Page 58 - The Postal Agencies in Eastern Arabia

such as the construction of the deep water free port of Mina Sulcman
and the residential model town named after the present Ruler.
For more than 100 years Bahrain used the Indian Rupee as its
currency but in 1966 adopted the Bahrain Dinar of 1,000 fils.

No history of the past four decades, which have seen the emer­
gence of Bahrain as a modern independent State, would be complete
without mention of Sir Charles Bclgrave who, from 1925 to 1957, held
the official position of Adviser to successive Rulers and, some say, the
unofficial position of Prime Minister. There can be no doubt that
Bahrain owes much of its present eminence to his service.

THE FIRST POST OFFICE
Bahrain’s recorded postal history begins on August 1st, 1884,
when a Post Office was opened in Manama, the capital and port of the
island. It was a sub-office of the Indian Post Office at Bushire, under
the administration of the Bombay Circle; and it remained Bahrain’s
only post office for 62 years.
Indian Queen Victoria stamps and postal stationery were placed
on sale. It was not until 1933 that overprinted stamps were issued.
Most values of the issues from 1882-1900 are known used in Bahrain;
but certain denominations such as the 1 Zi annas are rare, and values
above 4 annas are not frequently seen.

Type 1 Type 2
The first cancellation consisted of a ‘B’ in small circle of
horizontal bars used in conjunction with (not Duplex) a small date-
stamp which - surprisingly, at this late date - did not include the year
(Type 1): it has been possible to ‘date’ one of the very rare examples

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