about stamps

Postal stamps

A Postal Stamp is a leaflet bearing a specific value. It is composed of a photograph or symbolic drawing of a figure. A number indicating its price is written on the leaflet for postal correspondence. The topics depicted on postal stamps are various. A postal stamp usually shows a nation’s heritage, History, traditions, festival and achievements. It also commemorates national heroes. In short, it illustrates the beauty of the issuing country.

Historical Overview

The first postal stamp was named the Penny Black in 1840.

Britain is the first country to have adopted postal stamps in 1840.

At the time, Postal administrations were experiencing difficulties in the collection of their wages. Following from that, Englishman Rowland Hill submitted early in 1837 a proposal called “postal reform” to unify the price of letters based on their weight, regardless of distance, and pre-pay the letter by using stamped papers equivalent to the postal price, plastered on the cover, called “stamp”. The development of stamps started circulating in May 6, 1840.

The first postal stamp carried the face of Queen Victoria (1819-1901) on a black background. It was worth a penny. This stamp was called “penny black” after its value and color. The rest of the world then started following the British example. Brazil was second in the issuance of a stamp named “bull's eye”. In 1847, the United States began to issue postal stamps and France delayed the use of the stamps until the beginning of the year 1848.

Different countries realized the importance of a postal stamp and its role in making the name of the country known to all parts of the globe. It became an instrument to define the world, and the idea expanded to issuing stamps on different occasions carrying pictures and drawings representing the culture and heritage of a country.

Types of postal stamps

Postal operators and cultural communities expanded the use of the stamp into various areas. This multiplied its use and popularity.

Regular mail stamps: It is the most used and is idiomatically called “normal releases”. This stamp, printed in large quantities, usually consists of different categories adequate to the applicable tariff. It pictures kings and presidents, celebrities or tourists, religious, cultural and economic construction and projects as well as unique country landmarks.
Commemorative mail stamps: commemorative stamps are usually issued for a specified period of time and are not intended to replace regular versions but to participate in stamp sales.

Postal stamps in Arab countries

Before the First World War (1914-1918), most Arab countries were applying the Ottoman Empire regulations. In early 1863, the Ottoman Post put his first stamp version in circulation in all post offices and available to all its people.

In addition to the Ottoman post offices, there were foreign post offices set up by some European countries in a number of Arab coastal cities, using stamps issued by the office itself or the state to which it belongs. Some of these offices remained functional until well after 1914.

After the end of the First World War in 1918 and the withdrawal of the Ottoman armies from the Arab countries, post offices stopped using Ottoman stamps and replaced them by stamps that fit the conditions that prevailed in each of these countries.

In Lebanon, the Allied armies had taken over. Occupied Lebanon used the “pre-paid” stamps as well as overprinted French stamps. In 1925, the Lebanese Postal Service issued its first set of overprinted stamps with the words “République Libanaise”, and added the Arabic words “Republic of Lebanon” in 1928. They then issued regular and commemorative versions.

Stamp collecting

Stamp collecting or “Philately” is a well-known hobby in the world. The unique hobby of collecting stamps differs from other hobbies as it is available to all people and provides fun times, cultural education and a lucrative investment. The hobby does not require large or special equipment expenses. However, some collectors may spend thousands to buy rare stamps or stamps with a high value.

Stamp collecting began when the first postal stamp was put in circulation in Britain. The hobby is not limited to a certain class of people. It is available to everyone, regardless of social status and profession. Their love of stamps unites collectors. They share their collections with each other as well as exchange information amongst each other, allowing them to increase their individual collections and keep up-to-date.

On every occasion of new issuance of a stamp, a numbered and limited edition of First Day envelopes is produced holding the stamp and marked with the date of the first day of issuance. These “First Days” are quite attractive to collectors.

The Philately hobby was named the hobby of Kings and the Queen of hobbies because of the great interest of Kings and Presidents in Philately itself, including King Farouk King of Egypt and King George V of Britain, Queen Elizabeth II of Britain, Herbert Hoover, President of the United States and former President of the United States Roosevelt, who said "it is the hobby that makes good citizens”.

LibanPost, in coordination with the Directorate of Post of the Ministry of Telecommunications, produces a large number of stamps every year displaying celebrities, places and special occasions. LibanPost also produces “First Days”, blocks, commemoratives and yearly collections, offered to collectors in Lebanon and around the world.

Letters and Parcels

P.O. Box service

Postal Services

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Ministry Of Defense

Hunting Permits

Tax Declarations

Official Gazette

Cooperative of Government Employees

Certification and Equivalence

Servitude and Planning Formalities

Real Estate Formalities

Pension Formalities

Statements and Documents

General Security Services

Foreign Workers Affairs

Lebanese Dental Association Formalities- Beirut

Syndicate of Accountants Formalities

Associations Affairs

Chamber of commerce

Syndicate of Computer Sciences in Lebanon

Collection on behalf of Third Party

Disbursement/Social Aid Payments

News

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