Sandafayre Stamp Auctions | Stamp Atlas

Afghanistan

FIRST STAMPS ISSUED 1871.

CURRENCY
1871, 12 shahi = 6 sanar = 3 abasi = 1 rupee.
1920, 60 paisa = 2 kran = 1 rupee.
1926, 100 poul = 1 afgani (rupee).

Independent kingdom (Kingdom of Kabul until 1890) from 1747 to 1973 when the king was deposed and a republic declared. In 1978 a Russian-inspired coup set up a puppet Soviet regime. Following opposition by Muslim loyalists, the Russians occupied the country by force in December 1979.

Postal History
Four POs were opened in 1871: Kabul, Peshawar, Jalalabad, and Tashkurghan. Mail to India was routed via Chaman.

The route via Kandahar, where a P0 was opened c.1883, was started in 1906. Herat was opened 1908.

The method of cancelling stamps was generally by tearing off a corner!

In 1961-4 many 'undesirable' issues appeared with face values that could pay no rate of postage.

Persia & Afghanistan to 1924
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