North Cyprus Stamps SG 2024 (a) 60th Anniversary of Cyprus Turkish Post Office (Kibris Türk Postalarinin 60 Yili).

Issue Date: 6 March 2024

Comprising: a single stamp.

On 16 August 1960 the Turkish Cypriot Community, one of the two partners in the Republic of Cyprus was attacked by the other partner, the Greek Cypriots - whose political goal was to achieve Enosis. The Turkish Cypriots were forced to abandon their homes, some lost their lives and those remaining were also banned from carrying out economic activities.

Under these extraordinary circumstances, their fundamental human right to freedom of communication was also taken away from them.

The Turkish Cypriot Administration established the Post Office on 6 January 1964, as its first act and initially used the crescent and star postmarks.

The Post Office is the first official institution of a self-governing administration, a symbol of their presence of the island of Cyprus.

This particular stamp release, issued on 6 March 2024 has been prepared for the anniversary of this important event.

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The establishment of the Turkish Cypriot Post Office begins with the fixed date postmarks bearing the crescent and star motif dated 6.1.64.

Initially, two postmarks were made for Nicosia and one each for Famagusta, Larnaka, Limassol, Pafos and Lefke, and sent to the centres.

To date, no fixed date crescent and star postmark belonging to Lefke has been found. It was shortly discovered that the word "TÜRK" on the postmark sent to Limassol was mistakenly typeset as TOÜRK. (This postmark can be seen in the image on the First Day Cover.)

A new one was made and put into use. It's estimated this postmark was only used for approximately two weeks.

Name of Artist: Görel KOROL SÖNMEZER

Available on Cyprus Stamps website: as a single stamp (MINT or CTO/USED), Official FDC and Full Sheets of 4 stamps MINT condition (or CTO/USED subject to availability).

Image below features the Post Office Official FDC with the embedded airmail envelope image containing their example of the stamp cancel mark of 6 January 1964 (referred to above).