Hatay

1929 Scott 13 30p light violet & aquamarine

"Map of Hatay"

Quick History
Hatay State (Turkish: Hatay Devleti), northwest of Syria, bordering on the Mediterranean Sea, was a transitional state that existed between September 7, 1938 to June 29, 1939.  The Capital was Antakya (Antioch), and the population was 234,000.

Originally part of the Ottoman Empire, the area, known as the Sanjak of Alexandretta, was occupied by France after WWI as part of the French Mandate of Syria.

Read about "Alexandretta" here....

http://bigblue1840-1940.blogspot.com/2011/02/alexandretta.html

Turkey, under Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, refused to accept that the Sanjak of Alexandretta was part of the Mandate, and argued that it was a "Turkish homeland for forty centuries".

Sanjak of Alexandretta/ Hatay State (blue)

French Mandate of Syria

In 1936, communal riots between Turks and Arabs broke out, and there was impassioned articles in the rival Turkish and Syrian press. Ataturk demanded that Alexandretta become part of Turkey, who claimed  the majority of residents were Turks.

Turkish forces enter Iskenderin on July 5, 1938

Based on the 1938 census held by the French, Turks were given 22 out of 40 seats in the Sanjak Assembly. But Turkish forces (See image)  had removed many of the Arab and Armenian inhabitants just before the census.

On September 2, 1938, the assembly proclaimed the new Hatay State. The name "Hatay" had been proposed by Ataturk himself, and the government was under Turkish control.

Protests in Damascus against Turkeys annexation
 of Alexandretta in 1939

On September 6, the constitution was adopted by the assembly. Then  a flag was adopted (sketched by Ataturk), and Turkish was declared the state language, with French as a secondary language.  All Turkish laws were adopted, and the Turkish lira became the official currency on March 13, 1939.

On June 29, 1939, the Hatay legislature voted to dissolve the Hatay State and join Turkey.

The Hatay province was approved by Turkey, and by July 23, 1939, all remaining French Mandate authorities left Antakya.

Does this history whet your appetite for the stamps of Hatay? It does mine. ;-)

Overprinted Turkish stamps for both regular and postage due issues were produced in 1939, followed by Hatay's own stamps.

Let's take a look...

Hatay Province of Turkey after annexation

Into the Deep Blue
The 2011 Scott Classic Specialized catalogue has, for 1939, 50 major stamp descriptions for regular and postage due issues. Forty- four stamps (88%) have a CV between <$1-$4. Clearly affordable.

A closer look at the stamps and issues.

100 Santims = 1 Kurush
40 Paras = 1 Kurush (1939)

1939 Scott 11 20ku on 25ku Prussian  Blue

Stamps of Turkey, 1931-38, surcharged

The first issue for Hatay was surcharged on 1931-38 stamps of Turkey.  Appropriately enough, since he was largely responsible for the creation of the State, is a portrait of Ataturk.

The issue consisted of eleven stamps, with a CV ranging from <$1-$4+; although mostly on the low side.

1939 Scott 16 3ku light blue "Lions of Antioch"

Hatay's own issue followed  soon with a very nice four design production. The stamp illustrated above was the second design, and featured, from ancient city of Antioch (now Antakya), the "Lions of Antioch". The first design , showing a "Map of Hatay", is illustrated at the post header.

1939 Scott 20 12ku violet & carmine "Flag of Hatay"

The third design, featuring the "Flag of Hatay" (sketched and proposed by Ataturk), is found on the middle values. The issue, altogether, had thirteen stamps with a CV of <$1-$3+ for twelve stamps.

1939 Scott 23 25ku olive brown "Post Office"

The high denominations had an image of the post office, as shown. In summary, a very nice set. ;-)

This issue, along with the regular 1939 postage due issue, were then overprinted with "Date of annexation to the Turkish Republic, June 30, 1939". These stamps (seventeen total) have a CV of <$1-$4+ for fifteen of them. I have no examples to show. ;-)

1939 postage due Scott J4 5ku on 12ku bright rose

Surcharged on 1936 postage due stamps of Turkey

Also surcharged on stamps of Turkey for postage due duties was a 1939 five stamp issue as illustrated. The CV for the first four stamps are <$1.

Finally, a four stamp postage due issue featuring the "Castle of Antioch" was produced. These stamps were also overprinted for the annexation date to Turkey, as mentioned previously

The "Castle of Antioch" postage due stamps (illustrated later in the post) have a CV of $1-$2..

Deep Blue

The 1939 Hatay surcharged postage due in Deep Blue
This issue not found in Big Blue

Deep Blue (Steiner), on four pages, has all the major spaces listed in Scott. My collection consists of stamps which are in Big Blue, as well as some that are not, such as those illustrated on the left here.

Deep Blue provides spacious room for my virtual "Big Blue", which is still my main focus and goal. I use the checklist for Big Blue as a want list to help populate the Deep Blue album.

1939 Scott 3 50s on 2ku dark violet "Ataturk"

Surcharged 1931-38 stamps of Turkey

Big Blue
There is a significant difference between the Hatay spaces for the '69/'97 edition and the '47/'41 editions of Big Blue.

The '69 BB, on two lines of one page, has spaces for thirteen stamps. Coverage is 26%. (Other countries on the page includes Hejaz and Horta.)

The '47/'41 BB, on the other hand, has one full page!, with spaces for 25 stamps, including all the stamps in the '69/'97 editions. Coverage is 50%. (Page is found between Guatemala and Guinea.)

I would like to ring the necks of the '69 editors....Just kidding!   ;-)

Seriously, what a poor decision for recent edition BB collectors.

So, I will present a checklist for the '69, followed with a supplemental checklist of the additional stamp spaces found in the '41/'47 editions.

And just for kicks, I've removed the appropriate stamps from my virtual Big Blue housed in Deep Blue, and put them on the '47 edition BB Hatay page for a group picture.

Big Blue '47 and the stamps of Hatay

I think this is one of the few countries in BB that I have managed (so far) to completely fill all the spaces: the goal of every BB collector. But I have a long way to go. ;-)  

Readers, how many countries have you filled in Big Blue?

The '47/'41 page looks good, but are there additional (cheap) stamps that could be collected?

I did comb the CV's for Hatay that are not in the '47/'41 BB, and found, for CV <$1-$2, 18 additional stamps that could be considered by the frugal classical collector.

Checklist

'69 edition

1939

1,2,3,4,6,(7),(8),(9),

15,12,13,14,18,

'47/'41 edition supplement

1939

16,

17,19,20,

21,22,23,24,

Postage Due

1929

J6,J7,J8,J9,

Comments

A) Expensive stamps (Threshold $10): None

B) (   ) around a space is for a blank space choice

C) Note I include the inventory for the '69 edition, and then a supplemental listing of stamps in the '41/'47 editions.

1939 postage due Scott J6 1ku red orange "Castle at Antioch"

Out of the Blue
I love it when interesting history and stamps intersect.  ;-)

Note: Maps, pics appear to be in the public domain.

Have a comment?

Church of St. Peter in Antakya (Antioch)

The  facade built by the Crusaders in 1100