FORERUNNERS
Austrian Post Offices
The Austrian Empire established a mail system in the Mediterranean through the shipping company Österreichischer Lloyd. Lloyd postal agencies operated in Jaffa (1854), Haifa (1854), and Jerusalem (1852). These three offices later became the Austrian Imperial and Royal Post Offices: Jerusalem (March 1859), Jaffa and Haifa (1 February 1858). Collecting or forwarding agencies existed in Mea Shearim Jerusalem), Safed, and Tiberias. Safed and Tiberias were only served by a private courrier arranged via the local Austrian consular agent. Nazareth and Bethlehem were never served by the Austrians, such cachets found on postal material and their transport to Jerusalem was arranged purely privately.
In a number of Jewish settlements, local traders or officials served as auxiliary collection and deposit agents: Gedera, Hadera , Kastinie (Ber Tuviya ), Petah Tiqva , Rehovot , Rishon Le Zion, Yavne’el , and Zichron Yaacov. By special arrangement, as an inducement to use the Austrian service for foreign mail as well, the Austrian post transported letters and cards between these Jewish settlements free of charge. The use of local or JNF labels on such postal matter was totally without any need and is known on philatelic items only.
Shown in Figure 1 is the Jewish Weekly Newspaper “HABAZELETH,” dated 27th February 1874, published by Israel Dov Frumkin. The newspaper is franked by the 2 soldi Austrian Levant stamp, paying the low newspaper rate. The stamp is canceled by the Austrian circular “GERUSALEMME” postmark of the same date. Only two such items from the Austrian Post in The Holy Land are recorded.
The Rare Newspaper Mail Stamp, The Israel Philatelist, April 2013, p. 50.
Postal Cards & Envelopes, Turkish Period Mail From The Holy Land, The Israel Philatelist, February 2011, p. 40.
Postal Cards & Envelopes, Turkish Period Mail From The Holy Land, The Israel Philatelist, February 2011, p. 40.
Parcel Post & Parcel Card Usage Holy Land 1882 – 1954 – Part 2, The Israel Philatelist, Winter 2016, p. 16.
Parcel Post & Parcel Card Usage in the Holy Land 1882 – 1954 – Part 1, The Israel Philatelist, Spring 2015, p 31.