Kuwait - Travel/Philately/Numismatics/Memorabilia Profile

Kuwait, a country in the Northeast of the Arabian Peninsula bordered by Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Persian Gulf has a total land area of 6880 square miles and a population of over 3.56 million. Kuwait is classified as a high-income economy thanks to its immense oil wealth. Kuwait’s foreign policy of constructive cooperation and non-intervention has made it a staunch ally of the US. Other major industries are shipping, financial services, construction and water desalination. The government is keen on altering its oil-heavy image to that of a trading and tourism hub. Before striking it rich with oil, pearling was the major contributor to the economy, which was key to developing marine trade routes and thus ‘dhows’ (wooden boats made from teak) came to be.

Travel Resources:

The best time to visit Kuwait is from November to April for then the nights are cooler. The major attractions of the place are the Kuwait Towers, Liberation Tower, Kuwait Mosques, Sadu House, National Museum, Bayt Al-Badr, and the Zoological Park. Other than seafood, Kuwait heavily depends on food imports. Kuwaiti cuisine is an amalgam of  Arabian, European and South Asian cuisines.


ResourceISBN or ASINBest PriceDescription
Lonely Planet Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar978-1864501322$20Twelve maps including a full-color regional map. Political, Historical, and Cultural Introduction along with accommodation & restaurant options and helpful advice to get around.
Kuwait and Kuwait City Map by International Travel Maps978-1553412816$131:390,000 scale. Kuwait City Inset Map at 1:15,000 scale.
Kuwait Adapter Plug B, D, and GUFB001FDC7BQ$16


Philatelic Profile:

The first stamps of Kuwait were a set of fifteen stamps released between 1923 and 1924 and were ‘Kuwait’ overprints on Indian issues showing King George V (KGV). The set (Scott #1 to #15) catalogs for around $350 mint and around $900 used. After World War I, Kuwait became an independent Sheikdom under the protectorate of the British Empire. The Gulf Rupee issued by the Reserve Bank of India was the currency in Kuwait at the time. Three other sets of Indian KGV sets were issued during the period till 1945. The sets (Scott #17 to #35, #45 to #57, and #59 to #71) are valuable fetching well into the hundreds.

British Postal Administration issues with ‘Kuwait’ and denomination overprints formed the stamp issues of Kuwait until 1959. Some of these sets are reasonably valuable while others can be had for a few dollars. The most valuable set during this period were a set of three stamps released between 1950 and 1951 which were overprints on Great Britain Issues (Scott #286 to #288). The set (Scott #93 to #101) catalogs for around $80 MNH and $30 used.

Other issues of Kuwait enjoying good philatelic interest include:
  1. A set of thirteen stamps released on February 1, 1959 in the local scenes theme. The set (Scott #140 to #152) catalogs for around $30 MNH and $8 used. This set was the first original issues of Kuwait. The designs show pipe lines, Main Square in Kuwait, dhow, derrick, and Sheik, mosque and Sheik, and oil plant at Burgan and Sheik. Kuwait’s oil resources were discovered in the late 1930s. Kuwait has over 100 Billion barrels of proven crude oil reserves which is about 10% of the world’s reserves. Before oil discovery, the country was relatively poor with limited resources – pearl farming formed the major industry. Today, the oil revenue has made it the fifth richest country in the world.
  2. A long set of nineteen stamps released on February 1, 1964 showing a portrait of Sheik Abdullah. The set (Scott #225 to #243) catalogs for around $50 MNH and $10 used. Abdullah III Al-Salim Al-Sabah was the last Sheikh and the first Emiro of Kuwait. After attaining independence from the British on June 19, 1961, he introduced the Constitution of Kuwait in 1962 and the Parliament in 1963. Soon after, he declared himself as Emir and head of state. He died following a heart attack in 1965. A few other sets portraying the Sheik’s of Kuwait were issued over the years and the sets are relatively highly valued.
  3. A long set of eight blocks of four stamps released on December 1, 1973 in the Birds theme. The set (Scott #583 to #590) catalogs for around $120 MNH or used. The designs show mourning dove, Eurasian hoopoe, rock dove, stone curlew, great gray shrike, red-backed shrike, rufous-backed shrike, blacked-naped oriole, willow warbler, great reed warbler, blackcap, barn swallow, rock thrush, European redstart, wheatear, bluethroat, Houbara bustard, pin-tailed sandgrouse, ypecaha wood rail, spotted crake, American sparrow hawk, great black-backed gull, purple heron, wryneck, European bee-eater, goshawk, gray wagtail, pied wagtail, crossbows, tent-shaped net, hand net, and rooftop trap.
  4. A long sheet of forty two stamps and a souvenir sheet released on July 25, 1991 to mark the Liberation of Kuwait. The set (Scott #1150a-ap and #1151) catalogs for around $70 MNH or used. The designs show the flags of the forces who joined the international coalition against Iraq for the liberation of Kuwait: Sweden, USSR, USA, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, UN, Singapore, France, Italy, Egypt, Morocco, UK, Philippines, UAE, Syria, Poland, Australia, Japan, Hungary, Netherlands, Denmark, New Zealand, Czechoslovakia, Bahrain, Honduras, Turkey, Greece, Oman, Qatar, Belgium, Sierra Leone, Argentina, Norway, Canada, Germany, South Korea, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Senegal, Spain, Niger, Pakistan, and all forces of coalition.
Numismatic Profile:

The first coins of Kuwait were Copper Baizas issued during the Al Sabah Dynasty in 1886 showing Abdallah Ibn Sabah and Date in Obverse. The issue is very rare. In the modern era, Kuwait started issuing coins in 1961 with the issue of Nickel-Brass Fils showing Value within Circle in Obverse and Ship with Sails in Reverse. The issue has high mintage (2M) and catalogs for less than two dollars in UNC. The proof version has very low mintage (60) and catalogs for around $30. Kuwait started issuing commemorative gold coins in 1981 denominated in Dinars.

Numismatic items of Kuwait include:


ItemPrice RangeDescription
Coins$2 and upCommon UNC Fils start around $2. Recent UNC Year Sets start around $10. Commemorative Silver Proofs start around $50. Solid Silver Proof Sets and Gold Plated 100 piece sets go well into the 100s.
Paper Money$3 and upCommon UNCs starts around $3. Shaikh Sabah issues of the 1960s in VF start around $10. High Value UNCs, low serial numbers, etc start around $50. Replacements, Scare Dates, etc go well into the 100s. Bundles, Specimen Sets, etc go into the 1000s.


Collectible Memorabilia:

Visitors tend to buy packed sweets, ethnic handicrafts of Bedouins, head band and cloth, coins and stamps as souvenirs.



Last Updated: 12/2015.

No comments :

Labels

401k ( 15 ) Abad Turtle Beach ( 1 ) Abrams Capital Management ( 5 ) Acoustic Electric Guitars ( 1 ) Acoustic Guitars ( 1 ) ACT ( 1 ) Activist ( 4 ) Address Change ( 2 ) Advanced Placement ( 4 ) air asia ( 2 ) airlines ( 2 ) Akre Capital Management ( 18 ) Alex Roepers ( 5 ) AP ( 4 ) apartments ( 2 ) Appaloosa ( 15 ) ARIUS ( 1 ) Arlington Value Capital ( 3 ) Atlantic Investment Management ( 5 ) Ayemenem ( 1 ) Bangalore ( 3 ) Bangkok ( 2 ) Bannerghatta National Park ( 1 ) barbuda ( 2 ) Battery Park ( 1 ) Baupost ( 2 ) Baupost Group ( 17 ) bay area ( 2 ) BDCs ( 3 ) Benjamin Graham ( 2 ) Benjamin Graham Model ( 2 ) Berijam Lake ( 2 ) Berkshire Hathaway ( 35 ) best sites ( 9 ) Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation ( 41 ) Bill Ackman ( 19 ) Bill Gates ( 40 ) Blue Ridge Capital ( 16 ) Blum Capital Partners ( 12 ) books ( 4 ) Boone Pickens ( 2 ) BP Capital Management ( 2 ) Brave Warrior ( 3 ) Brave Warrior Advisors ( 16 ) british honduras ( 2 ) Bruce Berkowitz ( 19 ) Bruce Fund ( 38 ) Camcorders ( 3 ) canada ( 4 ) cancun ( 3 ) CANROYs ( 7 ) Cantillon ( 12 ) carl icahn ( 9 ) Carl Ichan ( 8 ) casino ( 3 ) Casio ( 2 ) CBRE ( 2 ) CEF ( 2 ) Charles Akre ( 15 ) Charlie Munger ( 40 ) Chase Coleman ( 16 ) Chou Associates ( 29 ) Christmas gifts ( 7 ) Christopher H. Browne ( 7 ) Chuck Akre ( 13 ) Cisco ( 2 ) Class Action Settlements ( 2 ) CLEP ( 1 ) Coatue Management ( 28 ) Cochin ( 2 ) coin collecting ( 266 ) collectibles ( 266 ) Consumer Product Reviews ( 29 ) cook islands ( 2 ) coonoor ( 2 ) Covered Calls ( 2 ) credai ( 4 ) Daily Journal ( 37 ) Dalal Street ( 8 ) Dan Loeb ( 10 ) DAT ( 1 ) David Abrams ( 5 ) David Einhorn ( 22 ) David Swensen ( 17 ) David Tepper ( 15 ) David Winters ( 15 ) DCF ( 2 ) Digital Piano ( 3 ) Dinakar Singh ( 20 ) Donald Yacktman ( 10 ) dry bulk shipping ( 2 ) Duquesne ( 34 ) Education ( 37 ) Edward Lampert ( 21 ) Egerton Capital ( 39 ) Egypt ( 3 ) Elementary Education ( 10 ) Elementary School Textbooks ( 5 ) eReaders ( 2 ) Eric Mindich ( 13 ) ESL Investments ( 14 ) ESPP ( 6 ) ETF ( 2 ) ETN ( 2 ) Eton Park ( 13 ) Everyday Musings ( 58 ) Exam Prep ( 7 ) Exiting the rat race - how to? ( 19 ) EXPLORE ( 1 ) Fair Value Estimates ( 4 ) Fairfax Financial ( 4 ) Fairfax Financial Holdings ( 14 ) Fairholme ( 19 ) Fairpointe ( 28 ) Family Office ( 18 ) FD Laddering ( 1 ) Financial Independence ( 93 ) Fisher Asset Management ( 10 ) Flash Camcorders ( 3 ) flat ( 4 ) flats ( 2 ) Flip ( 3 ) Francis Chou ( 29 ) free ( 17 ) frugal ( 3 ) Frugal Living ( 34 ) Fund Holdings ( 961 ) futures ( 2 ) FVE ( 2 ) gambling ( 3 ) garmin ( 2 ) Genting ( 2 ) george soros ( 27 ) giveaway ( 15 ) Glenn Greenberg ( 20 ) Glenview Capital ( 14 ) GMAT ( 1 ) Google ( 2 ) Gotham Asset Management ( 7 ) gps ( 5 ) GRE ( 1 ) Greenlight Capital ( 22 ) Guitars ( 3 ) Half Marathon ( 2 ) Hawaii ( 2 ) Hedge Funds ( 1154 ) HELOC ( 1 ) High School Education ( 7 ) High School Textbooks ( 6 ) HOA ( 3 ) hobby ( 17 ) holiday shopping ( 7 ) Holidays ( 3 ) Holyland ( 11 ) Home Improvement ( 2 ) home ownership ( 5 ) Homes ( 18 ) Homeschool ( 18 ) Houses ( 2 ) Housing ( 3 ) Hykon ( 2 ) Ian Cumming ( 15 ) Icahn Enterprises ( 6 ) india real estate ( 5 ) Infinuvo ( 6 ) Insurance ( 3 ) invesco ( 17 ) investing strategies ( 3 ) Investment Portfolio ( 96 ) Investment Research ( 10 ) Investments ( 7 ) iRobot ( 5 ) Irving Kahn ( 13 ) israel ( 5 ) Jason Maynard ( 10 ) Jefferies ( 2 ) Jeffrey Bruce ( 39 ) Jeffrey Ubben ( 23 ) Jerusalem ( 2 ) Jim Chanos ( 20 ) Joel Greenblatt ( 7 ) John Armitage ( 40 ) John Griffin ( 16 ) John Paulson ( 17 ) Joho Capital ( 19 ) Jordan ( 3 ) Joseph Steinberg ( 9 ) Julian Robertson ( 4 ) Kahn Brothers ( 14 ) Kakkanad ( 4 ) Kanyakumari ( 2 ) Kawai ( 2 ) Ken Fisher ( 10 ) kerala real estate ( 5 ) Kids ( 49 ) Kids Yamaha ( 3 ) Kindle ( 2 ) kochi ( 8 ) Kodaikanal ( 2 ) Korg ( 2 ) Kraft ( 2 ) Kuala Lumpur ( 2 ) KWA ( 2 ) Kynikos ( 20 ) laptop ( 5 ) Larry Robbins ( 14 ) Las Vegas ( 2 ) Leon Cooperman ( 30 ) Leucadia ( 2 ) Leucadia National ( 13 ) Lone Pine Capital ( 9 ) long ( 6 ) long call ( 2 ) long puts ( 3 ) Lou Simpson ( 15 ) LSAT ( 1 ) Mahabalipuram ( 2 ) Malaysia ( 3 ) Marathon ( 2 ) Mark McGoldrick ( 10 ) Markel ( 23 ) Mason Hawkins ( 4 ) MCAT ( 1 ) Melinda Gates ( 31 ) memorabilia ( 266 ) MFP Investors ( 37 ) Michael Dell ( 22 ) Michael Price ( 40 ) Middle School Education ( 4 ) Middle School Textbooks ( 3 ) Mini Notebook ( 3 ) MODUS ( 1 ) Mohnish Pabrai ( 22 ) mortgage ( 2 ) Mount Kellett ( 10 ) MSD Capital ( 22 ) Music ( 6 ) Mutual Funds ( 8 ) mysore ( 2 ) Nelson Peltz ( 13 ) Netbook ( 4 ) Notebook ( 3 ) numismatics ( 266 ) O-Duster ( 1 ) Oahu ( 2 ) offers ( 2 ) Ole Andreas Halvorsen ( 10 ) Omega Advisors ( 29 ) online tax ( 4 ) ooty ( 2 ) Options ( 4 ) Pabrai Fund ( 17 ) passive income ( 7 ) pattaya ( 2 ) Paulson & Company ( 7 ) Paulson and Company ( 9 ) PEG ( 2 ) Pershing Square ( 19 ) Phil Fisher ( 5 ) philately ( 283 ) Philippe Laffont ( 28 ) Piano ( 9 ) PLAN Test ( 1 ) portfolio ( 4 ) Prem Watsa ( 17 ) product reviews ( 13 ) Property Taxes ( 2 ) PSAT ( 1 ) R2I ( 24 ) R2I Finances ( 3 ) R2I Housing ( 5 ) Raising Kids ( 41 ) Rat Race ( 15 ) RBS Partners ( 19 ) reading ( 5 ) real estate ( 6 ) Reducing Expenses ( 2 ) REIT ( 3 ) Retirement Portfolio ( 9 ) Reviews ( 81 ) Richard C. Blum ( 12 ) Robert Bruce ( 39 ) Robert Karr ( 19 ) Robotic Vacuum ( 4 ) Roland ( 2 ) Roomba ( 10 ) schooling ( 2 ) Sears ( 12 ) seeking alpha ( 2 ) Services - Reviews ( 33 ) Seth Klarman ( 19 ) Shipping ( 5 ) Shopping ( 3 ) short ( 5 ) short calls ( 2 ) short put ( 2 ) short puts ( 2 ) short selling ( 13 ) Ski ( 5 ) Sled ( 4 ) Solar Stocks ( 13 ) Soros Fund Management ( 14 ) Southeastern Asset Management ( 4 ) Southwest ( 2 ) spin-offs ( 2 ) SQ Advisors ( 15 ) stamp collecting ( 283 ) Stanley Druckenmiller ( 33 ) Statue of Liberty ( 2 ) Stephen Mandel ( 9 ) Stock Analysis ( 84 ) Stock Investments ( 4 ) Stock Portfolio Updates ( 6 ) stocks ( 3 ) summer ( 2 ) tax ( 7 ) TaxAct ( 3 ) TaxCut ( 1 ) Teacher's Editions ( 5 ) Technology ( 5 ) Test Prep ( 11 ) Thailand ( 3 ) Thekkady ( 2 ) theme park ( 2 ) Third Point ( 10 ) Thomas Gayner ( 40 ) Thyra Zerhusen ( 29 ) Tiger Cub ( 34 ) Tiger Global ( 17 ) Tiger Management ( 13 ) Time Square ( 2 ) TOEFL ( 1 ) TPG-Axon ( 20 ) Travel ( 278 ) Travel Reviews ( 82 ) Trian Fund Holdings ( 9 ) trip report ( 21 ) TurboTax ( 3 ) Tweedy Browne ( 10 ) Vacations ( 28 ) value investing ( 25 ) ValueAct ( 9 ) ValueAct Holdings ( 6 ) Vancouver ( 2 ) Video ( 3 ) Viking Global ( 10 ) Wallace Weitz ( 14 ) Warren Buffett ( 32 ) Wayanad ( 4 ) Weitz Investment Management ( 13 ) wilbur ross ( 17 ) William Von Mueffling ( 12 ) Wintergreen Advisors ( 15 ) Yacktman Asset Management ( 10 ) Yale Endowment ( 17 ) Yale University ( 7 ) Yamaha ( 7 ) YDP ( 1 ) YPG ( 1 )