Postage stamps and postal history of Sharjah

The first definitive issue of postage stamps of Sharjah (UAE), 1 riyal, 1963 and 1965

Civil mail from Sharjah went through the post office in Dubai until 1963. Military mail from the British Forces stationed in the area went through the RAF airport in Sharjah.

On 10 July 1963, Sharjah opened its own post office and began to issue its stamps and postal stationery under the name of Sharjah & Dependencies (which included Kalba, Khor Fakkan, and Dibbah). There were also unauthorized overprints using Himriyyah, a name of a village in the sheikhdom. Sharjah and its dependencies joined the United Arab Emirates on 2 December 1971, but it continued to issue its own stamps. On 31 July 1972, the UAE assumed full postal responsibilities. Nevertheless, Sharjah continued to use its own stamps until the issuance of the first UAE definitive series on 1 January 1973. Covers with mixed UAE and Sharjah frankings are known.

See also

• Postage stamps and postal history of Abu Dhabi
• Postage stamps and postal history of the United Arab Emirates

References and sources

Notes

Sources

• Stanley Gibbons Ltd: various catalogues
• Encyclopaedia of Postal History
• Sharjah and Dependencies - stamps and postal stationery on-line catalogue.
• Sharjah postal history page is available at www.angelfire.com/ok/SHARJAHSTAMPS/