Definitive Stamps 1954 onwards

Denominations: Millièmes (m), Piastres (p), Egyptian Pound (£E)
10m = 1p, 100p = £E1.

First Republican Issue (1953-56)

Egypt's first Republican stamps of various designs. Eighteen values: 1m, 2m, 3m, 4m, 10m, 15m, 17m, 20m, 30m, 32m, 35m, 37m, 40m, 50m, 100m, 200m, 500m and £E1.

Lower Values Redrawn (1954-55)

Five lowest ("farmer") values redrawn in a similar design and 5m value added. Five values: 1m, 2m, 3m, 4m, 5m.

Change of Design (1957-58)

Different designs for the three low values, now inscribed EGYPT. Three values: 1m, 5m, 10m.

UAR Egypt Issue (Mar 15, 1958)

Issued to mark United Arab Republic (combining Syria and Egypt), inscribed Egypt UAR. Seven values: 1m, 2m, 3m, 4m, 5m, 10m and 35m.

55m Surcharge (Jan 20, 1959)

The 100m value of the First Republican issue overprinted with 55m and UAR in Arabic and English.

UAR Issue (Aug 30, 1959)

The word Egypt was dropped, leaving UAR only. Seventeen values: 1m, 2m, 3m, 4m, 5m, 10m, 15m, 20m, 30m, 35m, 40m, 45m, 55m, 60m, 100m, 200m, 500m.

UAR Overprint (Feb 22, 1960)

The £E1 value of the First Republican issue overprinted UAR in Arabic and English.

New UAR (Aug 31, 1961)

Design and colour changes (single colours) with a new 10m design. Four values: 1m, 4m, 10m, 35m.

New Pictorials (Jan 2, 1964)

Completely new designs. Fifteen values: 1m, 2m, 3m, 4m, 5m, 10m, 15m, 20m, 30m, 35m, 40m, 60m, 100m, 200m and 500m.

New Design and Value (Aug 12, 1967)

New designs in single colours. Two values: 10m, 55m.

New Sizes (Dec 27, 1969)

Last two values resized (20x25mm to 25x30m) and colours changed. Two values: 10m, 55m.

Pictorials (May 1, 1970)

New pictorial issues all multicoloured. Seven values: 1m, 5m, 10m, 50m, 200m, 500m and £E1.

Military Stamp (Apr 15, 1971)

Single 10m stamp as a concessionary value for serving military personnel.

Nasser Stamps (May 1, 1971)

Before his death Nasser had not appeared on any of the definitive stamps and very sparingly on commemoratives. Two stamps, values 20m and 55m, issued as definitives.

AR Egypt (Jan 1, 1972 - 1976)

Previous issues some with colour change and new designs all inscribed A.R. Egypt (Arab Republic of Egypt). Ten values: 1m, 5m, 10m, 20m, 50m, 55m, 100m, 200m, 500m and £E1.

Tourist Set (Feb 27, 1978)

New issue based on aspects of Egypt. Fourteen values: 1m to £E1. Some underwent colour changes.

Pharaonic Issue (Feb 27, 1985 - 1986)

New set based on Pharaonic aspects. Due to inflation all stamps now priced in piastres. Nine values: 1p to 35p.

Arabesque Issue (Oct 1, 1989 - 1992)

Seven values: 5p, 10p, 20p, 30p, 50p, £E1, £E2.

Ancient Heads Issue (Feb 1, 1993 - 1994)

New set based on Pharaonic heads. Ten values: 5p to £E5. Colour changes and some redesigns were introduced in 1994.

New Heads (Feb 1, 1997)

Replacement ancient portraits issue but with English as well as Arabic for portrait title. Six values: 5p, 20p, 75p, £E1, £E2, £E5.

Goddess Silakht (June 23, 1999 - 2001)

Designs using a similar portrait, two new values and one replacement. Three values: 10p, 25p and 30p.

Goddess Nofret (Aug 25, 2000)

Single design to pay basic internal postage rate: 20p.

New Pharaonic Issue (May 25, 2002)

New Pharaonic issue of wall scenes, artefacts and monuments. The Arabic for post (barid) dropped from the designs and piastres now indicated PT instead of P. Ten values: 10p to £E5.

Note: The various stamp catalogues arrange the stamp "sets" differently from the above on account of the often piecemeal way in which they were issued. They are presented here for general guidance only, without implying that this is how they must be ordered into defined "sets".

From 1990 onwards, the picture is quite confused, added to which is the further confusion that the "Ancient Heads" grouping also contains air mail stamps which have in Egyptian Philately traditionally been treated separately, a tradition probably started by the Zehri catalogue.