INTERIM PERIOD I

T

Background

T

December 9, 1917.

This is the date when Jerusalem surrounded to the Allied Forces of the EEF (Egyptian Expeditionary Forces).

June 30, 1920.

The military administration, EEF (Egyptian Expeditionary Forces), provided postal service until it was replaced by the British civilian administration, OETA (Occupied Enemy Territory Administration). The OETA started when the High Commissioner had taken up his appointment on July 1, 1920.

POSTAL HISTORY OF PALESTINE’S 1918 INTERIM PERIOD

The Israel Philatelist. August, 2000, Pages 134- 136; Vol 51, Issue 4, Page 16. 

Even though the war was not over, the British realized that civilians and businesses needed to communicate with relatives, friends and customers. The use of British stamps by local inhabitants was deemed “politically undesirable” so the printing of the lithographed EEF issues was rushed [Ref: “Stamps” web page, Figure 1).

Stamps

For more information, see “Stamps” web page.

FREE Civilian Mail

For information see “FREE Civilian Mail” web page.

PREPAID Civilian Mail

For information see “PREPAID Civilian Mail” web page.

John Firebrace for his 1991 book British Empire Campaigns and Occupations in the Near East 1914-1924, conducted a census of the 1918 Interim period covers. He lists 65 postage free and 56 prepaid covers from Palestine. I’m sure there are additional covers not counted, but I have seen only a few that appear not to be on his list. His list includes origin, destination, date mailed, franking and comments.

ANOTHER “INTERIM” PERIOD

The Israel Philatelist, Vol 40, Issue 3-4, Page 7.

Actually, the time frame can vary for different aspects of postal service that must be considered; 1) stamps and stationery 2) cancellations 3) related postal materials. While the beginnings of these “Interim” periods are common knowledge, determining the termination of the various aspects of postal service in the “Interim” is quite difficult in some cases.
. . . .

An understanding of the nature of the postal aspects of this “Interim” period which ensued when the Civil Administration took over from the Military Administration requires an examination of the three aspects of the postal service mentioned above (i.e., Actually, the time frame can vary for the different postal services must be considered; 1) stamps and stationery 2) cancellations 3) related postal materials.

Images for Interim I