3.1 - A) Court of Honour
A total of 3 exhibits (18 frames)
(Arranged in alphabetical order by Last Name)
To view the exhibits, please click on the Exhibit title
A total of 3 exhibits (18 frames)
(Arranged in alphabetical order by Last Name)
To view the exhibits, please click on the Exhibit title
Abdulwahab, Nader Saad
Iraq
Exhibit No: NC015 - Number of Frames: 8
Establishment and Development of Iraq Airmail Service (1916-1945)
Iraq
Exhibit No: NC015 - Number of Frames: 8
Establishment and Development of Iraq Airmail Service (1916-1945)
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Exhibitor Profile:
Nader Saad Abdulwahab is a distinguished international philatelist and a primary authority on the postal history of Iraq, specifically within the specialized field of Aerophilately and postal history he is a member of the Royal Philatelic Society London, his exhibit focuses on the "Establishment and Development of Iraq Air Mail Service (1916-1939)," a collection that earned Gold Medals in several FIP exhibitions (IBRA 23, Shanghai 24 and PhilaKorea 25. Beyond his personal exhibits, which include recognized studies on the "Three Kings of Iraq," in Traditional class . Mr. Abdulwahab is a central figure in global philatelic administration. He currently is credited FIP and FIAP jury on PH Class serves as the FIP Jury from Iraq for the Dubai 2026 World Stamp Exhibition and is a frequent juror for regional competitions like AMSIPEX. His commitment to the hobby is further evidenced by his patronage, including the sponsorship of the Nader Saad Abdulwahab Souvenir Plate for international exhibitors. His work remains vital for documenting the RAF desert routes and the evolution of Middle Eastern postal logistics. |
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About the exhibit:
Following the League of Nations' decision to grant Great Britain a mandate over Iraq (then known as Mesopotamia), establishing a time-efficient air service became a strategic priority to connect the British colonies in the Near and Far East In 1919, the British government concluded that a weekly airmail service between Egypt and Iraq was feasible. Mail from the United Kingdom would be transported by steamship to Port Said and then moved via Egypt's railway system to Cairo. From there, the Royal Air Force (RAF) units stationed in Egypt and Baghdad would handle the air transport. Meanwhile, mail from British India and other colonies was shipped by sea. After the First World War ended and peace was declared, the Middle East came under the control of the RAF, which had been part of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force. The RAF was tasked with maintaining law and order in the region. In June 1920, an RAF survey team used a Fordson tractor to carve a visible "furrow" across the 550-mile desert stretch between Cairo and Baghdad, marking the future route for air mail delivery. By June 1921, the Royal Air Force launched a fortnightly airmail service connecting Cairo and Baghdad, marking a significant milestone in developing Iraq's air mail infrastructure The importance of this exhibit lies in the vital and the importance Iraq's geographic location to all countries to the world. The establishment of this airline route is considered the first nucleus for the current global airlines. This Exhibit traces the establishment and development of Iraq Air mail services from the Mesopotamian Campaign (Indian Flying Corps and Royal Flying Corps), Mesopotamian Expeditionary Forces, Emergency & Proving Trail Air Services, RAF's Desert Air Mail Service in the Middle East after British Government Colonial Conference in March 1921 held in Cairo, and then take over by Imperial Airways and other different international lines with final Experimental flight by Iraq Aeroplane Society Airlines. in chronological order under four main sections, with notable Special Emergency and proving - Trial Air mails being shown prior to the start of regular air mail flights to the takeover by Imperial Airways in January 1st, 1927. |
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Exhibitor Profile:
Dr. Cheryl R. Ganz is a globally respected authority in aerophilately, particularly renowned for her pioneering work on Zeppelin mail. A lifelong aerophilatelist and multi-award-winning philatelist, her exhibit “Zeppelins & the United States” received a Large Gold medal at IBRA 2023, reflecting her research-driven excellence and international standing. She is Past President of the American Air Mail Society and American Philatelic Society. Dr. Ganz is the Smithsonian Institution Curator Emerita and retired as Chief Curator of Philately at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum in Washington, DC. She also represents the Royal Philatelic Society London in the United States and administers the Facebook group “Zeppelin & Airship Collectors.” Through her scholarly writing, editorial contributions, and leadership across major philatelic societies, Dr. Ganz brings to philately a rare combination of academic rigor, historical insight, and enduring passion. About the exhibit: This exhibit studies the important role of Basel for zeppelin navigation and communications via the mail. Basel, Switzerland, is strategically located on the Rhine River and at the border of both Germany and France. For LZ-127 Graf Zeppelin flights, 1928-1930, Basel was an important landmark for visual navigation. Drop mail enroute offered a last chance to send messages home or a first greeting of return. In 1936, when LZ-129 Hindenburg moved to its new base in Frankfurt, Basel became an exchange post office for Swiss dispatches of Hindenburg international mail. |
Khanna, Varun
India
Exhibit No: NC016 - Number of Frames:9
Valiant Veterans: Bravehearts from Indian Armed Forces
India
Exhibit No: NC016 - Number of Frames:9
Valiant Veterans: Bravehearts from Indian Armed Forces
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Exhibitor Profile:
Varun Khanna is a student of Indian military history, both colonial and modern. He chronicles modern Indian military history by documenting Indian armed forces' veterans' experiences. As a passion project, he connects these experiences with philately. He collects and researches Indian military postal history during the Second World War and prior. His special research interests also lie in Bangalore’s military history and collects postal history related to Bangalore cantonment.(colonial era) About the exhibit:
The exhibit is a philatelic tribute that honours the courage, sacrifice, and service of the brave men and women of the Indian Armed Forces. Through a carefully curated collection of signed covers, historic postage stamps, and authentic postal journeys, the exhibit brings to life the personal stories of soldiers, airmen, and naval personnel who served the nation during defining moments in history. Spanning key periods from the early years of Independence through major conflicts and critical operations, each exhibit page connects a veteran’s lived experience with meaningful postal artifacts. Every cover is thoughtfully designed using stamps and postmarks that reflect significant milestones in the veteran’s service, transforming them into enduring historical records. Signed and returned by the veterans themselves, these pieces represent more than philately—they are living testimonies of duty and resilience. By preserving these voices and memories, the exhibit creates a powerful bridge between history and humanity, ensuring that the legacy of India’s defenders continues to inspire respect, remembrance, and national pride for generations to come. |