The purpose of this Guide to the Postal Stationery of Iraq is to stimulate interest in this aspect of Iraqi and Mesopotamian philately. We have tried to illustrate the range of postal stationery products used in Mesopotamia from the Ottoman and British administrations, and to list all postal stationery used in Iraq during the Kingdom of Iraq and Republic of Iraq periods. Covering the period from 1863 to 2021, this Second Edition of our text summarizes new information from many sources that is additional to that presented in our First Edition, as published by The Royal Philatelic Society London in 2016. Separately the information presented here can be very difficult to find. Illustrations are mainly drawn from the authors’ own collections except for a few images that were provided by additional sources. Maintenance of precise aspect ratio in the images is not guaranteed. Original printing colours are as estimated by the authors or as cited in published literature. A rarity index that includes four categories of the items is provided. While the authors cannot guarantee the accuracy of all the information presented here, because some is drawn from secondary sources, we have made our best effort to do so.

Illustrative images and explanatory text are used wherever possible. The authors have taken some editorial licence to include a few items that stray from a strict definition of postal stationery. This recognizes that collectors may be interested in a broad spectrum of material that complements formally recognized postal stationery. A few examples are highlighted in Sections 2 and 3 of the many possible Ottoman, British India and other postal stationery items that may be found with postmarks from Mesopotamia. These sections are designed only to indicate the range of Iraq-related postal stationery that is possible for a collector.

Where known to the authors, specimens, essays, proofs and examples of printing errors are noted in the text, but more material might be added should they be confirmed. Information on forged items is included for clarity in a few sections. There are eight sections, three appendices and an Index that comprise the text.