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)   3rd Place in Class "Digital Media" |  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!
| 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. |
| June 16, 2019 |
A cover from
Italy sent in February 1928 to Iraq and carried by the Overland
Mail added. My "own philatelic writings" page with articles related to the Overland Mail has been updated. |
| June 7, 2019 | A previous unrecorded Route Instruction, now listed as HS-N62 added. That Route Instruction Handstamp is similar to HS-23, HS-24, HS-25, HS-26, HS-27, HS-28, HS-N10, HS-N11, HS-N39. HS-N41 and HS-N60 but the design of the horizontal ornamental line is always slightly different. |
| May 31, 2019 | I could purchase an imprinted envelope of type IE-22, the second copy of this imprinted envelope recorded. |
| May 28, 2019 | A warrant has been added, issued on March 31, 1924 by the British Post, that authorized the desert motor route service. |
| May 23, 2019 |
A collector friend informed that he found a cover from
Czechoslovakia to Baghdad carried by the Overland Mail. In
addition that cover carries a previously unrecorded Route
Instruction Label, now listed as
L-N02 New Discovered Route Instruction Handstamp, classified by precious owner as HS-74 listed as new discovered Route Instruction Handstamp HS-N61. |
| May 20, 2019 | Second cover (the third known) with Route Instruction Handstamp HS-44 (2) added. |
| May 19, 2019 | Second reported copy of HS-N25 (2) used from the same sender as the first reported cover (Banque Nationale de Perse, Succursale de Kermanchah) added. |
| May 17, 2019 |
While going though some auction catalogue I noted a few items not
listed yet. Imprinted Envelope IE-NL09 Nice variant of Imprinted envelope IE 27 (var) which was briefly mentioned in an article in OPAL issue 214 in June 2006. |
| May 13, 2019 | A 1890 map (extract) added which shows the Post Route through the desert from Damascus to Baghdad. |
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April 13, 2019 |
Bradbury Wilkinson photographic essays for a proposed "Overland Mail" stamps for Iraq added. |
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April 8, 2019 |
The earliest recorded use of Route Instruction Handstamp HS-08 (8) has been found by me and added. |
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March 18, 2019 |
By coincidence I discovered a previously unrecorded imprinted envelope, now listed as IE-N03. Item not in my collection and i would appreciate an information on/from the current owner |
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March 17, 2019 |
After many years of collecting and researching I finally can add an Imprinted Envelope IE-23. The new discovered item is dated 22 December 1928 and now the earliest used copy known. |
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March 15, 2019 |
Finally, the original cover already reported on 12 May 2018 with new discovered Route Instruction Handstamp HS-N58, is in my collection and size of the route instruction measured and added. |
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March 3, 2019 |
After many years the first advertising pamphlet with Arabic Text found. |
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March 2, 2019 |
A variety of Imprinted Envelops IE-08 (VAR) discovered where the full stops (.) after MAIL and HAIFA in the Route Instruction are not underneath of each other.
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February 24, 2019 |
Image of cover with rouletted Label L-10 added. |
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February 22, 2019 |
I am glad to report the first new discovered Route Instruction Label since the monograph by Norman Collins had been published almost 30 years ago. The label is now listed as Label Type L-N01. More details will follow shortly. |
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February 19, 2019 |
The cover with Route Instruction Label L15 (2) is now in my hands an high resolution images have been added. |
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February 18, 2019 |
The section "The End of he Overland Mail" has been modified and separate pages with latest known covers from Palestine and Jordan (via Beyrouth) added. More covers will be added as I will be aware of them. |
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February 12, 2019 |
Further Transport Company "Levant Express Transport S.A." added |
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February 11, 2019 |
Copy of cover with Route Instruction Handstamp HS-66 added. |
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February 10, 2019 |
My Overland Land Mail Baghdad-Haifa Exhibit hosted by Exponate Online, the site of the German Philatelic Association (BDPh) has been embedded on this site. The images in larger quality can be viewed at the original site. |
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January 27, 2019 |
Another strike of Route Instruction Handstamp HS-76 (5) added. The latest reported use of this handstamp. |
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January 22, 2019 |
I have been informed about another cover with Route Instruction Label L15 (2), cover not in my collections, hence the images are not of the best quality. |
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January 18, 2019 |
Deciphered the handwritten remarks on the draft Contract between Nairn and the Iraqi Post in October 1923. |
For older updates, please view the "Revision History" Page!