been found. |
| January 07, 2020 | Dimension of the new discovered Route Instruction Handstamp (HS-N63) on cover from Baghdad to Jerusalem / Palestine added. |
| December 25, 2019 | Another cover with Route Instruction Handstamp HS-82 (2) added. |
| December 14, 2019 | Postal Card with Route Instruction Handstamp HS-05 (3) from Baghdad to Lisbon/Portugal added |
| December 11, 2019 | New discovered Route Instruction Handstamp (HS-N63) on cover from Baghdad to Jerusalem / Palestine added. |
| December 2, 2019 | Original scan and dimension of the cover with Route Instruction Handstamp HS-44 (4) added. |
| November 07, 2019 | Translations of two Greek Post Office Circulars of the Greek post with references to the Overland Mail added. Transcripts and translations of the remaining ones will follow in some time. |
| October 31, 2019 | The third copy recorded of Route Infraction Handstamp HS-32 (3) cover to London, UK, added. |
| October 27, 2019 | After having discovered the surcharges of the Greek Post for the use of mail carried by the Overland Mail Haifa-Baghdad, i am proud to show the first of such covers known. |
| October 19, 2019 | The only known cover with Route Instruction Handstamp HS-66, known only used from Tauris / Iran, is now in my collection and has been scanned in high resolution and the Route Instruction Handstamps measured in detail. |
| October 8, 2019 | Another cover with Route Instruction Handstamp HS-44 (4) added. |
| September 19, 2019 | Images of three Post Office Circulars of the Greek post with references to the Overland Mail added. Transcripts and translations of the same will be added shortly. |
| September 16, 2019 | Transcript and translation of the decree issued by Greek Post, declaring the Overland Mail surcharges and instructions, added. |
| September 12, 2019 | Finally, with the help of a collector in Greece, I discovered the first Overland Mail surcharges and instructions issued by Greek Post. |
| September 5, 2019 | A additional instruction from Poland dated 1932 has been added. |
| September 3, 2019 | Some References from Finland on the "Service Transdesertique Syro-Iraquien" added. |
| August 31, 2019 | Overland Mail surcharges and transcripts of the regulations of the Austrian Post added. |
| August 30, 2019 | Original scans and dimensions of new discovered Imprinted Envelope IE-NL09 added. |
| August 2, 2019 | Transcript of 1947 contract between Naim Nathaniel and the Palestinian Postal Authority, found in the UN archive, indicating the termination of the postal transport contract added. |
| July 28, 2019 | A late cover (20 October 1949) with the Egyptian Motor Mail label L-13, used on cover from Iraq to Egypt. This cover proves that the Overland Mail through the Syrian Desert to Arab Countries was longer in use as the mail to former Palestine which was apparently stopped the date after the formation of Israel on 14 May 1948 |
| July 15, 2019 | A registered cover from Baghdad to Paris with a Late Fee Handstamp (LF-X), previously unrecorded on Overland Mail, has been added. |
For older updates, please view the "Revision History" Page!