Alaouites- a closer look at the stamp issues

1925 Scott C5 2p dark brown

Additional overprint in green

On stamps of Syria, 1925, overprinted

Into the Deep Blue
The 2011 Scott Classic Specialized catalogue has, for Alaouites 1925-1930, 73 major stamp descriptions in the regular, air post, and postage due categories. Of those, only one stamp is CV $1+. Moving up to the CV $2+-$4+ range, 28 additional stamps are found (38%). A collection can be formed if one is willing to spend a little more.

A closer look at the stamps and issues
100 Centimes = 1 Piaster

The initial twenty-one 1925 regular stamp issue under the French Mandate were surcharged French stamps. There was also four air mail and five postage due French surcharged stamps produced. By a quirk of collecting WW, I happen to have none of them. ;-)  All the examples I will show here will be overprinted/surcharged stamps of Syria.

1925 Scott 36 10p violet brown 

Stamps of Syria, 1925

Overprinted in Red, Black, or Blue

The initial overprinted Syrian issue had 13 stamps. The overprint was in French and Arabic. The CV is $1+-$3+ for 9 stamps.

1926 Scott 43 50p on 75c brown orange

In 1926, 8 stamps were surcharged using the preceding 1925 issue. CV is $2-$5.

1928 Scott 47 2p on 1.25p deep green

In 1928, four more surcharged stamps were issued, using Syrian stamps. The surcharges were in red.

1925 Scott C7 5p violet

Alaouites issue of 1925 with additional overprint in green

A green "avion" was added to four stamps from the preceding 1925 Alaouites issue for air mail  in 1925.

1926 Scott C10 3p orange brown

Red plane overprint applied to 1925 Alaouites issue

I sometimes think about "specializing" in WW by collecting air mail stamps, and this example is perfect to highlight the attractions of such a collection. ;-) Here, four stamps from the 1925 Alaouites issue had a red plane overprint applied, obviously for air mail.

1929 Scott C18 1p magenta, black overprint

Three additional stamps, two using the Alaouites 1925 issue, one from Syria, were overprinted as shown in 1929. I believe this example is the only Alaouites air mail stamp with a black plane overprint.

1930 Scott C20  2p on 1.25p deep green

Red airplane overprint

Two previously issued Alaouites stamps received a red plane overprint in 1929-30. This was the last air mail issue for "Alaouites", as the State than became known as Latakia in 1930.

1925 Scott J8 2p black/blue, red overprint

On postage due stamps of Syria, 1925

Any French mandated territory will have postage due stamps, and the Alaouites are no exception. Shown is a 1925 five stamp issue produced from 1925 postage due stamps of Syria. The overprint can be in black, blue, or red.

Deep Blue

1925 Alaouites issue in Deep Blue

Deep Blue (Steiner) has six pages for the Alaouites, and, as usual, provides a space for all Scott major number stamps.

The "Alaouites" (Alawite area) region of Syria

Out of the Blue

The French Mandated era stamps for Syria, Alaouites, and Latakia I find particularly attractive. Perhaps it is because of subsequent - and current history?

Note: Map image appears to be in the public domain.

Note: I'm adding more about the stamp issues to previously published posts, and this "A closer look at the stamps and issues" section has been added to the original Alaouites post.

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