Fourth Issue April 1, 1879 - De La Rue

In 1876 Alfred Caillard Pasha succeeded Giacomo Muzzi as Director General of Posts, changing the Post Office's secondary language from Italian to French. Caillard awarded the contract for a new set of stamps to De La Rue of London, with notable changes in the quality of the design, paper, printing and perforation. The designs had different frames in order to distinguish the various values, the sheets were of 240 stamps instead of the previous 200-stamp sheets, because the sheet size was in accord with the British monetary system to which of De La Rue's machinery was adapted. This fourth issue was to have a run of 34 years with changes in denominations, colours and currency type.

First Period Stamps — First Period, 1879-1883
Characterised by the initial colours and currency. April 1, 1879

Colour Changes (10 para)
Lilac-Rose (Jan 1881), Pale Grey (Jan 25, 1882)

Second Period Stamps — Second Period, 15 December 1884-1888
Change in colour scheme recommended by the UPU. Surcharge 20 paras on five piastres (Feb 1, 1884).

Third Period Stamps — Third Period, 1888-1902
Currency Reform (Millièmes). Introduction of new printing plate style.

Fourth Period Stamps — Fourth Period, 1902-1915
Conversion to chalk-surfaced paper.

The 4 millièmes (1906) is the only Fourth issue stamp found only on chalky paper.

Others reprinted are 1, 2, 3 (not the maroon), 5 millièmes, 1, 2, 5 and 10 piastres.

References & Further Reading

Articles: The London Philatelist & L'OP No. 89 (reprinted in L'OP No.122 May 1970) L'OP 128 (October 1974) QC 105 (March 1976) QC 158 (June 1991) QC 169 (June 1994)

Collections: The Ibrahim Shoukry Collection

Peter Smith: Egypt: Stamps & Postal History: XV-The Fourth Issue (pp. 221-245)