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Bahrain

Stamps issued: 1971-PRESENT

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80f Inaugural London to Bahrain Concorde Flight single

An archipelago in the Persian Gulf. Under British protection 1861-1971, Bahrain used a variety of stamps: Indian stamps from 1884 to 1933, overprinted Indian issues 1933-48, overprinted British issues 1948-60 and its own designs from 1960. Oil was first discovered in 1932 and, until the depletion of reserves in the 1970s, brought enormous wealth to this tiny country. Today, Bahrain is a center of international banking. Tensions between the Sunnite majority (60 percent) and Shi'ite minority (40 percent) have grown since the establishment of the fundamentalist Shi'ite regime in Iran. Violence in 1996 by Shi'ite dissidents brought a crackdown by the Sunni-led government.

Narrative by Linn's Stamp News

Precedent Countries:


BRITISH PROTECTORATE, BAHRAIN POSTAL ADMINISTRATION
Stamps issued: 1966-1970

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100f Pearl Divers single
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150f Municipal Bulding, Arms and Map of Bahrain single
 

BRITISH PROTECTORATE, BRITISH POSTAL ADMINISTRATON
Stamps issued: 1948-1966

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5r surcharge and Bahrain overprint on 5sh stamp of Great Britain single
 

BRITISH PROTECTORATE, INDIAN POSTAL ADMINISTRATION
Stamps issued: 1933-1948

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Bahrain overprint on 5r stamp of India single

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