Ile Rouad (Arwad Island)

1916 Scott 11 1pi on 25c blue

Stamps of French Offices in Levant

1902-06, Overprinted Horizontally

Quick History
Ile Rouad (Arwad Island) is located in the Mediterranean Sea just 2 miles off the coast from Tartus, south of Latakia, Syria. But on September 1, 1915, it was occupied by French Forces, and served as a staging ground for incursions into the Ottoman territory (Damascus 1918).

Ottoman Empire before WW I (Red-brown)

The island (known as Ruad) had likewise served as a staging ground during the Crusades of the 13th century.

Location of Ile Rouad

The island is quite small (800 meters X 600 meters), and today the fishing town of Arwad with a population of 4,000 people fills the entire land.

View of Ile Rouad (Arwad) 1935

In 1919, the island became part of the French T.E.O ( Territorires Ennemis Occupes), and the stamp issues of French occupied Syria were used.

French Syria 1924

On September 20, 1920, Ile Rouad was absorbed into the Alawite State ("Alaouites").

For subsequent history, see my postings on Alaouites and Latakia.

For a nice overview, check out Michael Adkins's Dead Countries Stamps and Banknotes.

1916 Scott 5 2c lilac brown 

Stamps of French Offices in Levant, 1902-06

Overprinted Horizontally

Into the Deep Blue
The 20111 Scott Classic Specialized 1840-1940 catalogue has, for Ile Rouad 1916, 16 major descriptions. Of those, 8 are CV $1+-$2+, or 50%. Of interest, Scott has used and unused at the same CV for the horizontally overprinted stamps, although I suspect genuine used stamps are scarcer.

A post office was opened up on Ile Rouad in early 1916.

The initial issue had three stamps with a vertical overprint using the stamps of the French Offices in the Levant, 1902-06. Scott states the stamps were first issued January 12, 1916, but other sources have April 5. This was a speculative handstamped overprint instigated by the stamp dealer Felix Cohen. The CV today is $250 for each of these. Scott has a note that dangerous counterfeit overprints exist for this vertical overprint issue.

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

1916 Scott 4 1c gray

Stamps of French Offices in Levant, 1902-06

Overprinted Horizontally

The horizontally placed "Ile Rouad" overprint stamps on the 1902-06 French Offices in the Levant issue arrived November, 1916.

The issue consists of 13 Scott major descriptive numbers, and the CV is $1+- $4+ for 10 stamps.

1920 Scott 4b 1c slate color variation

Anybody who collects this well known French design has come across color variations for the 1c. Here the slate is shown.

1918 Scott 4a 1c gray, Grayish paper

(G. C. "Grande Consommation")

And the grayish paper varieties (G.C.) used during  WW I are here as well.

 1916 Scott 9 15c pale red

As I mentioned, Scott values unused and used at the same price. I would think genuinely used specimens would be scarcer; certainly of more interest.

1916 Scott 9 with Postmark emphasized

Using the University of Utah web site retroReveal, I tried to get a better view of the postmark. My best guess is "Port Said", ????? -which is now part of Egypt. Was the stamp and cover cancelled there?  Readers- what do you think?

1916 Scott 11 with Postmark emphasized

I also applied the retoReveal channels to the 1pi on 25c specimen heading this post. Here, I was more fortunate, as I found an example of the postmark with an internet search.

"Ile Rouad" & "Postes Francaises" !!!

Deep Blue

1916 Horizontally Overprinted Issue in Deep Blue

Deep Blue (Steiner) has one page for the modest output of Ile Rouad. All major numbers have a space. Naturally, if one is also collecting minor number color variations, or the wartime G.C. paper issues, one will need additional space.

1916 Scott 6 3c red orange

Big Blue
Big Blue '69 has one line and eight spaces for the stamps of Ile Rouad. Total coverage is 50%- not bad. The '69 edition has the coverage after Romania, and on the same page as Ponta Delgada and Roman States. The 40s editions have the same coverage- eight spaces- after Rhodesia and Roman States.

There are no expensive stamps ($10 or greater)  for Rouad in BB.

Of interest, BB has "2c violet brown" descriptive space, which now is a minor number color ( 1920 Scott 5b). The major number color today is lilac brown. I checked the 1947 Scott, and they have the minor number "violet brown" as the main color. This is another example of BB not being updated to align with the modern Scott catalogue. Of course, the collector may put either the major number or minor number color stamp into the space.

Checklist

1916

4, 5b* or 5, 6,7,8,9,10.(11),

Comments

A) Expensive stamps ($10 threshold): None

B) (    ) around a number indicates a blank space choice.

C) *5b- BB has "2c violet brown", which now is a minor number color ( 1920 Scott 5b). The major number color now is lilac brown.

1916 Scott 7 5c green

Out of the Blue
I love dead countries, the deader, the better. ;-)

Note: Maps and pics appear to be in the public domain.

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Ottoman Built Fortress of Rouad

Used as a prison during the French Occupation