In the absence of much needed information, all experts including late Dr. Mohammad Dadkhah believed that the genuine issued stamps were only inscribed پست ملت اسلام (Post-eh Mellat-eh Islam) meaning Post of the Nation of Islam. However the postmarks found on these stamps read پستخانه ملت لار (Postkhaneh Mellat-eh Lar) meaning Post-house of the Nation of Lar. These two contradicted each other, since those who are familiar with the Islamic movement, they know that the first task of the Islamic revolution was to eradicate any nationalistic symbols and replaced them with religious ones. The inscription on the recognized stamps is religious although the postmark is nationalistic. In an article published in the Philatelist of March 1961, the picture of two Lar stamps were published showing both inscription, but in the same article, Dr. Dadkhah rejected both stamps as forgeries. |
6 Chahis tied to cover to Bandar Abbas
Recently I have acquired a cover from an auction house in England. After a close inspection of this cover including the ink and shape of the postmarks, I came to a conclusion that without a doubt the postmark tying the stamp to the cover is indeed matching the characteristics of the known genuine postmarks. Unlike other known genuine covers reported to this date, this cover franked with a 6 Shahis deep reddish violet stamp inscribed "Post-eh Mellateh Lar" rather than "Post-eh Mellateh Islam".
6 Chahis with "Post-eh Mellat-eh Lar"
The stamp measures 20.5mm wide by 21mm long. In the upper right corner the figures "6" are inscribed in both Farsi and Latin; in upper left corner the word Shahi is inscribed in Farsi. In the center circle reads "Mellat / Post / Lar," and in lower corners there are symbols resembling the sun.
The reverse of the newly discovered cover
The cover was sent, as dated on the reverse, on 12th of Safar-al-Mozaffar of 1327 (5th March 1909) from Seyyed Abdullah-ibn-al-Aziz (with his seal on the flap). Apparently the cover has been opened and re-sealed prior to affixing the stamp (possibly as a censorship effort at the post office). The cover also shows a "BENDER-ABBASSI 10-3-09" receiving postmark.