Identifying Palestinian Stamps Issued under British Administration 1920-1922
adapted by
Catherine Ann Stone from sales material from Henry Gitner

This guide to the identification of the overprints used on Palestinian stamps issued under British Administration in 1920-1922 makes use of 6 images and a series of questions to identify the overprint.  Each image can be enlarged by clicking on the thumbnail.

Example #1 Jerusalem I Example #2 Jerusalem II Example #3 Jerusalem II narrow setting Example #4 Jerusalem III Example #5 London I Example #6 London II

Q1. Does the English line "Palestine" have serifs on the letters?

a:- If yes, then you have either Jerusalem type I, II, or III (Example #1-4)
b:- If no, then you have either a London type I or II.(Examples #5-6)

Q2. If the answer to question 1 was "a," is the Arabic line of the overprint short (8mm) or long (10mm) ?

c:- If short, then you have Jerusalem I (Example #1)
d:- If Arabic is long, you have either Jerusalem type II or III. (Examples #2,3,4)

Q3. If the answer to Q1 was "b" no serifs, are the English letters in the overprint elongated and pointed or flatter and rounded?

e:- If elongated and pointed, then your stamp is from London I (Example #5)
f:- If flatter and rounded, then your stamp is from London II set. (Example #6)

Q4. If the answer to Q 2 is "d" ( serifs on letters, 10mm Arabic), are the dashes between the two Hebrew letters on the far left above the other letters, or even with the other Hebrew letters?

g:- If the dashes are raised above the Hebrew letters your stamp is Jerusalem II. The Hebrew line is also thicker and more rounded. The 9pi, 10pi and 20pi values do not exist with this overprint. (Examples # 2,3)
h:- If the dashes are even with the other Hebrew letters, then your stamp is a Jerusalem III overprint. The Hebrew line on this overprint is also generally serifed and more delicate than Jerusalem II. (Example #4)

Q5. If your answer to Q4 was "g" (raised dashes) and your stamp is a 1mil, 3mil or 5mil value, is the distance between the Hebrew and English narrow (6mm) or wide (7+mm)?

i:- If wide (7=mil), then your stamp is a normal Jerusalem II overprint. (Example #2) It narrow (6mm), then your stamp is a "narrow setting". (Example #3).

Editor's Note: This is from a post on the eBay Stamps Chat Board made December 6, 2008.