Egypt Khedivate Issue with Perfin

Egypt · 1888 · 1 Piastre

This stamp features a portrait of the Khedive of Egypt, likely Tewfik Pasha, within an ornate frame. The design is typical of the late 19th-century issues from the region, with inscriptions in both Arabic and French. It has been perforated with initials ('perfin') by a commercial entity to prevent theft and unauthorized use.

Issued during the Khedivate of Egypt, a period when the country was an autonomous tributary state of the Ottoman Empire but under significant British influence. Perfins were a common security measure used by businesses on their postage from the 1860s through the mid-20th century.