Page 146 - The Postal Agencies in Eastern Arabia

BAHRAIN

The British Agency took over two post offices in 1948, the
main office in Manama, the capital, and a branch office at Muharraq,
the large town near the airport. A third post office was opened at
Awali in 1950, in which year Manama Post Office moved from near
the Customs House to a new location opposite Baab al Bahrain.

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22 FEB 51 2 21 NO o
VwhrnV

Type 21 Type 22 Type 23

Manama continued to use Indian cancellers Types 5C, 6 and 9
throughout the remainder of 1948 and, in the case of Types 5C and 9,
well into 1949. Muharraq retained its ’’Experimental P.O. K-121”
(Type 13) for a short time, and it is known used there on October 25th,
1948. The first British type cancellers (Types 21,22 and 23) were
probably in use before the end of 1948; but, as no date-stamp records
were kept locally before 1962, it is not possible to record precise
dates. Type 21 is also known in 1956-57 with a sans-serif 1 in place
of the asterisk above the date: Type 22 was struck in violet in 1950—51
and in black from 1952.
The stamps that came into use on April 1st, 1948, were the
contemporary Great Britain K.G.VI lM. to 3d., 6d., Is., 2s.6d. and 5s.
overprinted “BAHRAIN” and surcharged in “ANNAS” and “RUPEES”.
The 10s. stamp, surcharged “10 RUPEES” was added to the series in
July 1949. The overprinting was done on complete sheets and there
were no errors. However, interesting varieties exist on the Rs5 which
was overprinted on sheets of the basic G.B. stamp which have ‘T’
guide marks in the King’s hair on Rows 2/3,2/7 and 5/4.

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