The Middle East in Stamps (1948 - 1982)
Excerpt from the Sidney Levin Stamp Collection
TU Special Collections and University Archives was recently gifted an extensive collection of stamps from the family of Mr. Sidney Levin. Mr. Levin, a world traveler and enthusiastic stamp collector, gathered stamps from each country he visited and organized them into several binders, including annotations and other memorabilia.
The stamps in the collection provide a unique lens for exploring history and the impact of world events. Many are issued by governments or official agencies to highlight recent events or to commemorate the past. Each nation included presents that nation's stance or perspective and provides insight into its relationship with its history and with other nations.
Mr. Levins's complete collection is available in the Towson University Archives digital collections.
Below is a small excerpt of stamps from the Middle East, Africa, and the Mediterranean concerning major regional events and conflicts from 1948 to 1982.
Please note: some topics, materials, or perspectives on war and violence may be difficult to engage with. The stamps portray the official stances of their issuing nation at that time and may not represent current perspectives or those of the citizens.
The Middle East in Stamps (1948 - 1982)
Egypt - 1948
Issued in June of 1948, this stamp commemorates the arrival of Egyptian soldiers in Gaza during the international phase of the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, also referred to as the Israeli War of Independence or Palestinian Nakba.
Israel - 1951
The stamp commemorates Israel's third Independence Day. It depicts the Nabi Yusha fort, which was later renamed Metzudat Koach. The fort was significant in the 1936-1939 revolt in Palestine and the 1948 Arab-Israeli War and is now used by the Israel Border Police.
Egypt - 1957
Stamp declaring Gaza part of the United Arab Republic, a political union between Syria and Egypt from 1958 to 1961.
Egypt / UAR - 1958
This stamp is one of a set celebrating the establishment of the United Arab Republic, a political union formed between Egypt and Syria in 1958.
Israel - 1960
These Israeli stamps, issued to commemorate the World Refugee Year in 1960, symbolize Operation Magic Carpet. Operation Magic Carpet, or Operation On Wings of Eagles, was an organized effort to transport nearly 50,000 Jews from Yemen to Israel from 1948 to 1950.
Egypt / UAR - 1960
This stamp from the United Arab Republic was released in 1960 to commemorate the United Nations' proclamation of the World Refugee Year. The artwork highlights the plight of Palestinian refugees in Gaza.
Israel - 1963
This set of Israeli stamps commemorates the 25th anniversary of the Jewish Stockade and Tower Settlements in Palestine. Stockade and Tower (or Watchtower) was a method of settlement in which immediately defensible structures, consisting of a watchtower and a wall, could be established within hours or overnight.
Many of these settlements were established during the 1936–1939 Arab revolt.
Jordan - 1964
This stamp from Jordan celebrates the first Arab League summit in Cairo in 1964. The meeting led to the later establishment of the Palestine Liberation Organization and the United Arab Command.
Deir Yassin (1965-1966)
In 1965 and 1966, several Arab nations, organized by the Arab Postal Union, released stamps to commemorate the 1948 Deir Yassin massacre. On April 9th, the Irgun and Lehi paramilitary groups attacked the village, killing roughly 100 Arab villagers. The attack further inflamed hostilities between Jewish and Arab forces, resulting in Arab reprisals like the Hadassah convoy massacre on April 13th.
The circumstances and details surrounding this event remain controversial.
Syria - 1965
This stamp from Syria was released in 1965 to celebrate Palestine Week.
Egypt / UAR - 1967
The United Arab Republic released this stamp in 1967 to promote solidarity with Palestine. It depicts Gamal Abdel Nasser Hussein, president of Egypt from 1954 to 1970.
Kuwait - 1967
This stamp from Kuwait commemorates United Nations Day and a national Arab Palestine Day in 1967.
Israel - 1967
This Israeli stamp is part of a series released to celebrate victory in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, also known as the Six-Day War or the June War. It highlights the Straits of Tiran, the sea passages connecting the Gulf of Aqaba to the Red Sea. Access to and closure of the Straits of Tiran have caused several conflicts in the region and were one of the inciting factors in the conflict in 1967.
Sudan - 1967
This 1967 stamp from Sudan commemorates the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and highlights the upcoming 20th anniversary of Israel's independence, which was declared on May 15, 1948.
Israel - 1970
An Israeli stamp commemorating the 20th Anniversary of Operation Magic Carpet.
Libya - 1971
Stamp from Libya from 1971 highlights Fatah, a Palestinian political organization established in the 1950s. Fatah, which in Arabic is a reverse acronym for the Palestinian National Liberation Movement, initially began as a guerilla fighting force. Fatah later became the dominant political party of the Palestinian Authority from 1994 until 2006, when it lost several council elections to Hamas.
Israel - 1973
This stamp depicts the Israeli Declaration of Independence (or The Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel), which was proclaimed after the expiration of the British Mandate in Palestine on May 14, 1948.
Egypt - 1975
This Egyptian stamp commemorates the second anniversary of the beginning of the 1973 Arab-Israeli War, also known as the Yom Kippur War, the Ramadan War, and the October War. The conflict began on October 6th, when Egyptian and Syrian forces launched a two-front attack on Israel in an attempt to regain territories lost in 1967 and lasted until October 26th.
Israel - 1976
A 1976 stamp from Israel highlighting border settlements.
Egypt - 1977
This Egyptian stamp was released in 1977 to commemorate Egyptian President Anwar Sadat's visit to Jerusalem, making him the first Arab leader to visit Israel.
Israel - 1979
This Israeli stamp was issued in 1979 to celebrate the signing of the Egypt–Israel peace treaty. It features a photo of a note or prayer placed inside the Western Wall in Jerusalem.
Egypt - 1979
Egyptian from 1979 commemorative stamp celebrating the Egypt–Israel peace treaty.
Iran - 1980
This is a 1980 stamp from Iran expressing solidarity with Palestine. The text at the bottom states, "Let us liberate Jerusalem."
Greek Cyprus - 1980
This stamp from Greek Cyprus was released for the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, celebrated on November 29th.
Iraq - 1982
This stamp from Iraq commemorates the anniversary of the 1981 Israeli attack on the Tuwaitha Nuclear Research Center.