LAWRENCE | Nine Hejaz postage stamps after designs by Lawrence

Property of a Distinguished Collector

LAWRENCE, T.E.

Nine Hejaz postage stamps based on designs by T.E. Lawrence. 1917-1921

Comprising a December 1921 postage stamp set of six (green quarter paistre, yellow eighth paistre, brown one para, red two paistres, blue one paistre, orange half paistre), and a 1917 postage due set of three (red two paistres, blue one paistre, orange 20 paras), all overprinted “1340 Hashemite Kingdom 1340” in Arabic, the stamps mounted and franked

“After Hussein’s declaration of independence in June 1916 Ottoman postage stamps could no longer be used in the Hejaz. Lawrence suggested that the issue a new, distinctive series of stamps would be one way of publicising the emergence of a new nation. Over the coming months, the Arab Bureau and the survey of Egypt collaborated on the project. The task choosing suitable illustrations fell to Lawrence and Ronald Storrs” (Wilson 96).

In a memorandum to the Sherif, Lawrence noted that “the design should in wording, spirit, and ornament be, as far as possible, representative and reminiscent of a purely Arab source and inspiration”. Lawrence was apparently fascinated by the project, even at one stage suggesting that different flavour gums should be used for each value, to help distinguish them in the dark, and to popularise use of the post. This idea, however, was abandoned as impractical.