Overland Mail Baghdad-Haifa Pages
The Route Instruction Handstamps, HS-01 - HS-25
I do not agree with the classification by previous specialist. I feel that several of the lists types are in fact identical. However, in 1990, measurements were done by ruler, sometimes only based on photocopies which definitely will lead to small wrong measurements. However, until my theory is proven, I will continue with the previous numbering. Notes on my findings are mentioned in the comment column.
Notes:
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Black and White (B/W) images are images copied from the handbook and are only shown as reference, neither in actual size, nor are they described.
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If a link in the colum "Cover Image" is provided, a fully size high resolution image of the cover bearing the respective Handstamp. That image will open in a new layer.
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If you copy the image that has been scanned from the original cover and open and enlarge it with a graphic program you will see measuring lines around the handstamp imprint. These lines indicate the measuring border from which the actual measurement has been taken.
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Handbook Number |
Image |
Cover Image |
Handbook |
Measured size |
Comment |
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HS-01 |
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HS-02 (1) |
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47 x 10 mm |
From the late Zvi Alexander collection. Used by Abdulla Aujan & Brothers, Bahrain |
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HS-02 (2) |
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47 x 10 mm |
From the late Zvi Alexander collection. Used by Abdulla Aujan & Brothers, Bahrain |
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HS-03 |
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45 x 13 mm |
45,30 x 13,80 mm |
On a 1924 Cover from Baghdad to UK, No senders name. After having seen the other 2 handstamp below it may well be that this is a different handstamp and NOT HS-04. |
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45 x 13 mm |
44,30 x 14,60 mm |
Is this the same Handstamp as the one above? Size and appearance are somehow different. It seems that the sender Ezra Moshi Shayaa has also used Route Instruction Handstamp HS-N57. |
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45 x 13 mm |
Cover not in my collection, hence dimensions of the Route Instruction Handstamp can not be verified. |
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45 x 13 mm |
44,90 x 14,40 mm |
On cover from Baghdad (14 March 1925) to London, England) |
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HS-05 (1) similar |
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30 x 9 mm |
39,25 x 9,50 mm |
I believe there was a
typing error in the handbook (“0” for “9” in 39). Unfortunately,
only one such hand stamps was known to the author, mine might be
only the second one known, so proving my theory is my next task. |
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HS-05 (2) similar |
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30 x 9 mm |
38,40 x 8,90 mm |
Image enhanced due to week strike. See comment above, sender is David Murad Heskel, dated 19. January 1930 |
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similar |
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30 x 9 mm |
38,90 x 8,90 mm |
On Postal Card from Baghdad (Sender David Heskel Murad) 30 October 1929 to Portugal. I still believe there was a typing error in the handbook (“0” for “9” in 39). Unfortunately, only one such hand stamps was known to the author, this might be only the second one known, so proving my theory is my next task. |
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HS-06 (1) |
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40 x 10 mm |
40,80 x 11,10 mm |
On cover front from Iran |
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HS-06 (2) |
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40 x 10 mm |
40,00 x 10,70 mm |
On cover from Iran to London, England |
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HS-06 (3) |
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40 x 10 mm |
40,40 x 10,70 mm |
On cover from Iran to London, England |
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50 x 15 mm |
48,40 x 15,60 mm |
Sender Meir Hekel Murad, cover
dated 29. January 1930 |
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50 x 15 mm |
49,20 x 16,10 mm |
Sender Meir Hekel Murad, card dated 6. October 1929 |
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50 x 15 mm |
42,60 x 15,20 mm |
Sender Meir Hekel Murad, card dated 27 October 1929 The Route Instruction Handstamp on this card looks a bit different, the bottom wavy line seems to be shifted to the left or is shortened on the right, something i cannot explain how this happened. Or is it a new, previously unrecorded, handstamp since the size differs considerable? |
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HS-08 (1) |
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59 x 17 mm |
58,20 x 17,40 mm |
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HS-08 (2) |
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59 x 17 mm |
56,80 x 17,10 mm |
Width not possible to
measure
correctly
due to weak handstamp |
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HS-08 (3) |
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59 x 17 mm |
57,60 x 17,10 mm |
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HS-08 (4) |
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59 x 17 mm |
58,60 x 17,80 mm |
Sender Abdeni |
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HS-08 (5) |
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59 x 17 mm |
58,10 x 17,30 mm |
Sender Abdeni |
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HS-08 (6) |
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59 x 17 mm |
58,00 x 16,90 mm |
Sender Abdeni |
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59 x 17 mm |
58,20 x 17,20 mm |
Cover sent by G. G. Abdeni, Baghdad, on 20 January 1931 (latest known date of use of this Route Instruction Handstamp) to England. |
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59 x 17 mm |
57,60 x 17,30 mm |
Cover sent by Abdullah Y. Ftaya, Baghdad, on 28 February 1924 (earliest known date of use of this Route Instruction Handstamp) to Jerusalem / Palestine. |
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52 x 15 mm |
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Cover from the Collection of the late Zvi Alexander. Collins in is book indicates that this handstamp was used by Abdallah H. Yehuda Ftaya of Baghdad, the cover however indicates clearly that the handstamp was (also) used by E.S. SEESNA of Baghdad, a maker of rubber nand metal stamps and the over was addressed to Abdallah H. Yehuda Ftaya in Jerusalem and forwarded to his new address in Baghdad. |
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52 x 15 mm |
50,80 x 15,70 mm |
On cover from Baghdad, dated 16.01.1930 from a different sender as mentioned in Collins book. |
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HS-10 |
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55 x 12 mm |
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55 x 12 mm |
54,3 x 11,6 mm |
Cover dated 22.1.1930. Sender "The Imperial Bank of Persia / Baghdad". |
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52 x 15 mm |
42,10 x 17,50 mm |
On Cover dated 19.12.1930, together with HS-N36 (1). Collins must be wrong with his information on the size. |
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52 x 15 mm |
width 42,10 mm Height not possible to measure as strike is incomplete |
On Cover dated 17.12.1931, together with HS-N36 (2). Route Instruction handstamp not complete |
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48x13 mm |
48,80 x 14,60 mm |
On cover from Mahommarah/Iran to Moulhouse/France, dated 22 February 1926 |
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HS-13 (1) |
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43 x 14 mm
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NOTE: The images in Collins handbook for HS-12 and HS-13 are identical!! HS-13 does not have a hyphen "-" between Baghdad and Haifa. |
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HS-13 (2) |
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43 x 14 mm |
44,00 x 14,50 mm |
NOTE: The images in Collins handbook for HS-12 and HS-13 are identical!! HS-13 does not have a hyphen "-" between Baghdad and Haifa. |
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HS-14 (1) |
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HS-14 (2) |
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56 x 14 mm |
55,10 x 14,40 mm |
20 September 1927 from Basrah to England, new earliest recorded date |
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December 1929 from Basrah to Rotterdam / England |
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HS-15 (1) |
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46 x 9.5 mm |
46,90 x 9,90 mm |
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HS-15 (2) |
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46 x 9.5 mm |
46,70 x 9,70 mm |
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46 x 9.5 mm |
46,70 x 9,80 mm |
On a registered cover from Baghdad (10 February 1928) via Port Said and England to South Africa, arrival postmark 13 April 1828. Rare 18 Annas rate. |
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HS-16 |
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43,5 x 13 mm |
43,70 x 13,50 mm |
Sender address unknown but cover was sent from Mosul. Color of the cachet is now confirmed as violet |
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HS-17 (2) |
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43,5 x 13 mm |
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Height and width not measurable since upper part is covered by a British "damaged and sealed label". Cover sent from Eastern Bank LtD, Mosul, dated 09.08.1924, new earliest date. |
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HS-18 |
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HS-19 |
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68 x 10 mm |
62,40 x 10,40 mm |
Cover from R.J.Elowe as mentioned by Norman Collins but handstamp width is different. Typing error in the Handbook? |
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HS-20 (2) |
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68 x 10 mm |
Cover from R.J.Elowe as mentioned by Norman Collins but handstamp width is different. Typing error in the Handbook? |
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68 x 10 mm |
Cover from R.J.Elowe as mentioned by Norman Collins but handstamp width is different. Typing error in the Handbook? Due to double strike, not to measure correctly. |
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68 x 10 mm |
62,90 x 11,30 mm |
Cover from Basra (3 November 1925), Sender A.H. Cohen, but handstamp is more or less identical as the one used by Elowe but this handstamp is in red colour. Could it be that this handstamps had been used at the Post Office in Basra? |
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73 x 14 mm |
Cover not in my collection, dimension of the handstamp therefore not possible to verify. |
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73 x 14 mm |
Cover Ex Collins Archive, dated 22
September 1926 from Basrah to Hamburg Germany. Cover not in my collection, dimension of the handstamp therefore not possible to verify. |
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73 x 14 mm |
72,90 x 14,40 mm |
Sent on 5 May 1925 from Basrah to England. |
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HS-22 (1) |
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55 x 13 mm |
55,5 x 13,1 mm |
On a 05.08.1925 cover from Port Said / Egypt to Basrah / Iraq. The second known cover with this handstamp, the earlier one from the two known. Sender is "The British Coaling Depot, Port Said". This cover also carries a Route Instruction Label L13 |
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56,4 x 14,4 mm |
On a cover from Port Said, Egypt (20 October 1926) via Baghdad (23 October 1926) to Abadan, Persia. That cover also carries a Route Instruction Handstamp HS-N16 (4) Difference in size may be explained by the thick strike of the handstamp. |
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Handstamp is similar to HS-23, HS-24, HS-25, HS-26, HS-27, HS-28, HS-N10, HS-N11, HS-N39. HS-N41, HS-N60 and HS-N63 but the design of the horizontal ornamental line is always slightly different. |
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Handstamp is similar to HS-23, HS-24, HS-25, HS-26, HS-27, HS-28, HS-N10, HS-N11, HS-N39. HS-N41, HS-N60 and HS-N63 but the design of the horizontal ornamental line is always slightly different. |
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HS-25 (1) |
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58 x 15 mm |
60,20 x 13,00 mm |
Handstamp is similar to HS-23, HS-24, HS-25, HS-26, HS-27, HS-28, HS-N10, HS-N11, HS-N39. HS-N41, HS-N60 and HS-N63 but the design of the horizontal ornamental line is always slightly different. |
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HS-25 (2) |
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58 x 15 mm |
58,70 x 15,80 mm |
Handstamp is similar to HS-23, HS-24, HS-25, HS-26, HS-27, HS-28, HS-N10, HS-N11, HS-N39. HS-N41, HS-N60 and HS-N63 but the design of the horizontal ornamental line is always slightly different. |
