British Occupation of Iraq – Baghdad Half Anna Surcharge

Like its counterpart, this stamp illustrates the transition of Iraq from an Ottoman province to a territory under British military administration during World War I. The background illustration shows an Ottoman coastal scene with a lighthouse and a traditional dhow, representing the maritime identity and commercial heritage of the empire’s fringes. However, the dominant feature is the black overprint reading "BRITISH OCCUPATION BAGHDAD" and the "1/2 Anna" value, which replaced the Turkish para currency with that of British India. This change in denomination emphasizes the integration of the captured Iraqi territories into the economic sphere of the British Empire. This issue serves as a stark historical document of the "Mesopotamia Campaign," where the tools of the defeated Ottoman postal service were repurposed to facilitate the administrative needs of the new British military government.