Specialized Lecture Explores Historical Aspects of Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber's Rule Through Stamps and Postcards

Kuwait City, September 29 (KUNA) -- A lecture titled “A Reading of the Book ‘Kuwait’s Tenth Ruler, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, on Stamps and Postal Cards’” highlighted historical and documentary aspects of the reign of the late Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, through postal and fiscal stamps and postal cards issued during his rule or after his death, which document prominent milestones and events in the country’s history.

The lecture, organized by the Kuwait Philatelic and Numismatic Society on Tuesday, was based on a book by the society’s secretary, Issa Dashti, published in cooperation with the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters, covering the emergence and development of postal stamps in Kuwait, leading to the establishment of domestic postal services.

The session covered events associated with Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber’s reign, including his 1919 visit to London and the two World Wars, as well as key postal cards documenting these milestones.

Sheikha Hala Al-Fahad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, an honorary member of the Kuwait Philatelic and Numismatic Society, told the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) and Kuwait Television that the lecture shed light on an important phase of Kuwait’s history through postal stamps, which serve as documentation of specific events or historical periods and reveal the evolution of the milestones the country has passed through.

She added that the lecture addressed the stages of stamp issuance and their development, alongside events linked to Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah’s rule, including his London visit and the World Wars.

She explained that a postage stamp is a historical document that reinforces the documentation of events, noting that one of the questions that piqued her interest during the lecture and her study of the historical material was how postal stamps originated in Kuwait and their developmental stages, culminating in the transition to domestic postal operations.

She noted that the establishment of postal stamps was tied to a crucial phase in Kuwait’s history and contributed to documenting its independence and identity, emphasizing that “postal stamps represent one of the documentary evidences reflecting Kuwait’s status and its historical relations.”

Sheikha Hala Al-Sabah stressed the importance of introducing new generations to the historical value of stamps, cautioning against viewing them merely as adhesive items for correspondence, as each stamp carries a story and significance linked to an event, a person, or a historical period.

The lecture, presented by Issa Dashti, secretary of the Kuwait Philatelic and Numismatic Society, covered historical milestones associated with Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah’s reign.

Dashti stated that “a postage stamp is not merely a means of sending correspondence but serves as a documentary record of the state and a symbol of sovereignty and independence.”

He clarified that the lecture was based on his book, “Kuwait’s Tenth Ruler, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, on Stamps and Postal Cards,” which represents a historical, documentary, philatelic, and narrative study combining documentation and analysis of the images, landmarks, and historical meanings conveyed by stamps and postal cards.

He noted that the book documents as many official issues related to Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah as could be identified, whether postal or fiscal stamps or postal cards issued during his rule or after his death, adding that “each postal card carries an independent story and documents an aspect of Kuwaiti history.”

Dashti added that he was able to identify approximately 38 postal cards, including one documenting Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber’s first visit to London in 1919 and another among the rarest cards linked to the World War II period. (End) M.D.M.