"Egypt had the first handstamp postal markings of Africa and was the first non-colonial African country to issue stamps as well as the first to print its own stamps. It was a pioneer in the issue of booklet stamps, the use of airmail, and the use of photogravure for stamp production."
This declaration (on page 2 of the Preface), coupled with "the philately of Egypt is among the richest of all the world's countries," is more than sufficient to whet the appetite for Egypt - Stamps and Postal History: A Philatelic Treatise. After all, what nation can boast such a pioneering philatelic history!
By its very size, the philatelic treatise is impressive. This is a volume of 922 pages packed with history and thousands of illustrations of stamps, covers, and postal markings. Author Peter A.S. Smith puts a strong argument that Egyptian philately deserves a high profile.
Children always had a fascination for the fabled land of Egypt. Egypt - Stamps and Postal History adds to childhood wonder and awe because of the immensity of Smith's extensive research and fine delivery of text.
Peter Smith illustrates his knowledge, not only about the philately of Egypt, but also about book preparation. Close examination of the table contents, chapter summaries, index, and bibliography is comforting. This is a volume that is well laid out in user-friendly format.
The chapter summaries, which follow the table of contents, are excellent. They include chapter sub-headings and appropriate page references because the Index is "to subjects that do not appear in the chapter summaries." This is not to discount the value of the Index because it is also important.
The arrangement of the chapters in Egypt - Stamps and Postal History is "more or less chronological from the beginning to the end of the ordinary and commemorative issues." Chapters on special-purpose stamps and other topics do not necessarily follow a time sequence.
A brief review of the contents reveals the magnitude of Peter Smith's research. Chapter I presents the backdrop from which the modern Egyptian postal system evolved. The history begins with letters written in hieroglyphic script, some of which date to as early as the third century B.C. Chapter II shows how the mail developed with the Napoleonic Post while three following chapters move the postal history through couriers, Posta Europa, and forwarding agents.
Successive chapters then look at the influence of the foreign postal administrations in Egypt commencing with Greece in 1833 and extending through Austrian, British, Italian, French and Russian post offices. The first four issues of stamps of Egypt, which began in 1865, get in-depth treatment under numerous features that pay particular attention to philatelic matters such as colors, watermarks, booklets, bisects, plate varieties, plates, errors, and perforations.
Smith's treatise on the first half of the 20th century takes focus on how Egypt's stamps achieved further success and included portraits of the king after the declaration of the Kingdom of Egypt in 1922 and other royal matters leading up to the abdication of King Farouk in 1952.
Egypt - Stamps and Postal History also explores many specialty aspects of Egyptian philately and its post office including all of what are commonly referred to as back-of-the-book items, special usage post office services, and postal paper. Chapter XXXI on Military Mail is of particular interest for specialists collectors of military philately, especially as it relates to the many nations that sent troops to Egypt from the 1880s to the present.
Smith records some "rare philatelic circumstances" for some military pieces. Among others, he refers to "covers and postcards from the Canadian Contingent" especially from the 1884-85 campaign in Sudan.
Egypt - Stamps and Postal History is a phenomenal study that took Peter Smith years of intensive writing and research. It is truly an encyclopaedic work, the full extent of which can only be appreciated by use. Smith warns his work "is supple-mentary to a general catalog rather than as a replacement." He suggests users "read with a catalog at hand."
Smith says when the Egypt Study Circle was formed in 1935, one of its purposes was "the preparation of a handbook of Egyptian philately." It may have taken almost 65 years, but the reality of Egypt-Stamps and Postal History makes the wait worthwhile.
The tome is a sound mix of history, social development, philately, and anecdote. An opening series of 16 color plates illustrates some wonderful covers, proofs, and essays. There are also nine purpose-drawn maps that show the locations of obscure post offices that are not shown on any atlas.
A feature that has exceptional human interest value is the section entitled "Some Past Collectors of Egypt" which recalls the lives and collecting interests of leading collectors who made substantial contribution to a work they never lived to see.
This is not a coffee table picture book; rather it is a reference designed to allow users to look up any specific area of interest without reading countless pages to find a certain topic.
Peter Smith is an honorary life member of the Philatelic Society of Egypt, past-president of the Egypt Study Circle, and the internationally acknowledged leading authority on the stamps and postal history of Egypt. Egypt-Stamps and Postal History has to be his magnum opus. It is an authoritative source on a "long and complex" history of philately. There are few nation's stamps that get the treatment Egypt does in Smith's book.
Michael O. Nowlan was born in Chatham, New Brunswick Canada. He grew up on a nearby farm, was educated, and became a teacher. In retirement, he follows his life-long avocation of writing. His credits include 16 books (four books of poems, two children's titles, and anthologies for schools). In recent years, he has written extensively about stamp collecting for CANADIAN STAMP NEWS, GIBBONS INTERNATIONAL STAMP NEWS, and other philatelic publications.
