A study of the stamps of Qatar and the history surrounding the time of their issue.
Keeping with the general theme of this month - the artists behind the stamp designs.
I bring you a spectacular set of stamps issued back in 2017 with a few Marine Organisms found around the coast line of Qatar.
I hope you enjoy the images.
Having myself years ago attempted underwater photography (failing miserably) I know how skilful you need to be to get to this quality.
With the only documented record of Qatar Datestamps still being the Neil Donaldson "The Postal Agencies in Easter Arabia and the Gulf".
Neil's work documented the first 17 types of datestamps used in the Qatar Postal system.
Perhaps it's time to start a new study. So, in the slides below I have identified the next types. Datestamp types 18 through to 21.
Please feel free to share any other type of datestamps used in Qatar that you may have in your collection.
At first sight, it seems to be all about Bahrain. But the cover hides a little of the story of the first hospital to open in Doha, Qatar.
Do spend some time in reading it. I'm sure it will prove interesting.
On my post of the 16th of September 2021 I highlighted the role of women shown in Qatar stamps (feel free to search for it).
In it I listed the two stamps issues designed by Mrs. Hessa Al Muraikhi and Miss Saeeda Abdulaziz Al Bader, but of course the list is now incomplete. It is missing Miss. Bouthayna Al Muftah, responsible for the design of the 11th December 2022 - FIFA World Cup Official Poster.
All three are accomplished artist who do not require additional introduction in their own fields, but perhaps not as well within our philately community. My search for their own, has been a very pleasant endeavour with surprising results. As such, I thought no one would mind if I include their stamps and a little of their own work in the next few slides.
Just like the stamps celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the GCC.
These three sets were also paintings converted into stamps. The artists are named. But I haven't been able to find additional paintings by them.
Could you help ?
Thanks
Each Postal Authority generally has a resident artist who finalises the design of a stamp. They have to take a simple piece of art and modify it to fit the authorities brand and design concept.
This artist for Qatar Stamps since 2014 has been Mr. Abdellatif Zaian. His name can be found on the Postal Notice of each issue. Prior to him was Mr. Khaid Fikri, whose name appears on the Postal Notices from October 2000.
Likewise, the painter of the actual art, also seems to be discarded by most of us. Today's post is about one of these painters. The man responsible for the 40th Anniversary of the GCC joint issued stamps. Mr. Salem Al Salami.
His art can be seen on his instagram account:
https://www.instagram.com/salim_alsalami/?hl=en
Offset printing.
There are plenty of examples of offset printing, not only for Qatar, but also most of the regional states. This is due to the changes in currency that most of the regional states underwent requiring plenty of overprints.
But what causes an offset print?
The general perceived theory is that a sheet is placed onto another recently (still wet) sheet and the ink is therebytransfered. But here is a different view, which I believe makes more sense.
Please share your opinion as to which is your favourite theory.
Today just thought of adding a little colour to the story.
Colour variation in the Wilding Series stamps.
Studying this particular set f stamps has permitted me to discover some quite interesting facts.
The 'Viewphone' or as the Americans called it at the time "Picturephone' amongst the most fascinating designs of the time. Specially, since the advent of the internet was probably due to the need for better bandwidth require for reliable view phone calls. This directly allowed for the development of better interconnectivity for computers...
A simple commercial cover, from where we can learn a little more of the incredible history of Qatar.
The collection of stamps can be a never ending excuse to learn a little more about the world around us.
Today I took a look back at the reason behind the Traffic Week stamps issued in 1975. which lead me to discover the work of Jock Kinneir & Margaret Calvert.
Their work eventually created todays world standard of road traffic signs, which were most likely implemented in the Arabian Gulf around the 1970s.
The interest in collectable items from Qatar began from day one. In these three images we can see that renowned collectors were keen to obtain items from Qatar.
Francis J. Field one of the few individuals to be entered in the Roll of Distinguished Philatelists. King George V was the first signatory of the Roll.
F. Hillard, too, began his interest early on. This was so early that he was unaware of what was PDQ (Petroleum Development Qatar) as can be seen on the second slide.
But by July 1950, he shows his knowledge, albeit too late, requesting to be sent a cover with the 'Political Officer Qatar' cancellation.
In celebration of the upcoming Horticulture EXPO 2023 Doha Qatar a set of nine stamps were issued as shown below.
Qatar will be the first country with a desert climate to host such an event.
The EXPO will be the second largest global event to be held in Qatar after the World Cup. With some 50 countries already signed up and the on track to reach the goal of 8- national pavilions.
Today marks the 50th Anniversary of the issue of these stamps.
They celebrate the the first anniversary of the accession to power of H.H. the Amir Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani.
Issued on the 22nd February 1973.
A beautiful designed souvenir sheet with two stamps displaying the outside and the inner chambers of Qatar's Legislative Branch.
The stamps were issued to commemorate the Legislative branch 50th Anniversary.
H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani's State visit to the Republic of South Korea stamp issue.
Unfortunately for the story, the then President Chun was imprisoned and sentenced to death in 1996.
He was later pardoned on the advise of the President-elect Kim Dae-jung who had been condemned to death by President Chun.
One month on, and another stamp issued to celebrate the Fifa Qatar World Cup 2022.
It is interesting to point out that one month on, an still some 5 billion social media hits on the FIFA Qatar World Cup 2022 websites.
Part of the event's success can also be attributed to the help from 20,000 volunteers, selected from 150 nationalities. 17,000 volunteers were residents of Qatar; 3,000 were international. The volunteers ranged in age from 18 to 77 years old.
An old letter drop box, beautifully restored and now located outside the Qatar Philatelic and Numismatic Center.
