Back in 1994, after the success of the Christmas 1992 & 1993 Klussendorf Stamps and the via-Bethlehem Christmas Cards Mailing Service (see [1] & [2]), the Israeli Postal Authority devised a program to install some of the Klussendorf machines at various tourist sites. The idea was to offer tourists self-vended stamps, to support mailing needs that do not require weighting of the sent item at a Post Office counter (e.g. postcards, letters). The Klussendorf self-vending machines were ideal for this purpose.

The Philatelic Service engaged Marion Codner, who designed the 1993 Festival Stamps, to design a series of 10 Klussendorf stamps depicting various sites in Israel. The initial idea, suggested by the Philatelic Service, was to base the design on contemporary photos of the sites (see Wallach Auction Catalogue 1994, item 1706). However, Ms. Codner was not pleased with the result, and suggested an alternative approach based on watercolor paintings. The designer’s recommendation was accepted, and the subsequent printing of the Klussendorf stamps was the first attempt ever to create a postage-label that will correctly capture the shades of a watercolor painting (see images of the original sketches in [3] & [4] pg. 257-272.). On June 21^st 1994, a set of 6 stamps was issued: Akko, Tiberias, Yafo, Jerusalem – The Citadel (also known as “Tower of David’ - ToD), Bethlehem, and Nazareth, followed by a second issue on August 23^rd 1994 of 3 additional stamps: Massada, Jerusalem – Church of the Holy Sepulcher (CHS) and Capernaum. Thus the total number of stamps in the issued series was 9, and not 10. One of the sites, for which Ms. Codner designed a stamp, was not represented in the official issue!

The fact that 10 original designs did exist is mentioned in [3] (item 1707). Because of the way that lot 1707 was laid-out in the catalogue color-plate photos, one stamp remained hidden away from the eye. The additional stamp, which was not issued, and of which there was no public knowledge of its existence to-date, was the stamp of the Qumran Caves. Recent study of the designs reveals the Qumran stamp was the 10^th stamp prepared by Marion Codner (Figure 1, 3^rd row, left item, which is the full photo of item 1707). 

         Figure 1: The original ten designs of Marion Codner

During the production process, the Philatelic Service decided not to issue the stamp, and it was removed from the set. Evidence of this decision can be found in the artist’s Hebrew handwriting on an IRIS quality print sheet time-stamped 4/5/94 23:10 (Figure 2). 

  Figure 2: IRIS Machine Proof with Artist handwritten remark

The indication “Take out Qumran” is found on the top of the sheet, followed by circles around the two Qumran stamps appearing in it and an indication that says “Nazareth, instead of Qumran”. The original one stage water color & ink pen painting with the inscription “Qumran” (in Hebrew & English) carries the signature of the artist and is dated May 1994 (Figure 3). It is interesting to mention that the preliminary watercolor sketches also included two vertical designs of the Massada & The Church of the Holy Sepulcher (CHS) stamps, which were later altered to a horizontal layouts (this can also be seen in Figure 1).

Before discussing the reason for which the printing of the Qumran stamp was not carried-out, it is important to re-cap on the process of making these stamps available to the public, by means of Klussendorf machines installed on-site. Of the 9 issued stamps only 7 were available in on-site machines, as summarized in Table 1 (depicting only first installations. For a full list – see [5]). Note that some machines were offering the stamps even before the official FD.

The experience gained in operating the on-site machines between 1990-1994 was not an encouraging one. A considerable maintenance effort was required to overcome technical problems, as well as vandalism. When the “Tourist Site” machines were installed, they were positioned within the closed boundaries of the Post Offices, hence limiting the accessibility to the machines to opening hours, and thereby considerably restricting the original perceived usage scenario.

And what about the Qumran stamp? The explanation provided by the Philatelic Service was that it was not issued, due to the lack of facilities to support machine operation on-site. Hence the Qumran stamp did not mature beyond the stamp design stage. The original design and the IRIS Printings maintain a philatelic significance of their own right, as part of an issued series (see [4], pg. 254). Two other stamp designs, Massada & Jerusalem CHS, were included in the official issue, but did not reach the on-site offering stage, later on. Thus from these stamps the only production variety existing is from the Philatelic Service machines (i.e. without machine code number).

It is unfortunate that technical reasons prevented the issue of the Qumran stamp. This beautiful design could have been an interesting item in Israel & Judaica collections, as well as thematic collections touching upon archeology and ancient manuscripts. It is at the Qumran Caves that the Dead-Sea Scrolls were found, the first one in 1947 and numerous other throughout excavations in the early 1950’s. These manuscripts, dated from the third century B.C. to 68 A.D. are considered to be most important manuscript finds of the 20^th century. They demonstrate the rich literary activity of Second Temple Period Jewry and shed insight into centuries pivotal to both Judaism and Christianity. For additional details, which are beyond the scope of this article, see [6].

References:

[1] IP Aug. 1993: “Seasons Greetings from the Holy Land: The Story of the Bethlehem Klussendorf Stamp”, by Dr. Josef Wallach & Michal Tor-Ovadia.

[2] IP Feb. 2001: "The Little Town of Bethlehem Still Delivers! – The Story of the Bethlehem 1993 Klussendorf Stamp”, by Evyatar (Tari) Chelouche & Dr. Josef Wallach

                              [3] Wallach Auction catalogue 1994, items 1689-1715

[4] W. De Doncker, Y. Delaey, J.A. Desimpelaere: “The Postage Stamp, From Draft Till Collector’s Item”, 1996

[5] The Israel Klussendorf Machine Vended Stamps, Appendix A: the Author’s Web Site at http://geocities.datacellar.net/Athens/Rhodes/2352/index.html

[6] The Qumran Library:
http://www.ibiblio.org/expo/deadsea.scrolls.exhibit