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Overland Mail Baghdad-Haifa Pages
 

The Route Instruction Labels

   

In order to facilitate the addressing of Overland Mail covers, Route Instruction labels had been prepared. Some of the labels were issued by the Postal Administrations of Iraq, Egypt and Cyprus, others are of still unknown source, eventually prepared by private individuals.

 

Iraq Post had issued a Post Office Notice dated 27th August 1925 advertising the labels for the use on Overland Mail.

Label Form E.P., BG -- 10,000


As per the image, I assume the advertised labels are of Type L5/L6 from the table below.

 

Some of the labels are difficult to classify due to poor illustrations in the literature which is noted in the table below.

Notes:

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

Handbook Number

Image

Cover Image

Handbook Size

Measured size
(from items in my collection)

Comment

L-1

Front

61 x 10 mm perforated

63,60 x 14,30 mm

Size measured excluding the perforation. It appears the size mentioned in the literature is the size of the white frame on the label but not the label itself, furthermore, it seems the labels have been printed in sheet form (numbers of labels per sheet unknown) and perforated only between the labels.

L-1-1

Front

61 x 10 mm
perforated

64,10 x 12,40 mm

Left side of the labels imperforated, It seems the labels have been printed in sheet form (numbers of labels per sheet unknown) and perforated only between the labels.

L-1-3

Front

Reverse

61 x 10 mm
perforated

65,00 x 14,60 mm

Left and bottom side of the labels imperforated, It seems the labels have been printed in sheet form (numbers of labels per sheet unknown) and perforated only between the labels.

L-1

Image

61 x 10 mm
perforated

63,90 x 13,90 mm

Out of a block of 7 labels

L-2

 

61 x 10 mm
imperforated

 

red color 

L-03 / 04a

Front

L-03: 74 x 9 mm
L-04: 73 x 9 mm

73,50 x 8,80 mm

I have seven covers with label type L-03/L04 in my collection and so far strongly believe that Label L-03 and L-04 are actually identical labels. Based on my research, I can not make out a clear difference in size which justifies a separate number.

L-03 / 04b

Front

L-03: 74 x 9 mm
L-04: 73 x 9 mm

73,50 x 8,80 mm

L-03 / 04c

Front

L-03: 74 x 9 mm
L-04: 73 x 9 mm

73,60 x 8,80 mm

L-03 / 04d

Front

Reverse

L-03: 74 x 9 mm
L-04: 73 x 9 mm

73,30 x 8,70 mm

L-03 / 04e

Front

Reverse

L-03: 74 x 9 mm
L-04: 73 x 9 mm

73,50 x 8,80 mm

L-03 / 04f

Front

Reverse

L-03: 74 x 9 mm
L-04: 73 x 9 mm

73,90 x 8,60 mm

L-03 / 04g

Front

Reverse

L-03: 74 x 9 mm
L-04: 73 x 9 mm

73,20 x 8,80 mm

L-03 / 04h

Front

Reverse

L-03: 74 x 9 mm
L-04: 73 x 9 mm

 

Label not straight affixed, therefore not meassured.

L-03 / 04

Image

L-03: 74 x 9 mm
L-04: 73 x 9 mm

73,50 x 8,80 mm

Out of a mint block of 9 such labels I have extracted the shown image.

L-05a

Front

Reverse

72 x 9 mm

72,20 x 94 mm

I have 4 covers with label L-05 in my collection. Based on my research, I can make out a (small) difference compared to label L-06, although the difference is very small.

L-05b

Front

72 x 9 mm

72,30 x 9,30 mm

L-05c

Front

72 x 9 mm

72,30 x 9,40 mm

L-05d

Front

Reverse

72 x 9 mm

71,70 x 9,60 mm

L-06a

Front

73 x 9 mm

73,00 x 8,90 mm

L-06b

Front

Reverse

73 x 9 mm

72,90 x 8,80 mm

Together with "Late Fee Paid" Marking.

L-07 / 08a

Front

L-07: 74 x 9 mm
L-08: 75 x 9 mm

72,90 x 8,90 mm

I have only 2 covers with label L-07 / L-08 in my collection and so far, i can not make out a clear difference in them.

L-07 / 08b

Front

L-07: 74 x 9 mm
L-08: 75 x 9 mm

73,60 x 9,00 mm

L-09

 

 

74 x 10 mm 

 

red color

L-10, perforated

Image (complete sheet)

50 mm (width)

approx.56 mm x 10 mm

 

That label has been issued by British Post and was announced by Post Office Circular on 10 November 1926 and Post Office Circular on 11 May 1927.

Size of labels differs, depending on location in the sheet, left side labels with white sheet margin color.

L-10, perforated

 

50 mm (width)

approx.56 mm x 10 mm

 

Size of labels differs, depending on location in the sheet.

L-10, perforated

 

50 mm (width)

approx.56 mm x 10 mm

 

Label from upper right corner of the sheet . It shows perforation only between the labels on left/right side of the labels but not on the outer side of the sheet, leaving the upper and bottom labels partly imperforated.

L-10, perforated

 

50 mm (width)

approx.56 mm x 10 mm

 

Label from bottom left corner of the sheet with Post Office Stationary Type Number P696. It shows perforation only between the labels on left/right side of the labels but not on the outer side of the sheet, leaving the upper and bottom labels partly imperforated.

L-10,
perforated

Front

Reverse

50 mm (width)

approx.56,40 mm x 9,40 mm

Size measured from the middle of the perforation holes

L-10, perforated (Cover #2)

Front

Edinburgh (5 October 1927) to Baghdad. That cover carries 2 perforated labels. Illustrated on page 130 of 'Airmails across the Middle East' by Laurence Kimpton".

L-10, perforated (Cover #3)

Front

Reverse

England (12 September 1927) to Baghdad, send to the same address as the 5 October 1927 cover above. That cover was illustrated in the article "The Nairn Brothers and the Overland Mail" by Dr. C. T. Wahby, published in the Journal of the Oriental Philatelic Society of London, OPAL, issue No. 14 of year 2006, Pages 21-36

L-10, perforated

Postal Card

Front

Reverse

Felixstowe, Suffolk (20 March 1929, 2pm) to Baghdad (30 March 1929) from where the cover has been forwarded to Kirkuk (1 April 1929). Postage rate 4 1/2d (1 ½d Postcard rate, 3d Overland Mail surcharge. The only post card from UK sent by the Overland Mail to Iraq and also the latest use of this Route Instruction label of the British Post.

L-10, rouletted

Image (complete sheet)

 

It was noticed in 2003, but reported here for the first time that that label exist also rouletted instead of perforated. Image courtesy of Laurence Kimpton

L-10, rouletted

Also that label bears the Form Number P.696 as the perforated label.

L-10, rouletted

Image

Image of Part Sheet Courtesy Postal Museum London

L-10, rouletted

Image

 Image courtesy of Laurence Kimpton.

L-11 (1)

Front

Reverse

59 x 18,5 mm (size of complete label)

57,90 x 19,10 mm

Size measured around text and imprint only since the label is not complete and cuts not correctly rectangular.

For additional and information on Mail from Cyprus, please visit the "Eastwards Cyprus" Page.

L-11 (2)

Front

59 x 18,5 mm (size of complete label)

 

A cover with label L-11 but addressed to Iraq. Most of the overs with these labels are addressed to India to a Poste Restante" address, this is the only one i am aware sent to a real address.
20 August 1930 from Troodos to Iraq with the "Service Transdesertique/Syro-Iraquien Damas-Bagdad" label, franked with a pair of 1 ½ Piaster and a single 2 ½ Piaster for a total of 4 1/2 pi, (postage 1 ½ Piaster, Overland Mail Surcharge 3 Piaster) on reverse Beirut R.P. transit marking (27 August 1930).

Cover not in my collection.

L-12 (1) 

Front

32,50 mm

Blue on green paper 

From the late Zvi Alexander collection.  

L-12 (2)

Front

32,50 mm

37,7 x 4,8 mm

 Size indicated is from the instruction "By Overland Mail" only.

Blue on green paper. Size indicated is from the instruction "By Overland Mail" only. Size of the label varies due to hand cutting. This specific label has the size of 48,5 x 18 mm.

Cover from Baghdad dated 25 September 1924 to London. New earliest recorded use.

L-12 (3)

Front

32,50 mm

37,8 x 4,8 mm

 Size indicated is from the instruction "By Overland Mail" only.

Blue on green paper. Size indicated is from the instruction "By Overland Mail" only. Size of the label varies due to hand cutting. This specific label has the size of 48,5 x 16 / 19 mm.

Cover from Baghdad to London.

L-13

Front (1)

Front (2)

Reverse (2)

Front (3)

For additional covers and information on Mail from Egypt, please visit the "Eastwards Egypt" Page.

L-13

(late use)

 

Front
Reverse

 

A very late cover (dated 20 October 1949) with the Egyptian label used on mail from Iraq to Egypt.

L-14

Front

Typewritten on greenish paper

All capital letters 

From the late Zvi Alexander collection.

L-14a
new subtype

Front

Reverse

Typewritten on greenish paper

Used from the Iranian Foreign Office. Previously it was known only with capital lettering, this is the first one known with mixed (capital and lower case) lettering.

L-15 (1)

Front

Reverse

Typewritten on white (beige) paper

Used on registered cover from the Iranian Foreign Office to Paris, France, dated 2 July 1932. The cover also bears two Route Instruction Handstamps HS-88

L-15 (2)

Front

Reverse

Typewritten on white (beige) paper

  Used on registered cover from the Iranian Foreign Office via Damas to Djeddah, Saudi Arabia, dated 13 November 1933.

L-16 (1)

Front

96 x 15,50 mm

Believed to be a cut out from an imprinted envelope. Since no such imprinted envelope is known it is listed as label.

Seeing both labels side-by-side, i am convinced that they are of the same type, just cropped in different size.

From the late Zvi Alexander collection.

L-17

Front

52 x 15,50 mm

L-16 (2)

Front

Reverse

Not listed

130 x 61,3 mm

Just discovered, a cover with an apparently complete label L16 / L17 on a registered cover franked with a total of 9 Annas, postmarked Baghdad, 13 May 1931 to Czechoslovakia. Two lines "Late fee/ Annas Three". On reverse route instruction label "Per Overland Mail. Baghdad-Haifa".
The label appears as it was printed in sheetlets of labels and the label shown is from the bottom of the sheet.

L-N01

Front

Not listed

74 x 12 mm

Length of Overland Mail inscription 67 mm

Cover ca. 1933/34 from Iran to UK.

L-N02

Front

Not listed

Not yet reported to me

ON  20 December 1927 cover from Weipert (VEIPRTY) / Czechoslovakia to Baghdad. New discovered Route Instruction label.

L-N03

Front

Reverse

Not listed

Size of the complete label

40,7 x 29,2 mm

 

Size of the frame inside the label

31,7 x 18,1 mm

 

 

On a 25 June 1939 cover from Baghdad to Germany