# Yemen

* The Republic of Yemen came into existence in 1990 with the merger of the Yemen Arab Republic (North Yemen) and the Peoples Democratic Republic of Yemen (South Yemen).
* In 1967 the British Protectorate of Aden and the Federation of South Arabia merged into the Peoples Republic of Southern Yemen which changed its name to the Peoples Democratic Republic of Yemen in 1970.
* The first meter stamps appeared in Aden in 1950.
* The stamps are grouped according to political inscription:
       A - ADEN, to 1967
       B - FEDERATION OF SOUTH ARABIA, to 1967
       C - PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF SOUTHERN YEMEN, 1967 – 1970
       D - PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF YEMEN, 1970 – 1990
       E - YEMEN ARAB REPUBLIC (North Yemen), 1967 – 1990
       F - REPUBLIC OF YEMEN or YEMEN REPUBLIC, 1990 to present
* For specialized information about the meter stamps of Yemen, see “Aden Meter Marks” by Gary Brown, serialized in The Dhow, journal of the Aden-Somaliland-Yemen Study Group, September 2003 through September 2004.

## GROUP A: Issues of ADEN, 1950–1967

* A1. Universal Postal Frankers “Multi-Value” (MV), 1950.
* Horizontal frank with simulated perforation outer border and straight inner border.
* Dhow (sail boat) circled at centre.
* M# with “U” prefix at lower right.
* Straight-line TM at lower left: “ADEN”, “ADEN CAMP” [Scarce] and “LITTLE ADEN” [Rare]
* A. Denominated in Annas and Pies: “AN | P” (U1 & U2 only)      [Scarce]
* V/F:      0/0      00/o
* B. Denominated in Shillings and Cents: “SH | CTS”
* V/F:      000      0oo      00oo
* a. With horizontal lines appearing at right of the meter number
* A2. Neopost (LV-6), 1951.
* Small, upright frank with simulated perforation outer border and straight inner border.
* Dhow at centre above the value figure.
* A wreath frames “ADEN” and the dhow at top.
* M# with “N” prefix.
* TM: BIC
* A. Valued in Annas. “ANNAS” in small scroll above value figure. M#s N5 and N7 only      [Rare]
* Values:      1, 1½, 2, 6, 8, 12
* B. Valued in Cents and Shillings. “CENTS” in scroll above value figure. M# N1, N3 to N18, N01, and N02.
* Values:      0•05, 0•15, 0•25, 0•50, 1•00, 1•25, 2•00, 3•00, 5•00      [Scarce]
* Values:      5, 15, 4•00      [Very scarce]
* Values:      2 (N02), 50 (N01,17), 10•0 (N5,9), 25•0 (N9)      [Very rare]
* Values:      “SH” above 5 (N02)      [Very rare]
* a. Blank scroll above value figures      [Very scarce]
* Values:      2•00, 3•00, 4•00, 5•00 (all N5)
* b. Blank scroll above value figures and with “RS” above value figure      [Very rare]
* Values:      1, 3, 5 (N5 and N6)
* NOTE: Meter number "N2" exists as a proof but has not been reported on actual mail. This is true also for the "7" value of A2b.
* A3. Neopost "Frankmaster" / "305" (MV), 1958.      [Very scarce]
* Nearly square frank with simulated perforation outer border and straight inner border.
* Value figures inside inner box with wreath ornaments at sides.
* Dhow at bottom centre flanked by M# with “N” prefix.
* Spacing variable between TM and frank.
* TM: DC
* V/F:      00•00
* A4. Universal Postal Frankers “Multi-Value” (MV).      [Very scarce]
* Upright frank with simulated perforation outer border and straight inner border.
* “ADEN” in panel at top, “POSTAGE” and “PAID” vertical in panels at sides.
* “CENTS” and tall crown at bottom centre flanked by the meter number and prefix in corner boxes.
* M#s U2 – U18
* TM: DC
* A. Inner panels intact
* V/F:      000      0oo      0.oo
* B. Inner lines of top and side panels partly removed to make room for expanded value figures
* V/F:      00oo
* A5. Universal Postal Frankers “Multi-Value” (MV).      [Very scarce]
* Very similar to Type A4A but the crown is much wider in design and has “SH.” and “CTS.” at the sides rather than “CENTS”.
* M# “U1” only.
* TM: DC
* V/F:      0.oo      0oo      000      00oo
* A6. Universal Postal Frankers “Multi-Value” (MV), 1965.      [Scarce]
* Similar to Types A4 and A5 but without crown and currency indicator.
* M# with “U” prefix.
* TM: DC
* V/F:      000      0000
* a. Inside line of left side panel removed. Value figures centred to left. M# U3
* A7. Pitney Bowes-GB “ Simplex” (LV-25), 1960.      [Very scarce]
* Similar to Type A4A but smaller and with wider spacing between the TM and frank.
* M# with “S” prefix.
* TM: DC
* Values:      0.05 to 1.25 in 5c increments
* NOTE: Type A7 is possibly an essay rather than an issued stamp design. No convincingly postally used examples have been seen by us.

## GROUP B: Issues of the FEDERATION OF SOUTH ARABIA, 1966–1967

* B1. Neopost (LV-6).      [Very rare]
* Small upright frank with simulated perforation border and straight inner border bisected horizontally.
* In top half is the country name in Arabic above English.
* M# with “N” prefix in lower corners flanking the value figure.
* TM: BIC
* Values seen:      5, 20, 50, 65, 75, 100, 200, 400, 500, 600, 800, 900, 1000 fils
* B2. Neopost "Frankmaster" / "305" (MV).      [Very rare]
* Upright frank with simulated perforation border and straight line inner border.
* Country name in Arabic at top and English at bottom.
* M# at bottom below inner border.
* M# with “N” prefix in corners.
* TM: DC
* V/F:      000
* B3. Universal Postal Frankers “Multi-Value” (MV).      [Rare]
* Upright frank with simulated perforation border.
* With inner panels at the sides.
* Country name in Arabic above inner frame.
* Country name in English and M# at bottom.
* M# with “U” prefix in small boxes beneath the side panels.
* TM: DC
* V/F:      000      0000
    NOTE. When the Federation of South Arabia achieved independence from Britain in 1967 mailers were directed to use rubber stamps reading “PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF SOUTHERN YEMEN” in Arabic and English on mail franked by Group B stamps in order to conceal "Federation of South Arabia". Rubber stamped covers are probably very rare. Only Type B3 covers are known with the rubber stamp but it was likely used on Type B1 and B2 mail as well.

## GROUP C: Issues of the PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF SOUTHERN YEMEN, 1967–1970

* C1. Universal Postal Frankers “Multi-Value” (MV).      [Very rare]
* Similar to Type B3 but with different inscriptions at top and bottom.
* M# with “U” prefix.
* TM: DC
* V/F:      000
* C2. Neopost "Frankmaster" / "305" (MV)      [Very rare]
* Similar to Type C1.
* M# with “N” prefix in corners.
* TM: DC
* V/F:      000

## GROUP D: Issues of the PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF YEMEN, 1970–1990

* D1. Universal Postal Frankers “Multi-Value” (MV).      [Rare]
* As Types B3 and C1 but with different inscriptions at top and bottom.
* M# with “P.B.” prefix.
* TM: DC
* V/F:      000
* D2. Neopost "Frankmaster" / "305" (MV).      [Very rare]
* Frank with straight outer border and panel across top containing country name in Arabic.
* With inner vertical panels at sides.
* M# with “RN” prefix in small boxes beneath side panels.
* TM: DC
* V/F:      000
* a. Frank inverted, value figures upright, M# RN16
* D3. Neopost “505” (MV).      [Very rare]
* Horizontal frank with widely spaced simulated perforation frame line.
* Arab text across the top.
* "PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC / REPUBLIC OF YEMEN" in two lines at the bottom.
* M# with "RN" prefix brakes frame line in lower left corner.
* TM: BIC
* V/F:      0 0 0 0
* D4. Neopost (LV).      [Exceptionally rare]
* Small, upright frank with straight line border. The stamp is divided into two horizontal sections. The top section filled with the contry identification in Arabic and English. The bottom section is mostly empty space but with POSTAGE in Arabic and English at top and the value figure centred at bottom. In the lower corners are the meter number with "N" prefix at left.
* M# “N 10” seen.
* TM: BIC
* Values seen:     20, 125

## GROUP E: Issues of the YEMEN ARAB REPUBLIC (North Yemen), 1967–1990

* E1. Pitney Bowes-GB “6300” (MV).      [Scarce]
* Horizontal frank with widely spaced simulated perforated frame similar to that found on Type D3.
* Coat of arms at top left. Country name in English across bottom.
* M# with “Y.P.” or “Y.P.B.” prefix breaks bottom frame line.
* TM: DC
* V/F:      ≋0.00
* E2. Postalia (MV).      [Scarce]
* Large, square frank with country name as “YEMEN•A•R” at top.
* Coat of arms at right of value figures in centre.
* Without M#.
* TM: DC
* V/F:      B 000      B 0000

## GROUP F: REPUBLIC OF YEMEN, 1990 to present

* F1. Pitney Bowes-GB “6300” (MV).
* Horizontal frank with straight outer border.
* Country name in English across bottom.
* M# with “YP” prefix at lower left above “REPUBLIC”.
* TM: DC
* V/F:      ≋0.00
* F2. Pitney Bowes-GB “6300” (MV).
* This is Type E1 with "ARAB" removed from the country identification leaving a blank space between “YEMEN” and "REPUBLIC".
* Meter number with "Y.P." prefix seen.
* TM: DC
* V/F:      ≋0.00