Physical Description

91:153 mm., light age staining.

Detailed Description   

First day cover of Israel's first Independence Day. These were the first stamps that were issued by the Israeli post. Because Saturday is a day of rest, Sunday, May 16, was the first business day after independence was declared on which stamps could be sold. The first set of stamps was entitled Doar Ivri ("Hebrew Post") because the country's name had not yet been chosen. The stamps were printed by letterpress, perforated or as a rouletted variation. The Doar Ivri stamps were designed by Otte Wallish using ancient coins from the First Jewish-Roman War and later Bar Kochba revolt.