Israel's First Postage Stamps

A First Day cover bearing Israel's first postage stamps, the First Coins; also known as Doar Ivri" (Hebrew Post). The blue cachet lists the date "5 Iyar 5708" (May 16, 1948). After Israel declared its independence on Friday, May 4 stamps of the British Mandate and labels printed by the Jewish National Fund (Keren Kayemet Le'Israel), or JNF, were considered to be legitimate postage until the new sate could issue its own stamps on Sunday, May 16 (i.e. the day after Independence; Saturday - a day of rest), it being the first work day after the declaration of Independence. The use of the overprinted JNF labels in all cities and towns except Jerusalem, up to May 22. Printing of the first official postage stamps, the "First Coins, begun some weeks before the end of the Mandate, was hampered by the lack of paper, appropriate printing presses and perforation machines. The name the new country would bear had not been decided - Judea? The Land of Israel? Israel? It was decided that the stamps would read "Doar Ivri" (Hebrew Post). The Doar Ivri stamps were designed by Otte Wallish, a Czech Jewish immigrant, using ancient coins from the First Jewish-Roman War and later Bar Kochba revolt. Printing of the first official postage stamps, the "First Coins, begun some weeks before the end of the Mandate, was hampered by the lack of paper, appropriate printing presses and perforation machines. The name the new country would bear had not been decided - Judea? The Land of Israel? Israel? It was decided that the stamps would read "Doar Ivri" (Hebrew Post). The Doar Ivri stamps were designed by Otte Wallish, a Czech Jewish immigrant, using ancient coins from the First Jewish-Roman War and later Bar Kochba revolt.