The List of post offices in the British Mandate of Palestine refers to post offices operated in Palestine under allied British military control of the Occupied Enemy Territory Administration and, after 1920, the civil administration of the British Mandate of Palestine. During the Mandate, postal services were provided by British authorities.
About 160 post offices, branch offices, rural agencies, travelling post offices, and town agencies operated, some only for a few months, others for the entire length of the period. Upon the advance of allied forces in 1917 and 1918 initially Field Post Offices and Army Post Offices served the local civilian population. Some of the latter offices were converted to Stationary Army Post Offices and became civilian post offices upon establishment of the civilian administration. In 1919 fifteen offices existed, rising to about 100 by 1939, and about 150 by the end of the Mandate in May 1948.
With most of the Jerusalem General Post Office archives destroyed, research depends heavily on philatelists recording distinct postmarks and dates of their use.
The postal service operated by the Mandatory authorities was reputed to be the best in the Middle East. Letters were delivered daily in Jerusalem. Palestine joined the Universal Postal Union in October 1923. [1] The post was transported by boat, train, cars and horses, and after 1927, also by air. [2] During the volatility of 1947 and 1948, British postal services deteriorated and were replaced by ad hoc interim services prior to the partition and the establishment of the State of Israel.[ citation needed ]
Place name (alternatives) [P 1] | Est. [P 2] | Operating [P 3] | References |
---|---|---|---|
Acre | (1919) | 1919–1948 | [3] [4] [5] |
Afikim | 1945 | 1945–1948 | [6] [4] [7] |
Afula (El Affule, Affula) | 1920 | 1923–1948 | [3] [4] [8] |
Alonim | 1945 | 1945–1948 | [4] [6] [9] |
Ashdot Yaaqov | 1945 | 1945–1948 | [4] [6] [10] |
Athlith (Athlit) | 1922 | 1922–1948 | [4] [6] [11] |
El Bassa (Elbasse) | 1944 | 1944–1948 | [4] [6] [12] |
Bat Yam | 1938 | 1938–1948 | [13] [4] [14] |
Beersheba | (1919) | 1919–1948 | [13] [15] [16] |
Beer Tuviya (Beertuviya, Beertuvyia, Ber Tuviya) | 1938 | 1938–1948 | [13] [15] [17] |
Beisan (Beisan) | 1920 | 1921–1948 | [18] [15] [17] |
Beit Hakerem (Beth Hakerem) | 1926 | 1927–1948 | [19] [15] [20] |
Beit Hashita (Beyt Hashitta) | 1944 | 1944–1948 | [21] [15] [22] |
Beit Jala | 1929 | 1929–1948 | [15] [19] [22] |
Bayt Jibrin | 1947 | 1947–1948 | [15] [21] [23] |
Beit Vegan (Bait Vegan) | 1936 | 1936–1938 | [4] [13] [14] |
Benay Beraq (Bnei Brak, Benei Beraq, Benei Beraq, Beneiberaq) | 1929 | 1929–1948 | [15] [21] [24] |
Ben Shemen | 1944 | 1944–1948 | [15] [21] [25] |
Ber Yacob | 1922 | 1922–1926 | [15] [19] [26] |
Bethlehem | 1919–1948 | [21] [27] [28] | |
Binyamina (Benjamina, Benyamina) | 1923 | 1927–1948 | [18] [27] [29] |
Bir Zeit (Bir ez Zait) | 1925 | 1944–1948 | [18] [27] [30] |
The Dead Sea | 1941 | 1941–1947 | [18] [27] [30] |
Ein Harod (Ain Harod, Meshek Ein Harod) | 1923 | 1927–1948 | [31] [32] [33] |
Ein Hashofet | 1944 | 1944–1948 | [27] [31] [34] |
Ein Karim | 1945 | 1945–1948 | [35] [27] [34] |
Even Yehuda | 1944 | 1944–1948 | [27] [31] [36] |
Faluja | 1943 | 1943–1948 | [27] [35] [36] |
Gaza | 1919 | 1919–1948 | [35] [37] [38] |
Gedera | 1936 | 1936–1948 | [39] [37] [40] |
Gevat | 1944 | 1944–1948 | [37] [39] [41] |
Giva'tayim (Givatayim) | 1946 | 1946–1948 | [37] [39] [42] |
Givat Brenner (Gevaat Brenner) | 1936 | 1936–1948 | [37] [39] [42] |
Givat Haiyim (Givat Haim) | 1944 | 1944–1948 | [37] [39] [43] |
Hadera (Khudeira, Hedera) | 1921–1948 | [44] [37] [45] | |
Haifa (Field Post Office) | 1918–1919 | [46] [47] | |
Haifa (Indian Field Post Office) | 1919–1920 | [46] [47] | |
Haifa | 1918–1948 | [48] [49] [50] | |
Haifa, Ahuzat Samuel | 1935 | 1935–1948 | [51] [52] [53] |
Haifa, Bat Galim | 1939 | 1939–1948 | [51] [52] [54] |
Haifa, Bazaar | 1929 | 1929–1938 | [51] [55] [53] |
Haifa, Carmel Avenue | 1924 | 1924–1926 | [56] [57] |
Haifa, Hadar Hacarmel | 1926 | 1926–1948 | [56] [58] [59] |
Haifa, Hertseliya Street | 1945 | 1945–1948 | [56] [60] [54] |
Haifa, Hidjaz | 1941 | 1941–1948 | [61] [62] [54] |
Haifa, Mount Carmel | 1928 | 1928–1948 | [61] [62] [63] |
Haifa, Nahla | 1938 | 1938–1948 | [61] [64] [54] |
Haifa, Nazareth Street | 1938 | 1938–1941 | [61] [65] [53] |
Hebron | 1919 | 1919–1948 | [37] [44] [66] |
Heftsibah Beit Alfa | 1935 | 1935–1948 | [67] [68] [69] |
Herzliya (Herzelia, Herzlia, Hertsliya, Hertseliya) | 1926 | 1926–1948 | [67] [68] [70] |
Holon (Holon) | 1943 | 1943–1948 | [67] [68] [71] |
Isdud (Isdud) | 1947 | 1947–1948 | [67] [68] [71] |
Jaffa (Field Post Office) | 1918–1918 | [72] [73] | |
Jaffa | 1918–1948 | [74] [75] [76] | |
Jaffa, Ajami Street (Ajami) | 1921 | 1921–1931 | [77] [78] [79] |
Jaffa, Tel Aviv (Tel Aviv Jaffa, Tel-Aviv-Jaffa) | 1920 | 1920–1948 | [80] [81] [79] [82] |
Jenin (Jenin) | 1920 | 1920–1948 | [83] [68] [84] |
Jericho (Jericho) | 1921 | 1921–1948 | [68] [83] [85] |
Jerusalem (Field Post Office) | 1917 | 1917–1919 | [86] |
Jerusalem | 1918–1948 | [87] [88] [89] | |
Jerusalem, Citadel | 1929 | 1929–1948 | [90] [91] |
Jerusalem, German Colony | 1928 | 1928–1928 | [92] [93] |
Jerusalem, Greek Colony | 1929 | 1929–1948 | [92] [93] |
Jerusalem, Mahne Yehuda (Mahane Yehuda) | 1934 | 1934–1948 | [90] [94] |
Jerusalem, Meo Sheorim (Mea Shearim) | 1920 | 1920–1948 | [95] [96] |
Jerusalem, Rehavia | 1936 | 1936–1948 | [90] [97] |
Jerusalem, Talavera Barracks | 1936 | 1936–1936 | [98] [99] |
Karkur (Kerkur) | 1928 | 1928–1948 | [68] [83] [100] |
Kefar Barouch | 1944 | 1944–1948 | [101] [68] [100] |
Kefar Behadraga | 1944 | 1944–1948 | [101] [102] [103] |
Kefar Hassidim | 1944 | 1944–1948 | [101] [102] [103] |
Kefar Sava | 1929 | 1929–1948 | [101] [102] [104] |
Kefar Shemaryahu | 1944 | 1944–1948 | [101] [102] [105] |
Kefar Sirkin | 1944 | 1945–1948 | [106] [102] [105] |
Kefar Tabor | 1944 | 1944–1948 | [102] [106] [107] |
Kefar Vitkin | 1936 | 1936–1948 | [102] [106] [107] |
Kefar Yedidya | 1944 | 1944–1948 | [102] [106] [108] |
Kefar Yehezkel | 1938 | 1940–1948 | [102] [106] [109] |
Kefar Yehoshua | 1925 | 1944–1948 | [110] [102] [111] |
Kefar Yona | 1944 | 1944–1948 | [102] [110] [112] |
Kfar Ata (Kefar Ata) | 1942 | 1942–1948 | [68] [83] [112] |
Khan Yunis (Khan Yunus) | 1922 | 1926–1948 | [110] [113] [114] |
Kinneret (Kinereth) | 1934 | 1934–1948 | [110] [113] [115] |
Lydda (Ludd Village) | 1921 | 1921–1948 | [116] [113] [117] |
Lydda Airport | 1937 | 1937–1948 | [118] [113] [119] |
Lydda Junction (Ludd, Ludd Junction, Lydda) | (1919) | 1919–1934 | [113] [116] [120] |
Maaborot (Maabarot) | 1944 | 1944–1948 | [113] [118] [121] |
Magdiel | 1926 | 1926–1939 | [118] [122] [123] |
El Majdal (Majdel, Majdal, Mijdel, Mejdel) | 1920 | 1920–1948 | [118] [122] [124] |
Maoz Haim (Maoz Haiyim) | 1944 | 1944–1948 | [125] [122] [126] |
El Masmiya al Kabira (Masmiya al Kabira) | 1945 | 1945–1948 | [122] [125] [127] |
Meir Shefeya | 1945 | 1945–1948 | [122] [125] [128] |
Merhavya | 1944 | 1944–1948 | [122] [125] [128] |
Meshek Ayelet Hashshahar (Meshek Ayelet Hashahar) | 1944 | 1944–1948 | [122] [125] [129] |
Meshek Yajur | 1944 | 1944–1948 | [130] [122] [131] |
Metulla (Metullah) | 1924 | 1925–1948 | [122] [130] [131] |
Migdal | 1944 | 1944–1948 | [122] [130] [132] |
Mishmar Haemek | 1945 | 1945–1948 | [122] [130] [133] |
Mizra | 1945 | 1945–1948 | [130] [134] [135] |
Na'an (Naan, Na an) | 1944 | 1944–1948 | [130] [134] [135] |
Nablus | (1919) | 1919–1948 | [136] [134] [137] |
Nahalal | 1923 | 1923–1948 | [134] [136] [138] |
Nahalat Yehuda (Nachlat Yehouda) | 1936 | 1936–1948 | [134] [136] [139] |
Nahariya | 1938 | 1938–1948 | [140] [134] [139] |
Nathanya | 1933 | 1933–1948 | [134] [140] [141] |
Nazareth | 1919 | 1919–1948 | [134] [140] [142] |
Nes Ziyona (Nes Tsiyona) | 1925 | 1927–1948 | [134] [140] [143] |
Nuseirat | 1944 | 1944–1945 | [144] [145] [146] |
Pardess Hanna | 1933 | 1933–1948 | [144] [145] [146] |
Petah Tikqva (Petach Tikvah, Petah Tikvah, Pethah Tiqva, Petahtiqva) | 1920 | 1920–1948 | [144] [145] [147] |
Qalqilya (Qalqilye) | 1929 | 1929–1948 | [148] [145] [149] |
Qiryat Amal | 1947 | 1947–1948 | [145] [148] [149] |
Qiryat Anavim | 1944 | 1944–1948 | [145] [148] [150] |
Qiryat Haim (Kiryat Haim) | 1935 | 1935–1948 | [145] [148] [151] |
Qiryat Motzkin | 1947 | 1947–1948 | [148] [152] [153] |
Raanana | 1931 | 1931–1948 | [154] [152] [155] |
Rafa | 1920 | 1920–1921 | [152] [154] [155] |
Er Rama (Errama) | 1944 | 1944–1948 | [152] [154] [156] |
Ramallah (Ram Allah) | (1919) | 1919–1948 | [152] [154] [157] |
Ramataim (Ramatayim) | 1935 | 1935–1948 | [152] [154] [158] |
Ramat Gan | 1926 | 1927–1948 | [159] [152] [160] |
Ramat Hakovesh | 1945 | 1945–1948 | [152] [159] [161] |
Ramat Hasharon | 1935 | 1935–1948 | [152] [159] [161] |
Ramleh (Er Ramle) | (1919) | 1919–1948 | [159] [162] [163] |
Rehovot (Rehoboth, Rehovoth) | 1920 | 1921–1948 | [164] [162] [165] |
Rishon Le Zion (Richon Le Zion, Richon-Le-Zion, Rishon, Rishon Le Ziyon, Rishon Le Tsiyon) | 1921 | 1921–1948 | [162] [164] [166] |
Rosh Pinna (Roch Pina, Rosh Pinah) | 1921 | 1921–1948 | [162] [164] [167] |
Safed (Safad) | (1918) | 1918–1948 | [168] [169] [170] |
Salfit | 1945 | 1945–1948 | [171] [169] [172] |
Sarafand (Surafend) | 1922 | 1922–1948 | [169] [171] [173] |
Sarona | 1928 | 1928–1939 | [169] [171] [174] |
Sdeh Nahum | 1944 | 1944–1948 | [175] [169] [174] |
Sde Yaaqov | 1944 | 1944–1948 | [169] [175] [176] |
Semakh (Samakh) | 1921 | 1921–1948 | [169] [171] [177] |
Shefa Amr | 1925 | 1932–1948 | [169] [175] [176] |
Shekhunat Borokhov | 1933 | 1933–1942 | [175] [178] [179] |
Tarshiha | 1944 | 1944–1948 | [175] [178] [179] |
Tel Aviv | 1921–1948 | [180] [181] [182] | |
Tel Aviv, Allenby Road | 1925–1948 | [183] [184] [185] | |
Tel Aviv, Dizengoff Street | 1937–1948 | [186] [187] [185] | |
Tel Aviv, Herzl Street | 1936–1948 | [186] [188] [185] | |
Tel Aviv, Shekhunat Montefiori | 1937–1943 | [189] [190] [185] | |
Tel Aviv, Tel Nordau | 1934–1948 | [189] [191] [185] | |
Tel Aviv, Yorkon (Yarkon) | 1935–1937 | [185] [189] [191] | |
Tel Mond (Tel Mond) | 1934 | 1934–1948 | [192] [178] [193] |
Tiberias | 1919 | 1919–1948 | [178] [192] [194] |
Tirat Tsevi (Tirat Tsevi) | 1945 | 1945–1948 | [178] [192] [195] |
Tul Karm (Tul Keram, Tulkeram, Tulkarem, Tulkarm) | 1919 | 1919–1948 | [196] [178] [197] |
Yajur Nesher | 1934 | 1934–1948 | [196] [198] [199] |
Yavneel (Yavniel) | 1924 | 1924–1948 | [196] [198] [200] |
Yokneam | 1944 | 1944–1948 | [196] [198] [201] |
Zammarin | 1920 | 1920–1920 | [168] [198] |
Zikhron Ya'akov (Zicron, Zicron Jacob, Zikhron Yaaqov) | (1921) | 1921–1948 | [168] [198] [202] |
Jaffa–Lod–Jerusalem TPO (PAL, LAP, PAJ, JAP, RAK, KAR, KAL, LAK, DAL, LAD, BAR, RAB) | 1918–1919 | [203] [204] | |
Jaffa–Lod–Jerusalem TPO (Jerusalem Ludd, Jerusalem Jaffa) | 1920–1934 | [205] | |
Jerusalem–Lydda TPO (Jerusalem Lydda, Jsm Lydda) | 1935–1938 | [206] | |
Haifa–Kantara TPO (Kantara Haifa, Kantar Haifa) | 1920–1931 | [207] [208] [209] | |
Haifa–Rafa TPO (Rafa Haifa, Haifa Rafa) | 1931–1938 | [210] [211] [212] |
A cancellation is a postal marking applied on a postage stamp or postal stationery to deface the stamp and to prevent its reuse. Cancellations come in a huge variety of designs, shapes, sizes, and colors. Modern cancellations commonly include the date and post office location where the stamps were mailed, in addition to lines or bars designed to cover the stamp itself. The term "postmark" refers specifically to the part that contains the date and posting location, but the term is often used interchangeably with "cancellation" as it may serve that purpose. The portion of a cancellation that is designed to deface the stamp and does not contain writing is also called the "obliteration" or killer. Some stamps are issued pre-cancelled with a printed or stamped cancellation and do not need to have a cancellation added. Cancellations can affect the value of stamps to collectors, positively or negatively. Cancellations of some countries have been extensively studied by philatelists, and many stamp collectors and postal history collectors collect cancellations in addition to the stamps themselves.
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Michael Moses Sacher FRPSL was an executive with British retailers Marks & Spencer including holding the positions of joint managing director and joint vice-chairman. He was closely associated with Jewish causes throughout his life and in his spare time was a noted postal historian of Palestine and a fellow of the Royal Philatelic Society London.