Postal Civil Censorship

Cyprus Civil Censorship 1914-1959

by Stelios Theophilou

This collection started its “life” as 1-frame and was presented for the first time at the First Bi-communal Philatelic Exhibition “United Cyprus” in March 2004. Then it went to Le Salon du Timbre 2004 exhibition where it received a silver medal.
Augmented to become a five-frame exhibit, it was presented in several yearly Cyprus national exhibitions where it received Large Vermeil medals. Its first international debut was at Saint Petersburg 2007 where it received Large Vermeil medal and then it went to Israel 2008 and Efiro 2008 where it received Large Vermeil medals.
Further augmented and improved by adding new extremely rare items, to become an eight-frame exhibit, it received Gold medals in Cyprus national exhibitions. At Lavrio-Greece 2009 it received a Large Vermeil medal. Still as an eight-frame exhibit it was presented at large international exhibitions such as Essen-Germany 2009, Bulgaria 2009, London 2010, Indipex 2011 and Philanippon 2011 where it received Vermeil and Large Vermeil medals.
This Postal History exhibit is built on FIP specifications and is regularly improved and updated depending on the new material and information discovered. Having searched all available bibliography and the Cyprus state archives on the subject of Cyprus Civil Censorship, Stelios Theophilou has given lectures and presentations on numerous occasions. He has also contributed on various Cyprus philatelic subjects and more specifically on Cyprus Civil Censorship, to various magazines and publications such as the “Civil Censorship Study Group Magazine”, published by the Civil Censorship Study Group, the “Cyprus Circular Post” published by the Cyprus Study Circle and the “Cyprus Philatelist” issued by the Cyprus Philatelic Society.
Mr Theophilou is a member of the Royal Philatelic Society London (RPSL), the Cyprus Study Circle, the Civil Censorship Study Group and a member of the Governing Committee of the Cyprus Philatelic Society. He has served as a teacher of Mathematics and assistant headmaster in Cyprus state schools. He is currently serving as an Inspector for Mathematics with the Ministry of Education and Culture of The Republic of Cyprus.

Frame One

Introduction

Historical and structural outline of the Collection.
Page A-2

WW1, 1914 - 1919. Martial Law. Label censor mark.
Page A-3

WW1, 1914 - 1919. Boxed Martial Law censor mark.
Page A-4

WW1, 1914 - 1919. Boxed Martial Law handstamp with resealing label.
Page A-5

WW1, 1914 - 1919. The boxed "5645" handstamp censor.
Page A-6

Civil disturbances in Cyprus: 1931-1939. Outgoing mail, opened and resealed.
Page A-7

Civil disturbances in Cyprus: 1931-1939. Incoming mail. Opened and resealed.
Page A-8

Civil disturbances in Cyprus: 1931-1939. Outgoing mail. Black GR censor mark.
Page A-9

Civil disturbances in Cyprus: 1931-1939. Outgoing mail. Red GR round censor mark.
Page A-10

1931-1939: The GR (with crown) red censor handstamp on a resealed cover.
Page A-11

1931-1939: The ER (with crown) red censor handstamp.
Page A-12

WW2 - Boxed "PASSED CENSOR" red handstamp on its First Day of issue.
Page A-13

Censors on wrapper and postcard.
Page A-14

Twice (?) censored outgoing and returning cover.
Page A-15

Resealed covers with boxed "PASSED CENSOR" handstamps.
Page A-16

Censor handstamp on telegram.