 etach Tikvah was founded in 1878 by religious Jews from Jerusalem on swamp land near the sources of the Yarkon river, ten kilometers east of Jaffa. It was the first modern Jewish farming village/moshava (colony) and was therefore known as the
mother of the moshavot (colonies). There was a daily postal connection with the Austrian post in Jaffa. In 1910 the Turkish Authorities opened a post office in the colony. The Arabic part of the Turkish postmark reads "Mlabbes," which is the name of the nearby Arab village.
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Figure 7 |
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July 24, 1910. Postcard addressed to Switzerland, mailed through the Ottoman P.O. One of two recorded items bearing red postmark, and the earliest recorded date. The Hebrew/French handstamp with the shield of David and "Zion" inscribed inside the shield, is known in red and black color. |
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Figure 8 |
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November 12, 1910. Printed matter cover to Vienna, mailed at the Austrian Post Agency. Franked
with 14 para local stamp, and two Jewish National Fund labels, all canceled by a purple bilingual "Petah Tikva/Oessterr. Post" with a Large "Shield of David" in the center. Forward by the Austrian Post office in Jaffa. Arrival Vienna mark November 1910 on Reverse. |
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Figure 9 |
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September 19, 1909. Cover from Petah Tikva to Jaffa, mailed at the Austrian Post Agency. Franked with the local stamp only, canceled by the agency handstamp with a small Shield of David. Concessional mail handled free of charge by the Austrian Post. |
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Figure 10 |
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March 9, 1914. Petach Tikvah to Jaffa. One of two recorded examples of the "Doar Petach
Tikvah Eretz Israel" (Petach Tikvah Post. The land of Israel) Hebrew handstamp. This might have been a local post in addition to the Austrian and Turkish branches existing there. Very few items with Petach Tikvah postmarks survived. |
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