Page 192 - The Postal Agencies in Eastern Arabia

“VALUE ONLY”
SURCHARGES

for use in the
BRITISH POSTAL AGENCIES IN EASTERN ARABIA

Reference has been made in the proceeding Sections of Part II to the
‘Value Only’ surcharges — that is the stamps of Great Britain (KG VI
and QE II) surcharged only in Annas or N.P. (Nayc Paisc) and Rupees.
They were intended for use in all the smaller Agency Post Offices
which, unlike Bahrain and Kuwait, did not then merit individually
overprinted issues.
As is later recorded, they were sold and used exclusively in
Muscat (April 1st 1948 — April 29th 1966), in Dubai (April 1st 1948
— January 6th 1961), in Qatar (August 1950 — March 31 st 1957) and
in Abu Dhabi (March 30th 1963 — March 29th 1964). Although
Dubai and Abu Dhabi now form part of the United Arab Emirates, at
the times in question none of these four States had any affinity -
political or otherwise — whatsoever.
The ‘Value Only’ stamps were moreover valid for use in all the
Agency Post Offices, including Bahrain and Kuwait, so long as these
offices remained under British administration. Indeed, all those issued
up to 1957 (S.G. 16-78) arc known used in Kuwait, and S.G. 16—93
arc all known used in Bahrain.
In Bahrain, as has been recorded, the Postal Superintendent
himself often used “Value only” stamps instead of those with
“BAHRAIN” overprints. And, for long enough, it was “Value only”
stamps that franked the mail from Das Island — and, prior to 30.3.63,
they were cancelled with a Bahrain date-stamp.
In 1951 (April-May) and again in 1953 (February-June) there
were temporary shortages of 3a. and 6a. stamps with “KUWAIT” over­
prints. In their place the equivalent stamps surcharged “Value only”
were sold and used.

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