Sharjah's First Stamps and Bruce Conde

The items illustrated below were given to me by the late Bruce Conde back in the 1970s when I was publishing my ARAB WORLD PHILATELIST journal. They are one of the best designed issues of any of the Sheikhdoms. To read about the story behind this set of stamps, see THE ARAB WORLD PHILATELIST, No. 2, also posted on my website.

• Illustrated above is the only known variety of the first Sharjah issues. It is a shift in the black printing to the left. One sheet was discovered, of which this is the plate number block.
  Due to the fact that Harris and Sons, Ltd. were a security press, they made every attempt to pull any sheets that did not meet their rigid standards. That is standard practice for any security press. For the early Dubai issues printed under the Baroody contract, those involved in producing, distributing and selling the stamps, had access to all facets of the production. Many of the "varieties" and "errors" were intentionally created so they could be sold by them to the unsuspecting public. Such items were not intentionally made available or sold through the Post Offices in Dubai, but through the Dubai Philatelic Agency.
  

• This is a prepared imperforated proof of the 5np Airmail value. The silouette of a falcon was added to each of the Airmail values. Such a card would be prepared for each value and presented to the entity ordering the stamps for their final approval. This card was presented to Bruce by the Sheikh.

• ABOVE: The original First Day Cover sent to His Highness Sheikh Saqr bin Sultan, Ruler of Sharjah & Dependencies, who was staying at the Hotel Excelsior in Beirut, Lebanon, by his teenage son, who presided over the first day ceremonies. The note under the cachet on the left, in pencil, reads, "First stamp of Sharjah used & cancelled by Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr, Regent of Sharjah". This was also given to Bruce by the Sheikh.
  

• The original pen and ink drawing made from Bruce's original sketch illustrated below. This drawing was made by the staff at Harrison and Sons, Limited, London, England.

• This is the original sketch made by Bruce Conde on onionskin paper, and sent to Harrison and Sons, Ltd., to be worked into a drawing and eventually the stamps.
  

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