Doar Ivri (Hebrew Post) - First Stamps of Israel

Israel · 1948 · 3 mil

This stamp is the 3 mil denomination from the first series of postage stamps issued by the state of Israel, known as 'Doar Ivri' (Hebrew Post). The design features an ancient Judean coin from the First Jewish-Roman War (66-73 CE), depicting a chalice and inscribed with 'Israel'. The tabs below the stamps, a characteristic of Israeli issues, bear the inscription 'Doar Ivri' in Hebrew.

Issued on May 16, 1948, just two days after Israel's Declaration of Independence, these stamps symbolize the nascent state's sovereignty and its deep connection to ancient Jewish history. The name 'Israel' was kept secret until the declaration, so the stamps were printed with the generic 'Doar Ivri' instead.