Egypt

Egypt Salt Stamp
Three lower values from the second set of Egyptian salt stamps issued in 1892

In 1892 the Egyptian government took advantage of the lucrative salt trade to boost revenues by legislating a government monopoly on wholesale distribution of salt. In order to buy some salt, retailers had to buy salt tax stamps at the post office. Then the salt revenue stamps had to be affixed to a salt requisition form, which when duly filled and signed was given to postal clerk for cancellation of the stamps. After this, the form was handed back, and the retailer was able to get a specified amount of salt from government stores against it.

In 1899 the monopoly was transferred to the Egyptian Salt & Soda Co. in exchange for fixed annual payments.

A similar salt tax system existed in (British) India where it was the target of Gandhi's protest march in 1930.

The salt duty stamps are not listed or mentioned in traditional stamp catalogues focusing on postage stamps but Forbins revenue catalogue lists the following issues:

1892 First issue: four values (10m,500m,1L, 2L,5L), design shows face value inside diamond shape
1892 Provisional issue: two overprinted values (50 mils on 500m, 100 mils on 1L)
1892 Second issue: five different values (250m,500m,1L,2L,5L), all my specimens are these
1896 Third issue: two values (30p, NVI), imperforated design with words 'renewed license 1896'
1897 Fourth issue: one value (NVI), imperforated design with words 'renewed license 1897'

None of the Egyptian salt revenues are particularly valuable or rare by themselves, but they are of interest to specialists who focus on the various postmarks. As a result some copies of the same stamp can have significantly different valuations.

Sources

Kortelainen, Keijo. "Salt Department Revenue Stamps of Egypt." Stamp Collecting Blog. 9 May 2014. Web. 14 Mar. 2023.
www.stampcollectingblog.com/salt-department-revenue-stamps-of-egypt.php.

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