Dr Josef Wallach Web Site

MAIL VIA JORDAN BRIDGES (Part Two):

F. Gaza & Amman Travel Agents 'private stamps'

Travel agents in Gaza and Amman issued specially printed adhesive labels tied by a rubber cachet by way of validating fee payment., and used specially printed envelopes for mail forwarding. This move had the effect of turning the travel agents into an unofficial courier service, where the preprinted adhesives and cancellation constitute a private 'postal stamp'.
A variety of designs, sizes, and colors of the printed adhesives are known. The labels bear details of the travel agent's offices and 'bridge' the vacuum created by the two alienated postal systems, that of Israel, and those of the Arab world. The labels are known for the period 1978-9.
Type Agency Coloration Size [mm.]
A1 al Halabi Orange / light green 61-63 / 47-50
A2 al Halabi Blue / light green 61-63 / 48-50
B1 al Halabi Cerise / red / black 43-47 / 20-25
Perf. / Imperf.
B2 al Halabi Lemon / black 45 / 21-22
B3 al Halabi Azure / black 47-48 / 20
B4 al Halabi Teal / black 47-48 / 20
C1 al Halabi Circular [crimped edge], hot pink /black Diam. approx. 45
C2 al Halabi Circular [crimped edge], bright green /black Diam. 45
D ? Box, amber / black 70 / 63
E al Shurafa Box, blue / white 71 / 34-36

1. A1. ex Alexandria, Egypt. To: Gaza Strip. Oct.1978. English-Arabic box cachet.

2. A1. ex ? To: Gabalya Village, Gaza Strip. Dec.1978. Oval cachet.

3. A1. ex Cairo, Egypt. To: El Sagaiya, Gaza. Dec.1978. "Thanks to the deliverer".

4. A2. ex ? To: Rimal Quarter, Gaza. July.1979. 'Unknown - return'.

5. A2. ex Cairo, Egypt. To: Refugee Camp, Gabalya, Gaza. Dec.78. Vertical crease.

6. B1. ex ? To: Gaza post. Mar.1978. Imperforated.

7. B1. ex ? To: Gabalya Camp, Gaza. Dec.1978. Perforated.

8. B2. ex Amman, Jordan. To: Gaza Strip. May.1978. Postage stamps overlap yallow travel agency label + cache 'Unknown - Return to Sender'.

9. B2. ex Riad, Saudi Arabia. To: El Arish (Sinai) - "al Sinya Pharmacy". Mar.1979.

10. B3. ex Hira, Saudi Arabia. To: Gabalya Camp, Gaza. Jan.1979

11. B3. ex Saudi Arabia. To: Directorate El-Balak, Gaza Strip. Nov.1978

12. B4. ex Abu Dhabi, UAE. To: Israel, Gaza. Mar.1978. 'Unknown - Return'.

13. C1. ex ? To: Gaza. Dec.1978.

14. C2. ex ? To: Gabalya village, Gaza Strip. Dec.1978.

15. D. ex Alexandria, Egypt. To: Sagaiya Quarter, Gaza. Oct.1979

16. E. ex ? To: Beit Hanoun, Gaza Strip. Aug.1978. 'Unknown - Return'.

17. E. ex Gaza. To: Bengazi, Libya. Posted in Amman, 1978. 'Unknown - returned'. Letter inside.

18. E. ex Gaza. To: El Raas, Kuwait. Aug.1978. Carried by al Shurafa travel agency, posted in Amman.

19. E. ex Amman, Jordan. To: Gaza. Amman branch office mail? Abc.1979. via al Shurafa travel agent to Gaza Strip via Allenby Bridge.

G. Gaza & Amman Travel Agents - Interview

Innovative measures were taken to formalize a methodical mail transfer system. Here is the summary of Dr. J. Wallach's interview of the manager of a large travel agency.

Interview of Al-Halabi By
Dr Josef Wallach, in the Al-Halabi offices in Gaza
The Al-Halabi travel agency, also known as Shurafa, and other such agencies institutionalized mail transfer activities via the bridges, taking advantages of their branches in Gaza, Amman and other locations. They were involved in transfer of mail from the various Arab countries, such as Iraq, Syria, Saudi Arabia, and of course Jordan, to and from the Gaza Strip. They handle some 1000 letters daily. Individuals sending mail from Arab countries sent a 10 piaster note, which equates with 5 Israeli lira, together with the addressed envelope, to the Amman travel agency. The Amman office holds Israeli stamps (!) purchased in Gaza and transferred to Jordan. On 24 January 1978, for example, they purchased Israeli stamps for a total of 10,000 Israeli lira. The Amman office affixes the Israeli stamps onto the letters accumulating there from A from the various Arab countries, appropriate to the price of internal Israeli mail. The current cost is 1.10 Israeli lira per letter. Taxi drives carrying passengers from Amman to the bridges take a sack of mail daily with them to the Allenby Bridge. Once the bridge is crossed, all the mail is handed to the manager of the Israeli postal office at the bridge. The reverse process involves collecting mail from Gaza. This mail is brought by a passenger taxi to the Allenby Bridge. It is transferred to Amman, Jordan, where Jordanian stamps are affixed according to either internal Jordanian mail or as appropriate to mailing for other Arab countries.

H. Pseudo- "Entires" - Travel Agents 'prepaid covers'

These are pre-printed and pre-paid covers produced by the travel agent, and good for posting one internal cover. This is an attempt at increased efficiency/entrepreneurship by producing a ready-to-use external envelope, to be delivered at the Jordan Bridges, ex Amman and showing travel agent's cachet. Posted at Allenby Bridge. Gaza arrival postmarks.

1. Type A Entire - Halabi Company. ex ? To: Gaza. 1976. Via Allenby Bridge. Text on rear: Halabi Company for Tourism and Travel, al-Mukhtar - Ana - POB. The preferred company for travel to these destinations: Cairo, Kuwait, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, UAE, Tripoli, Bengazi, Algeria, Tunisia, Baghdad, and more.

2. Type B Entire - Halabi Company. ex ? To: Gaza. 1978. Via Allenby Bridge. Text on rear: Halabi Company for Tourism and Travel, King Hussein Street, Amman. POB. The company trusted by everyone, established 1950.

3. Type B Entire. ex ? ,To El Arish, Sinai, via Allenby Bridge, to Gaza transit, and El arish arrival postmark. Jan.1979. Vertical crease.

I. Pseudo-"Redeemable Coupons" - Travel Agents 'vouchers' in payment for later posting

J. Via Suez Canal

Covers arriving from Egypt through the Suez Canal for the Gaza Strip and Sinai were characterized by handwritten red numerals indicating serial number, then cancelled and mailed from El Arish.

The town of Qantara on the Suez canal . Post office opening ceremony on June.18th 1969 . pictures : a) at the entrance the postmaster ,the local Mayor of town carrying white umbrella ,the Israeli Military Governor. The post office closed six months later due to the start of the Egyptian "war of Attrition". b) A horse riding local policeman .