1921 Kurdistan Local Stamps
On two occasions during the early post war years Sheikh Mehmud declared himself King of ( South) Kurdistan. The revolts were rapidly put down though Mehmud remained a thron in the U.K. security service until the 1930's. One of the actions of the King was to issue a short series for four South Kurdistan stamps. These comprised 1 anna, 8 annas, 1 rupee and 5 rupees.
Also 4 historic stamps on occasion of Victims of Black September ( "Ay-lool Al Aswad") was issued ,comprised 2 anna, 4 annas, 1 rupee and 4 rupees for Revenue use, . These stamps were issued for dual use as postage or revenue (Fiscal) & shown overprinted with arabic " Malleiyyah = Revenue, for that purpose ) & inspite of Announcing this part as national Kurdish Gov, the written words were in Arabic.
In order to appreciate these stamps of Kurdistan it is necessary to understand a little of Sheikh Mehmud's history:
By 1923, the RAF was back in Kurdistan and Turkey fighting a breakaway rebellion by Sheik Mamoud, the self proclaimed King of Kurdistan with Turkish backing. A column of 5,000 mounted British troops was sent into Kurdistan, Later After six weeks on horseback, and the burning of a number of rebel towns the British withdrew, not really accomplishing anything.
(*) On 9 October 1956 Sheikh Mehmud Berzenchi, the "King of Kurdistan", died. He had given himself this title in 1922. The Kurdish region was part of Iraq, which had been a British protectorate since 1920. Iraq was a troubled land, the British faced revolt in the Kurdish north and the Shiite south. London decided to allow the influential Sheikh Mehmud to return (he had been exiled in the First World War to India). After he was appointed governor in Suleymaniya, he took advantage of this opportunity. He declared a Kurdish state with its capital Suleymaniya, and set himself up as king. It was not long before the British once again expelled him.
On two occasions during the early post war years Sheikh Mehmud declared himself King of ( South) Kurdistan. The revolts were rapidly put down though Mehmud remained a thron in the U.K. security service until the 1930's. One of the actions of the King was to issue a short series for four South Kurdistan stamps. These comprised 1 anna, 8 annas, 1 rupee and 5 rupees.
Also 4 historic stamps on occasion of Victims of Black September ( "Ay-lool Al Aswad") was issued ,comprised 2 anna, 4 annas, 1 rupee and 4 rupees for Revenue use, . These stamps were issued for dual use as postage or revenue (Fiscal) & shown overprinted with arabic " Malleiyyah = Revenue, for that purpose ) & inspite of Announcing this part as national Kurdish Gov, the written words were in Arabic.
In order to appreciate these stamps of Kurdistan it is necessary to understand a little of Sheikh Mehmud's history:
By 1923, the RAF was back in Kurdistan and Turkey fighting a breakaway rebellion by Sheik Mamoud, the self proclaimed King of Kurdistan with Turkish backing. A column of 5,000 mounted British troops was sent into Kurdistan, Later After six weeks on horseback, and the burning of a number of rebel towns the British withdrew, not really accomplishing anything.
(*) On 9 October 1956 Sheikh Mehmud Berzenchi, the "King of Kurdistan", died. He had given himself this title in 1922. The Kurdish region was part of Iraq, which had been a British protectorate since 1920. Iraq was a troubled land, the British faced revolt in the Kurdish north and the Shiite south. London decided to allow the influential Sheikh Mehmud to return (he had been exiled in the First World War to India). After he was appointed governor in Suleymaniya, he took advantage of this opportunity. He declared a Kurdish state with its capital Suleymaniya, and set himself up as king. It was not long before the British once again expelled him.
