Egypt's first three booklets of stamps were produced by Thomas De La Rue & Co. Ltd of London, utilising stamps of the then current issue with star and crescent watermark. All booklets had interleaving of paraffin waxed paper, commonly used in hot countries to prevent stamps adhering to each other.
The first booklet, containing four panes each of six 5-millième rose stamps (120 millièmes), was put on sale on 1st January 1903 at 121 millièmes. It was not popular, likely due to the one millième surcharge. A Postal Circular of 16th June 1911 later removed this surcharge.
The second booklet followed on 1st July 1903: 4 panes of 6 x 3 millièmes yellow, stapled at left, printed black on blue. This booklet was also unpopular and eventually distributed to Post Offices to be sold as loose stamps.
On 1st July 1911, De La Rue produced the third booklet, also of four panes of five millièmes, sold at face value.
From 1921 the printing of Egyptian postage stamps was carried out by Harrison & Sons Ltd of London. The fourth booklet was produced on 12th June 1921 with four panes 6 x 5 millièmes; two staples at left, printed black on pink. This booklet introduced advertisements on the interleaving panes, printed in English, French, or Arabic.
From 1926 Egyptian stamps were printed by the Egyptian State Survey Department. From 1926 to 1943, booklets were manufactured from sheets of 120 stamps comprising two panes of 60.
By the time of the revolution, seventeen booklets had been produced. The last Farouk issue booklets of 1952 were withdrawn from sale on the abdication. A booklet based on the first republican stamps was issued in 1954. Since then, no further booklets have been produced using standard definitives.
In 2004 a new booklet appeared titled "Discover the Treasures of Egypt in Stamps" consisting of 30 stamps. Originally thought to be a "souvenir issue," covers have been seen with these stamps without penalty, meaning it should be thought of as Booklet 20.
