The new book by Semaan Bassil, British Mail in the Levant: The Beirut Postal Hub (1836–1914), dives into intensive research on British postal history in the region. Using primary and secondary sources extensively, it contextualises and analyses postal artefacts while offering rich, detail-oriented historical information, focusing on the influence of geopolitics and the positioning of Beirut for British postal communication over 75 years.
It starts in 1836 with the conveyance of British mail to and from India by the British Admiralty via Beirut, then recounts the British packet agency in that city, handing mail for Syria, Mesopotamia, and Persia from 1840. It goes on to describe how the General Post Office in London strategically decided to subcontract different liners in 1872 to speed communication with Beirut, before converting its packet agency in 1873 into a post office, in parallel with the erosion of Britain’s world economic preeminence. It ends with the start of the First World War in 1914, when all foreign post offices closed.
Woven throughout the book are numerous examples of pre- and post-UPU analysed British mail and, notably, the study dedicates a full chapter to listing and analysing British mixed-franked postage mail used only in Beirut (1873–1876) for expediting overseas mail via Alexandria. The publication ends with a list of postage stamps used at the British Post Office in Beirut, of which several are unrecorded in any publication, including catalogues.
The 292-page book can be obtained through the author at bassil.semaan@gmail.com or through info@cedarstamps.com. It is priced at 75 USD, excluding shipping. The net proceeds will be donated to CHANCE (Children Against Cancer).
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https://fepanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/bassil_2025-800.jpg800800Costas Chazapishttps://fepanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/fepanews_logo-107x138-1.pngCostas Chazapis2025-12-03 12:33:072025-12-03 12:47:10British Mail in the Levant: The Beirut Postal Hub (1836–1914)
Latest Press Release from Thomas Fortunato, Public Relations Chair at BOSTON 2026:
The Boston 2026 web site has a new webpage dealing exclusively with the tariff issues around stamps and philatelic material, including a copy of the new ruling letter covering HTSUS 9704 that such items are again tariff free. See the Tariffs webpage on www.Boston2026.org.
In a correspondence dated October 30 from Andrew Langreich, Office of Trade Chief at U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, to Boston 2026 Executive Director Mark Butterline, the ruling confirms Harmonized Tariff Schedule HTSUS 9704 items (i.e., stamps and other philatelic material) are exempt from all tariffs and duties.
Boston 2026 previously hired Vantage Point Services, a customs broker, to ensure no difficulties are encountered by those needing importation assistance to the show. This advice was echoed by the Office of Trade Chief’s correspondence.
EXFILNA and JUVENIA 2025 were held at the Baluarte de la Candelaria in Cádiz from 5 to 9 November, standing out as a highly successful national philatelic event. During those days, various activities took place, including presentations of postal issues, guided tours of the city, workshops, conferences, and exhibitions of philatelic collections. In addition, several cultural activities were held, including outdoor drawing with Urban Sketchers, school visits, and discussions on philatelic and cultural topics.
The event was made possible thanks to the support of the Cádiz City Council, the Cádiz Provincial Council, Correos (the Spanish postal service), the FNMT (Spanish Royal Mint), ANFIL (Association of Philatelic Entities of Cádiz), EDIFIL (Association of Philatelic Entities of Cádiz), local businesses, schools, and participants.
One of the central events was the “Draw a Stamp for Cádiz” Contest, in which more than 1,500 students from public and private schools in Cádiz and the surrounding province participated. The First Prize in the Children’s Category went to María del Mar Cuevas Pacheco from the Juan Pablo II School in San Pedro, La Línea de la Concepción, and the Youth Category Prize went to Julia López-Cepero Guzmán from the Las Banderas Secondary School in El Puerto de Santa María.
JUVENIA 2025 Grand Prize: David Junquera Guerrero, “Evolution and History of European Castles.”
EXFILNA 2025 Grand Prize: Eugenio de Quesada, “Mail without Correos in the Spanish Empire.”
Champions Class Grand Prize: José Alberto Barreras Barreras, “Alfonso XII, Last Issues.”
Photo: Eugenio de Quesada receives the Grand Prix from Ms Nuria Lera Hervás, Director of Philately and Institutional Relations, at Correos. [Summary based on text and photos provided by Rafael Acuña Castillo]
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https://fepanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/exfilna_2025_gp-800.jpg800800Costas Chazapishttps://fepanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/fepanews_logo-107x138-1.pngCostas Chazapis2025-12-01 16:32:112025-12-01 16:41:57EXFILNA and JUVENIA 2025 Successfully Held in Cádiz
British Mail in the Levant: The Beirut Postal Hub (1836–1914)
The new book by Semaan Bassil, British Mail in the Levant: The Beirut Postal Hub (1836–1914), dives into intensive research on British postal history in the region. Using primary and secondary sources extensively, it contextualises and analyses postal artefacts while offering rich, detail-oriented historical information, focusing on the influence of geopolitics and the positioning of Beirut for British postal communication over 75 years.
It starts in 1836 with the conveyance of British mail to and from India by the British Admiralty via Beirut, then recounts the British packet agency in that city, handing mail for Syria, Mesopotamia, and Persia from 1840. It goes on to describe how the General Post Office in London strategically decided to subcontract different liners in 1872 to speed communication with Beirut, before converting its packet agency in 1873 into a post office, in parallel with the erosion of Britain’s world economic preeminence. It ends with the start of the First World War in 1914, when all foreign post offices closed.
Woven throughout the book are numerous examples of pre- and post-UPU analysed British mail and, notably, the study dedicates a full chapter to listing and analysing British mixed-franked postage mail used only in Beirut (1873–1876) for expediting overseas mail via Alexandria. The publication ends with a list of postage stamps used at the British Post Office in Beirut, of which several are unrecorded in any publication, including catalogues.
The 292-page book can be obtained through the author at bassil.semaan@gmail.com or through info@cedarstamps.com. It is priced at 75 USD, excluding shipping. The net proceeds will be donated to CHANCE (Children Against Cancer).
…
BOSTON 2026: Importation Tariff Ruling
Latest Press Release from Thomas Fortunato, Public Relations Chair at BOSTON 2026:
The Boston 2026 web site has a new webpage dealing exclusively with the tariff issues around stamps and philatelic material, including a copy of the new ruling letter covering HTSUS 9704 that such items are again tariff free. See the Tariffs webpage on www.Boston2026.org.
In a correspondence dated October 30 from Andrew Langreich, Office of Trade Chief at U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, to Boston 2026 Executive Director Mark Butterline, the ruling confirms Harmonized Tariff Schedule HTSUS 9704 items (i.e., stamps and other philatelic material) are exempt from all tariffs and duties.
Boston 2026 previously hired Vantage Point Services, a customs broker, to ensure no difficulties are encountered by those needing importation assistance to the show. This advice was echoed by the Office of Trade Chief’s correspondence.
The Press Release: https://fepanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/PR-2025-11-26-Tariff-Letter-Released.pdf
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Attachments
EXFILNA and JUVENIA 2025 Successfully Held in Cádiz
EXFILNA and JUVENIA 2025 were held at the Baluarte de la Candelaria in Cádiz from 5 to 9 November, standing out as a highly successful national philatelic event. During those days, various activities took place, including presentations of postal issues, guided tours of the city, workshops, conferences, and exhibitions of philatelic collections. In addition, several cultural activities were held, including outdoor drawing with Urban Sketchers, school visits, and discussions on philatelic and cultural topics.
The event was made possible thanks to the support of the Cádiz City Council, the Cádiz Provincial Council, Correos (the Spanish postal service), the FNMT (Spanish Royal Mint), ANFIL (Association of Philatelic Entities of Cádiz), EDIFIL (Association of Philatelic Entities of Cádiz), local businesses, schools, and participants.
One of the central events was the “Draw a Stamp for Cádiz” Contest, in which more than 1,500 students from public and private schools in Cádiz and the surrounding province participated. The First Prize in the Children’s Category went to María del Mar Cuevas Pacheco from the Juan Pablo II School in San Pedro, La Línea de la Concepción, and the Youth Category Prize went to Julia López-Cepero Guzmán from the Las Banderas Secondary School in El Puerto de Santa María.
JUVENIA 2025 Grand Prize: David Junquera Guerrero, “Evolution and History of European Castles.”
EXFILNA 2025 Grand Prize: Eugenio de Quesada, “Mail without Correos in the Spanish Empire.”
Champions Class Grand Prize: José Alberto Barreras Barreras, “Alfonso XII, Last Issues.”
The Palmares booklet: https://fepanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/PALMARES-EXFILNA-Y-JUVENIA-2025.pdf
Photo: Eugenio de Quesada receives the Grand Prix from Ms Nuria Lera Hervás, Director of Philately and Institutional Relations, at Correos.
[Summary based on text and photos provided by Rafael Acuña Castillo]
…