Kingdom of Yemen
Stamps and Postal Stationery: 1949 to 1959

1949
Provisionals

• 4 b. - 1 b. from the 1931 Definitive series overprinted with Yemen in English and with Yemen Postage and 4 in Arabic, all inside a rectangular frame measuring 11 1/2 x 16 mm.
• 4 b. - 2 b. from the 1931 Definitive series overprinted with Yemen in English and with Yemen Postage and 4 in Arabic, all inside a rectangular frame measuring 11 1/2 x 16 mm.
• 4 b. - 3 b. from the 1931 Definitive series overprinted with Yemen in English and with Yemen Postage and 4 in Arabic, all inside a rectangular frame measuring 11 1/2 x 16 mm.
• 4 b. - 5 b. from the 1931 Definitive series overprinted with Yemen in English and with Yemen Postage and 4 in Arabic, all inside a rectangular frame measuring 11 1/2 x 16 mm.

1949
Provisionals

• 4 b. - 1/2 b. of the 1947 Definitive series overprinted with Yemen in English and with Yemen Postage and 4 in Arabic, all inside a rectangular frame measuring 11 1/2 x 16 mm.
• 4 b. - 1 b. of the 1947 Definitive series overprinted with Yemen in English and with Yemen Postage and 4 in Arabic, all inside a rectangular frame measuring 11 1/2 x 16 mm.
• 4 b. - 1 b. of the 1947 Definitive series overprinted with Yemen in English and with Yemen Postage and 4 in Arabic, all inside a rectangular frame measuring 13 x 15 1/2 mm.
• 4 b. - 2 b. of the 1947 Definitive series overprinted with Yemen in English and with Yemen Postage and 4 in Arabic, all inside a rectangular frame measuring 11 1/2 x 16 mm.
• 4 b. - 2 b. of the 1947 Definitive series overprinted with Yemen in English and with Yemen Postage and 4 in Arabic, all inside a rectangular frame measuring 13 x 15 1/2 mm.

1 March 1950
75th Anniversary of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) - in 1949
Note: This set was rejected for official release by the Imam Ahmed in part because the design included his image.

Postage


• 4 b. - Imam Ahmed, camel and airplane
• 6 b. - Imam Ahmed, camel and airplane
• 10 b. - Imam Ahmed, camel and airplane
• 14 b. - Imam Ahmed, camel and airplane

Air Mail

• 4 b. - Imam Ahmed, camel and airplane
• 6 b. - Imam Ahmed, camel and airplane
• 10 b. - Imam Ahmed, camel and airplane
• 14 b. - Imam Ahmed, camel and airplane

1950
Provisionals

• 4 b. - 1 b. of the 1940 Definitive series overprinted with Yemen in English and with Yemen Postage and 4 in Arabic, all inside a rectangular frame measuring 13 x 15 1/2 mm.
• 4 b. - 2 b. of the 1940 Definitive series overprinted with Yemen in English and with Yemen Postage and 4 in Arabic, all inside a rectangular frame measuring 13 x 15 1/2 mm.
• 4 b. - 3 b. of the 1940 Definitive series overprinted with Yemen in English and with Yemen Postage and 4 in Arabic, all inside a rectangular frame measuring 13 x 15 1/2 mm.

1951
Definitives
Note: This series was rejected initially because the Arabic inscription is below the French inscription. It seems that various values were released over time only as needed when the stocks of values of other issues were depleted. Note: The absence of a 4 b. value remains a mystery.

Postage


• 1 b. - Sana'a Parade Ground
• 2 b. - Sana'a Parade Ground
• 3 b. - Sana'a Parade Ground
• 5 b. - Flag of Yemen
• 6 b. - Eagle and flag of Yemen
• 8 b. - Coffee plant
• 10 b. - Mosque in Sana'a
• 14 b. - View of the walls of the city of Sana'a
• 20 b. - Ta'iz and its citadel
• 1 i. - Ta'iz and its citadel

Note: The 5 b. issue was released first in 1956 and served as a 4 b. issue without overprint and then as an 8 b. issue in 1957, again without overprint.
Air Mail

• 6 b. - Plane over Sana'a
• 8 b. - Plane over Sana'a
• 10 b. - Plane over trees and coffee plant
• 12 b. - Plane over Palace of the Rock, Wadi Dhahr
• 16 b. - Plane over palace at Ta'iz
• 20 b. - Plane over parade ground at Sana'a
• 1 i. - Plane over parade ground at Sana'a

1951
Provisional

• 4 b. - 1/2 b. of the 1940 Definitive series overprinted with Yemen in English and with Yemen Postage and 4 in Arabic, all inside a rectangular frame measuring 13 x 15 1/2 mm.

1952
Fourth Anniversary of Accession of Imam Ahmed bin Yahya

Postage


• 1 i. - Flag of Yemen and views of Sana'a and Hodeida

Air Mail

• 1 i. - Flag of Yemen and views of Sana'a and Hodeida

1952
Fourth Anniversary of Accession of Imam Ahmed bin Yahya
Note: inscribed Commemoration of Victory and with different views of the cities from the above set

Postage


• 30 b. - Flag of Yemen and views of Sana'a and Hodeida

Air Mail

• 30 b. - Flag of Yemen and views of Sana'a and Hodeida

3 July 1952
Provisional

• 4 b. - 2 b. of the 1951 Definitive series overprinted with Yemen in English and with Yemen Postage and 4 in Arabic, all inside a rectangular frame measuring 13 x 13mm.

August 1952
Pictorials

Postage


• 12 b. - Palace of the Rock, Wadi Dhahr
• 20 b. - Walls of Ibb
  Air Mail
• 12 b. - Palace of the Rock, Wadi Dhahr
• 20 b. - Walls of Ibb

1953
Provisional

• 4 b. - 3 b. of the 1951 Definitive series overprinted with Yemen in English and with Yemen Postage and 4 in Arabic, all inside a rectangular frame measuring 13 x 13 mm.

1953
Provisionals

• 4 b. - 1 b. of the 1942 Postage due series overprinted with Yemen in English and with Yemen Postage and 4 in Arabic, all inside a rectangular frame measuring 13 x 13 mm.
• 4 b. - 2 b. of the 1942 Postage due series overprinted with Yemen in English and with Yemen Postage and 4 in Arabic, all inside a rectangular frame measuring 13 x 13 mm.
• 4 b. - 2 b. of the 1942 Postage due series overprinted with Yemen in English and with Yemen Postage and 4 in Arabic, all inside a rectangular frame measuring 12 x 16 mm.

1953
Fifth Anniversary of Accession of Imam Ahmed

Postage


• 4 b. - Leaning Minaret Mosque of Ta'iz
• 6 b. - Leaning Minaret Mosque of Ta'iz
• 8 b. - Leaning Minaret Mosque of Ta'iz

Air Mail

• 10 b. - Leaning Minaret Mosque of Ta'iz and airplane
• 12 b. - Leaning Minaret Mosque of Ta'iz and airplane
• 20 b. - Leaning Minaret Mosque of Ta'iz and airplane

1954(?)
Provisionals
Note: These stamps are something of a mystery. Remaindered stock of these stamps was found in the Ministry of Communications by John Baldry in the early 1970s. There is no indication that these stamps were used officially, although a few of these stamps used on covers do exist.

Commemoration of the 17th Annivesary of the Alliance of Arab States - seen on cover postmarked 10 October 1954. The 1939 Second Anniversary of the Arab Alliance issues were overprinted in black.

Postage

• 4 b. overprinted - 1954-1373 in Arabic and English
• 6 b. overprinted - 6 b. and 1954-1373 in Arabic and English
• 10 b. overprinted - 16 b. and 1954-1373 in Arabic and English
• 14 b. overprinted - 18 b. and 1954-1373 in Arabic and English
• 20 b. overprinted - 32 b. and 1954-1373 in Arabic and English
• 1 imadi overprinted - 36 b. and 1954-1373 in Arabic and English

Airmail

• 4 b. overprinted - 8 b. and 1954-1373 in Arabic and English and an airplane
• 6 b. overprinted - 12 b. and 1954-1373 in Arabic and English and an airplane
• 10 b. overprinted - 16 b. and 1954-1373 in Arabic and English and an airplane
• 14 b. overprinted - 18 b. and 1954-1373 in Arabic and English and an airplane
• 20 b. overprinted - 24 b. and 1954-1373 in Arabic and English and an airplane
• 1 imadi overprinted - 1954-1373 in Arabic and English and an airplane

From the 1940 Definitive series:


• 5 b. overprinted with 1954-1373 in Arabic and English and an airplane
• 5 b. overprinted with 6 b. and 1954-1373 in Arabic and English and an airplane

Some of the values from the 1931 and 1940 Definitive series and the 1942 Postage Due series that were overprinted commemorated the 8th Anniversary of the Opening of the Mutawakkili Hospital, other values the 6th Anniversary of the Imam's Victory in 1948 - it is unclear which values commemorate which event. Still other values that were overprinted were not commemorative issues.

1931 Definitive series

• 6 b. overprinted - 8 b. and an airplane
• 20 b. overprinted - 12 b. and an airplane
• 10 b. overprinted - 16 b. and an airplane
• 20 b. overprinted - 24 b. and an airplane
• 1 imadi overprinted - 30 b. and an airplane
• 5 b. overprinted with an airplane
• 8 b. overprinted with an airplane
• 5 b. overprinted with an airplane and 1954-1373 in Arabic and English
• 8 b. overprinted with an airplane and 1954-1373 in Arabic and English
• 6 b. overprinted - 8 b. and 1954-1373 in Arabic and English and an airplane
• 20 b. overprinted - 12 b. and 1954-1373 in Arabic and English and an airplane
• 10 b. overprinted - 16 b. and 1954-1373 in Arabic and English and an airplane
• 20 b. overprinted - 24 b. and 1954-1373 in Arabic and English and an airplane
• 1 imadi overprinted - 30 b. and 1954-1373 in Arabic and English and an airplane

1940 Definitive series

• 5 b. overprinted - 6 b. and 1954-1373 in Arabic and English and an airplane
• 1 imadi overprinted - 24 b. and 1954-1373 in Arabic and English and an airplane
• 1 imadi overprinted - 32 b. and 1954-1373 in Arabic and English and an airplane
• 6 b. overprinted 1954-1373 in Arabic and English and an airplane
• 8 b. overprinted 1954-1373 in Arabic and English and an airplane
• 10 b. overprinted 1954-1373 in Arabic and English and an airplane
• 14 b. overprinted 1954-1373 in Arabic and English and an airplane
• 18 b. overprinted 1954-1373 in Arabic and English and an airplane
• 20 b. overprinted 1954-1373 in Arabic and English and an airplane
• 1 imadi overprinted 1954-1373 in Arabic and English and an airplane

1942 Postage Due issues

• 6, 8, 10, 12 and 20 b. values were overprinted with 1954-1373, an airplane and Officiel

• 6, 8, 10, 12 and 20 b. values were overprinted with an airplane and Officiel

1955
Provisional

• 4 b. - 1 b. of the 1951 Definitive series overprinted with Yemen in English and with Yemen Postage and 4 in Arabic, all inside a rectangular frame measuring 13 x 13 mm.

28 March 1956
Definitives

Lettersheet - Postage


• 6 b. - Leaning Minaret Mosque of Ta'iz
  Lettersheet - Air Mail
  
• 10 b. - Air plane and Leaning Minaret Mosque of Ta'iz

1956
Provisional

• 4 b. - 1 b. of the 1951 Definitive series overprinted with Yemen in English and with Yemen Postage and 4 in Arabic, all inside a rectangular frame measuring 12 x 16 mm.

1956 - 1957
Definitives

Note: Unissued official stamps used for ordinary postage use.

• 1 b. - Bab al-Yemen Gate, Sana'a in 1956
• 5 b. - Bab al-Yemen Gate, Sana'a in 1957
• 10 b. - Bab al-Yemen Gate, Sana'a in 1957

Note: The 1 b. and 5 b. issues were used as 4 b. issues for ordinary postage without surcharge. The 1 b. issue was also used for the newspaper rate. The 20 b. and 1 i. issues with the same design were also prepared but were not issued. Some exist cancelled to order from remainder stock.

4 November 1957, 2 February 1958
Arab Postal Union

• 4 b. - Globe and design work (4.11.57)
• 6 b. - Globe and design work (2.2.58)
• 16 b. - Globe and design work (2.2.58)

1958
Provisionals
Issues from the 1930 and the 1931 Definitive series were overprinted with an airplane and two-line AIR MAIL / 1958 in English and in Arabic.

Air Mail


1930 Definitive series

• 1 imadi - blue and reddish brown

1931 Definitive series

• 6 b. - ultramarine
• 8 b. - claret
• 10 b. - brown
• 20 b. - sage-green

13 March, 5 July 1959
First Anniversary of the Proclamation of the United Arab States (U.A.R. and Yemen)

Postage


• 1 b. - Flags of U.A.R. and Yemen (5.7.59)
• 2 b. - Flags of U.A.R. and Yemen (5.7.59)
• 4 b. - Flags of U.A.R. and Yemen (13.3.58)

Air Mail

• 6 b. - Flags of U.A.R. and Yemen (5.7.59)
• 10 b. - Flags of U.A.R. and Yemen (5.7.59)
• 16 b. - Flags of U.A.R. and Yemen (5.7.59)

13 March 1959
Arab Telecommunications Union

• 4 b. - Map of region, radio and telegraph

1959
10th Anniversary of the Declaration of Human Rights
Definitives from 1940 series were overprinted with the emblem of the United Nations and HUMAN RIGHTS / 1948 - 1958 in two lines in English and Arabic. These stamps do not appear to have been released officially.

• 8 b. - blue and claret
• 14 b. - violet and olive-green
• 20 b. - claret and yellow-green
• 1 i. - scarlet, olive-green and claret

1959
40th Anniversary of the First Stamp of Yemen
Definitives from the 1940 series were overprinted with 40th ANNIVERSARY / OF YEMEN / FIRST STAMP 1958 in three lines in English and with a two-line Arabic equivalent. These stamps do not appear to have been released officially.

• 8 b. - blue and claret
• 10 b. - olive-green and orange
• 14 b. - violet and olive-green
• 18 b. - black and green
• 20 b. - claret and yellow-green
• 1 i. - scarlet, olive-green and claret

Note: The issue seems to refer to Yemen's postal independence in 1918 after regaining independence from the Ottoman Empire, not to the date of the issue of the first stamp.

15 August 1959
Automatic Telephone Inauguration in Sana'a
Definitives from the 1931 series were overprinted with the words AUTOMATIC / TELEPHONE / INAUGURATION / SANAA MARCH / 1959 in English and with a two-line Arabic equivalent.

• 6 b. - ultramarine
• 8 b. - claret
• 10 b. - orange-brown
• 20 b. - sage-green
• 1 i. - sage-green and claret

1959
11th Anniversary of the Accession of Imam Ahmed
Definitives from the 1931 series were overprinted with the words 11th ANNIVERSARY / OF ASCENSION / OF KING AHMED / Dec. 14, 1958 and with a two-line Arabic equivalent.

• 6 b. - ultramarine
• 8 b. - claret
• 10 b. - orange-brown
• 1 i. - sage-green and claret

7 November 1959
Provisionals
Definitives from the 1930 series were overprinted with an airplane and two-line AIR MAIL / 1959 in English and in Arabic.

Air Mail

• 6 b. - ultramarine
• 10 b. - brown

Index | 1926-1948 | 1949-1959 | 1960-1962