Page 108 - The Postal Agencies in Eastern Arabia

been supplied prior to the transfer of Kuwait Post Office from military
to civil control in August 1921. Although its latest recorded date
appears to be August 25th, 1928, it probably continued in use until it
was replaced (in 1929?) by Type 8.
A canceller with the new spelling “KUWAIT” is reputed to have
been used as early as March 1920 (Type 5) but it was not until 1923 that
it came into general use; and, indeed, the old “KOWEIT” variety
(Type 1) is known used as late as February 1922, and Type 2 has been
found cancelling a Via. Indian stamp with KUWAIT overprint as late as
October 1923. It will be remembered that Shakespcar had changed the
spelling in his despatches as early as 1910, but doubts must have lingered
in some official minds as to which spelling should be adopted, for, prior
to the issue of the overprinted stamps in 1923, essays were prepared with
the overprint spelled “KOWEIT”; only twelve sets of the Ordinary and
Service stamps were printed, blocks of four being in the Royal Collection.
A complete set was sold as recently as 1954 for £65; now the catalogue
price is £1,750!

THE OVERPRINTED STAMPS

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