Until 1957 the Sultanate of Qatar used the “no country” stamps listed under “British Postal Agencies in Eastern Arabia”. With the introduction of decimal currency the opportunity was taken to give Qatar its own issues, parallel to those of Bahrain and Kuwait. It has been alleged that this was requested by the Sultan following an incident where some Bahrain stamps were sent to Qatar instead of the no-country stamps.
Decimal Currency, St Edward’s crown watermark, 1957
Low values
High values
(SG №)
denomination
colour
date of issue
number issued
1
1np on 5d
brown
1 April 1957
909,200
2
3np on ½d
orange
1 April 1957
218,369
3
6np on 1d
blue
1 April 1957
290,979
4
9np on 1½d
green
1 April 1957
454,601
5
12np on 2d
brown
1 April 1957
267,240
6
15np on 2½d die I
red
1 April 1957
425,040
7
20np on 3d (opt is in blue)
violet
1 April 1957
1,842,480
8
25np on 4d
blue
1 April 1957
124,444
9
40np on 6d
reddish purple
1 April 1957
1,013,940
9a
claret
21 July 1959
174,960
10
50np on 9d
deep green
1 April 1957
88,854
11
75np on 1/3d
green
1 April 1957
73,635
12
R1 on 1/6d
deep blue
1 April 1957
128,696
13
R2 on 2/6d
brown
1 April 1957
34,931
14
R5 on 5s
red
1 April 1957
25,928
15
R10 on 10s
blue
1 April 1957
24,090
Varieties
Later printings
(SG №)
denomination
colour
date of issue
number issued
13a
R2 on 2/6d type II
brown
18 September 1957
17,860
14a
R5 on 5s type II
red
18 September 1957
10,847
15a
R10 on 10s type II
blue
18 September 1957
3,580
Varieties
Scout Jamboree, 1956
Commemorative set
(SG №)
denomination
colour
date of issue
number issued
16
15np on 2½d
red
1 August 1957
162,046
17
25np on 4d
blue
1 August 1957
161,468
18
75np on 1/3d
green
1 August 1957
156,085
Varieties
Decimal currency, multiple crowns watermark, 1960
Low values
(SG №)
denomination
colour
date of issue
number issued
20
3np on ½d
orange
28 September 1960
39,480
21
6np on 1d
blue
21 June 1960
33,143
22
9np on 1½d
green
28 September 1960
40,200
23
12np on 2d
brown
28 September 1960
22,440
24
15np on 2½d die II
red
26 April 1960
987,840
25
20np on 3d (opt is in blue)
violet
28 September 1960
191,520
26
40np on 6d
purple
21 June 1960
366,240
Varieties
References specific to this and related chapters
GBOS GB Overprints Compendium edition 8, Dr John Gledhill (12/4/2020)
Particular thanks go to Stanley Gibbons Ltd, for permission to quote their catalogue numbers and numerous other contributors who are mentioned in the Appendix section.
All content is copyright, Dr John Gledhill and the GB Overprints Society, May 2025.