Page 155 - The Postal Agencies in Eastern Arabia

stamps were first overprinted “BAHRAIN ANNA” and the fraction
“H” added in a subsequent operation. This early printing may some­
times be recognised when the “H” was not placed centrally in relation
to the rest of the overprint. Certain sheets missed the second operation
and one was discovered in Manama Post Office after half had been
sold. The remaining half sheet was withdrawn and returned to the
G.P.O., but two more sheets were subsequently discovered — making
a probable total of 600 copies of the error. A considerable number was
philatclically used on covers locally addressed, and several of these were
cancelled at Muharraq Post Office on November 20th and 21st, 1953
(Type 23).

6 JU 57
BAHRAIN

The Local stamp Type 29

Meanwhile, the first “Local” stamp had been issued on February
15th; and the G.B. Coronation set on June 3rd, 1953. The lHa.
“Local” stamp, bearing a portrait of the Ruler Shaikh Suleman bin
Hamad al-KJialifa, covered the internal letter rate; and revenue from its
sale in existing Post Offices accrued to the Bahrain State Postal Service
which took over the internal mail system, as a first step to postal
independence. Revenue from the sale of the overprinted G.B. stamps
continued to be credited to the British Postal Agency which remained
responsible for all external services. In October 1956, Ha. and la.
values in the same design were added to the “Local” series.
Although specifically intended only for internal use, the “Local”
stamps were occasionally used — and were accepted as valid — on
international mail, either by themselves or in conjunction with British
Agency stamps. They are more frequently found with British Agency
cancellations but new, locally-made cancellers were introduced by the
State Post Office specially for use on these stamps. Type 29 was the
first incorporating the name BAHRAIN in Arabic, and Types 30 and
31 were the first to identify MANAMA.
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