Bahrain
Indian and British Postal Administrations
George VI Period

(Post 48)

The Persian Gulf state of Bahrain has been governed by the Al Khalifa family since the late 18th century. In 1820, Great Britain and Bahrain entered into the first of many treaties in which Bahrain became a British Protectorate until it became an independent state in 1971.

A postal service was operated in Bahrain by the Indian postal administration in Bombay from 1884. From 1933, Bahrain started using Indian Stamps overprinted "Bahrain". With the independence of India in 1947, the Bahrain Post Office was managed by the Pakistani government in Karachi until March 31, 1948. On April 1, 1948, the British G.P.O took over postal agencies from Pakistan. For this reason the previously overprinted Indian stamps were replaced by overprinted GB stamps in 1948. On 31 December 1965 the GB postal administration was closed and control handed over to the Bahrain postal department on 1 January 1966.

This article shows covers posted from Bahrain during the George VI period.

References:

Bahrain Stamps and Postal History
GB Overprints Society


1. Indian Postal Administration (To 1947)

Stamps of India overprinted "Bahrain" were issued from 1933.




WWII Trans-Pacific Air Mail Service to the United States
February 21, 1940 - December 21, 1940

A trans-Pacific air mail service to the United States was introduced on February 21, 1940 at the first weight step rate of 40 annas ( 2R 8 as.) in addition to the letter rate (3 1/2 as.)

The route went via Karachi and Bangkok, then by land-plane service to Hong Kong with stops at Hanoi and Wai Chao Island (in the Gulf on Tonking) as part of the Horseshoe route. From Hong Kong the route was PanAm Airways Trans-Pacific air service via Manila, Wake Island, Midway, Honolulu to San Francisco.



To Napa, California, July 4, 1940
40 as air mail letter rate + 3 1/2 as surface letter = 2 R 11a 6p
BAHRAIN AIR PERSIAN GULF canceller


PASSED BY CENSOR
BAHRAIN



Victoria, Hong Kong transit
July 20, 1940



PASSED CENSOR HONG KONG 4


The cover shown below was also mailed to a California address:


To Richmond, California, May 22, 1940 (Via India-Hong Kong - U.S.A.)
40 as air mail letter rate + 3 1/2 as surface letter = 2 R 11a 6p
BAHRAIN AIR PERSIAN GULF canceller





PASSED BY CENSOR B8 ( Karachi)




Indian Censor Tape




Hong Kong Censor tape


2. British Postal Administration (From 1948)

British stamps overprinted "Bahrain" were first issued in 1948.




Air Mail to Great Britain


Bahrain to Ikley, Engalnd, March 23, 1949
6 annas paying the air mail letter rate to Great Britain


Air Mail to India


Bahrain to Bombay, September 13, 1950
10 annas paying the air mail letter rate + registration fee


Air Mail to Switzerland


Bahrain to Berne, Switzerland, July 30, 1951
6 annas paying the air mail letter rate to Switzerland


Air Mail to France


Bahrain to Paris, France, December 27, 1951
6 annas paying the air mail letter rate to France


Air Mail Post Card to the U.S.A.


Awali, Bahrain to Tulsa, August 27, 1953
9 annas paying the air mail post card rate to the U.S.A.