Page 116 - The Postal Agencies in Eastern Arabia

From 1923 the Naim brothers, Norman and Gerald, operated their
overland route which carried mail by desert coach from Baghdad to Haifa,
thence to Port Said by train. Until 1929 mail despatched by this route
required an additional postal fee, and letters bore either a cachet
“OVERLAND MAIL/BAGHDAD-IIAIFA” struck in violet or red, or
a label with white lettering on a red ground, “OVERLAND MAIL” and
(in Arabic) “AUTOMOBILE MAIL” or “LAND MAIL”. Covers from
Kuwait arc known with both types of marking, even though they did not
always bear the correct rate of 6a. (3a. normal postage plus 3a. Overland
surcharge).

BASRAH-CAIRO.
AIR MAIL.

lira, J, Arafrtronfc,
7. Gallaberry ,
Annan,
Scotland.

The Imperial Airways service between Cairo and Basra was opened
on January 1st, 1927, and covers from Kuwait bear the cachet
“BASRAH-CAIRO/AIR MAIL”; with or without a Basra transit
post mark,
At this time mails were not only received and despatched by
B.I.S.N. steamers, but were also transported to and from Basra by
sailing boat maintained by the Political Agency. In 1927, however,
Col. J. C. More (Political Agent 1920—29) surveyed and made the first
motorable track to Basra, via Mutla and Safwan. Air Mail correspondence
to and from Kuwait during this period was despatched to and received
from Basra by road.

On April 22nd, 1929, the Iraqi Post Office again assumed control
of the Post Office in Kuwait, which became a Sub-Office under the
administrative direction of Basra. This change is said to have been
effected on the particular request of the then Ruler of Kuwait, Shaikh

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