Sudan Military Telegraph Stamps


The Camel Corps

Military Telegraph stamps were released in 1898 for telegraphic purposes until 1901 between towns in Sudan. On the stamp is the Camel Corps of the Sudan Defence Force marching through the desert with telegraph lines depicted in the background. The Camel Corps was established by the Egyptian army in 1883; it was then reformed again in 1884 for the Gordon Relief Expedition. 

For this issue, telegraph stamps were bisected in the middle with a central perforation for the ease of separating the telegraph and its receipt. Not an error, rather for convenience. When separated, sender would receive the telegraph receipt with half portion of the stamp affixed while the post office keeps the other half attached to the telegraph form. It is an interesting find because it is very creative considering that the top half of telegraph forms used then was the receipt. Some time ago I came across just that example commented by Dave on Stampboards in 2019, which provided a visual explanation. Quite self sufficient.

Sudan military telegraph stamps were reintroduced (earlier usage dates back to 1885) for use between 1896 to 1898 during the Sudan Campaign where the British Empire participated following the uprising of the self-proclaimed Mahdi, Muhammad Ahmad. 

Telegraph stamps issued in Sudan, specifically for this issue, had three different watermarks: rosettes, Egyptian crescent and star, and the Sudanese crescent and star. To tell them apart, the Sudanese crescent and star are present in higher numbers and are closely knit compared to the Egyptian crescent and star watermark but worry not, the Egyptian star and crescent are very scarce and are only used on the 10p stamp. 

Sudanese crescent and star watermark on the reverse of the stamp


Another half-used piece

Note on stamps:

1. Sudan 1899 25 Piastres Pale-blue and brown - Special Military Telegraph stamps
Wmk. Sudanese Star and Crescent

2. Sudan 1899 5 Milliemes Lilac-brown and violet - Special Military Telegraph stamps
Wmk. Sudanese Star and Crescent

For further reading, there are some really good sources online especially a website by Steve Panting on telegraph stamps of the world. I am using Stanley Gibbons simplified catalogue 2014 edition, hence, I could not find these military telegraph stamps listed. 


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