MuscatFirst Postage Stamp

One first issue, two historic regions

When collectors talk about the first stamps of Muscat and the first stamps of Oman, they're actually referring to the same issue. On 29 April 1944, the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman released its first postage stamps by overprinting Indian King George VI definitives in Arabic to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Al Busaid dynasty. The complete set comprises 15 values, from 3 pies to 10 rupees, all printed by De La Rue in England using the original Indian definitive designs. These stamps were valid throughout the Sultanate, across both the coastal region of Muscat and the interior of Oman, making them the shared first issue of both historic regions. In 1966, the Sultanate issued its first stamps bearing the inscription "Muscat & Oman", replacing the earlier overprinted Indian issues. Following the country's renaming in 1970, stamps were thereafter inscribed simply "Oman". Middle Eastern philately is interesting to explore, as it most often reflects the region's rich and turbulent history.