How were these little Emirates allowed to exist? This tiny country has 10 percent of the worlds oil reserves, or so they claim. Why was there not an oil rush to take the area from the nomads that pass through. Iraq has also wondered this Surely Britain could have made more colonizing this place rather than finding the oil then just protecting it. So slip on your smoking jacket, fill your pipe, take your first sip of your adult beverage and sit back in your most comfortable chair. Welcome to todays offering from The Philatelist.
Here we have the Emir Sabah III who ruled from 1965-1977. At the end of the previous British Protectorate status in 1961 the added title of Emir was added over the previous title of Sheik. The Kuwaitis are quite cagey about who these people are despite their claims of promoting press freedom. I have pieced together a little. At least the stamp provided a picture of him.
Todays stamp is issue A96, a 20 Fills stamp issued by the Emirate of Kuwait on October 5th, 1969. With the end of the British protectorate came a new currency and the end of using the Indian Rupee. This was a 14 stamp issue in various denominations. According to the Scott catalog, the stamp is worth 25 cents used.
The House of Sabah, Sabah III first and last name was Sabah, have their heritage in Utibi tribesman that were chased from Iraq by the conquering Ottoman Turks. They managed to get control of the former Persian trading posts at Kuwait and Bahrain in the 18th century. They failed in their attempts to conquer Muscat and Oman but then instead allied with them. The alliance then lead to Utibi horsemen protecting Arabic trading posts as far away as Zanzibar and Mombasa.
Oil was discovered in great quantities and the age of colonies was over as people like the Sabahs and the Sultan of Brunei were left in place. and protected by Britain. Imagine instead a colonist diamond rush as in Rhodesia or a gold rush as in California. That this did not happen is something that the anti colonialists would be at a loss to explain. That’s okay though, I am fairly sympathetic to the adventure of colonies and I am also at a loss.
Sabah III’s rule was part of the golden age of Kuwait. Iraq didn’t invade in his years. A tradition of the theatre was started that even today manifests itself with Kuwait produced soap operas being a middle east staple. He started the first sovereign wealth fund that acts sort of like a hedge fund with excess to needs government funds. I wonder who pockets the 2 percent a year and 20 percent of profits. Dangerous questions. His rule in 1973 also saw the peak of oil production.
Kuwait, despite avoiding being a colony, is not just for Kuwaitis. They are only a third of the population, with two thirds being foreign servants. Some thing tells me Britain and the USA are not done having to protect this anomaly.
Well my drink is empty and I am wondering if there will eventually be a new Congress of Berlin as in 1884 where instead of Africa the oil states are divided. Perhaps America will trade Aleppo in Syria for Kuwait. Come again tomorrow for another story that can be learned from stamp collecting.
T