STAMP STORY

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30342, 18 January 1964, Page 9

STAMP STORY

PERFECT EXCUSE

(Specially written for "The Press" by KENNETH ANTHONY] In October, 1962. a revolution shook the ancient Arabian kingdom of Yemen. The ruler, Imam Mohammed el Badr, w'as overthrown, and his palace in the capital of Sana’a bombarded. With Egyptian support, a new republic was set up. Early reports suggested that the Imam had been killed in the uprising. But he not only survived, he_ had escaped from the' capital' and had rallied many loyal followers in the northern, eastern and western regions of his large, and remote country. From these parts he and his government have successfully resisted the Republican regime ever since. And what better method than stamps to prove to the world that the Royalist Government was still a going concern? So stamps like the one illustrated soon began tp make their appearance—their use authorised by Royal decree as early as November 1. 1962. All the recent Yemen stamps that the royalists could lay their hands on—including

a few republican issues found in captured post offices —were overprinted “Free Yemen Fight for God. Imam, and Country.” To make sure correspondents overseas received the message, this overprint was applied in English as well as Arabic. In the illustration it is reen on a stamp originally issued for Arab League Week in March, 1962. Thus Yemen has joined the ranks of those war-torn countries which have ’ different, stamps for areas under dif-' ferent governments—a list which already includes Germany, Korea, and Vietnam. Certainly few stamps tell more vividly of drama in the desert. Anyone corresponding with the Royalist part of Yemen has to stand the risk of the mail in either direction being shot down by Republican air attack.

Some letters from Yemen have, in fact, carried the inscription: “Delayed in transit through enemy lines”—surely the most unanswerable excuse for a letter arriving later than expected.