Israel. War-affected Egyptian occupation mail: 30 JL 1948 registered airmail commercial cover from BETH LAHEM (return addressed British(?) sender at "Poste Restante Bethlehem Palestine via Egypt") to "Director of Hiring GHQ" CYPRUS (no city written), franked 75m per period double-rate using "Palestine" overprinted 1m, 2x2m + Airs 30m & 40m (SG 1-2/27-28) & tied by 5 strikes of Egyptian date-bridge postmark on front + 2x on back & scarce Registry boxed cachet; backstamped 9 AU 48 CAIRO R.D.4 transit + "MM" censor on front (K-Type-4) & next day AEROPORT FAROUK dispatch (long 11 day interim transit due to war: operations "10 Days" 8-18/07 & "Gys 2" 31/07-1/08 which affected Egyptian west-east lines & siege of Negev); oddly no Cyprus arrival postmarks on registered letter. May have been sent by British/Commonwealth national trying to join British military during the war; as no "GHQ" in Cyprus (until 1955), possibly "Cyprus Regiment", which served in Palestine 1945-48. Locale occupied by Jordan c. 18 May, but Egyptian "Muslim Brotherhood" (Ikhwan) volunteers there since Jan. 1948 + Egyptian Army entered c. 23 May; this Post Office established by Egypt 1 June & transferred to Jordan 1 Sept. 1949. Slit open at right; rare period overseas mail; estimated value $800+

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Israel. Egyptian occupation mail: 30 AU 1948 registered airmail stationary cover from HEBRON to "Respected sir, doctor Alfred Isher" ALEXANDRIA, franked 90m per postage period rate using "Palestine" overprinted Airs 5m, 7m, 8m, 20m & 50m (SG 22-24/26/29) & tied by 6 full strikes of rare Hebron Egyptian date-bridge postmark on front + 2x on back & Mandate registry-label; backstamped 4 SE 48 CAIRO R.D.[unclear] transit in blue + purple Cairo censor "106" on front (K-Type-1, this number unrecorded) & same day [unclear] arrival; manuscript notation on back of attempted delivery "4/9" & "5/9": quick transit time as sent during Egyptian siege of Negev, between Israeli operations "Gys 2" (31/07-1/08) which temporarily cut through Egyptian Negev siege & "Operation Yoav" (15-22 Oct.) which cut Egyptian lines between coastline & inland. This Post Office established by Egypt 1 June & transferred to Jordan 1 Sept. 1949. Slit open at right, top right corner repaired; rare Hebron registered-mail, Estimated value $2000+

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Israel. War-affected Egyptian occupation mail: 18 OC 1948 registered airmail commercial cover from BETH LAHEM (return addressed sender from "Ramallah / Amman Transjordan") to "Dean of Admissions" [University of Pennsylvania] PHILADELPHIA, franked 165m per period double-rate using "Palestine" overprinted Airs 7m, 8m (damaged), 10m, 40m & 100m (SG 23/25/28/30) & tied by 5 strikes of Egyptian date-bridge postmark on front + 3x on back & Mandate registry-label; backstamped [unclear] 48 CAIRO R.D.[unclear] transit in blue + "MM" censor on front (K-Type-4) & 4 DE 48 AEROPORT FAROUK dispatch in blue (very long 7 week interim transit due to war: especially "Operation Yoav" aka "10 Plagues", 15-22 Oct. which cut Egyptian lines between coastline & inland, gradually liberating Negev & isolating Egyptian forces into "Faluja pocket"); backstamped DEC 6 1948 NY AMF (Air Mail Field) transit & next day arrival - very fast transatlantic transit. Locale occupied by Jordan c. 18 May & Egyptian Army entered c. 23 May; this Post Office established by Egypt 1 June & transferred to Jordan 1 Sept. 1949. Slit open at top; rare period overseas mail; estimated value $800+

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