24γράμματα:, Αγγλικά, Ιστορικά γεγονότα, Καστελλόριζο
KASTELLORIZON / CASTELROSSO και Φιλοτελισμός
Mar
24grammata.com/ αγγλικά/ ιστορία
Also Castellorizo, Meyisti. Above: Greek/Italian, Turkish: Meis, ancient name: Megiste. 125 km east of Rhodes, 2½ km off coast of Turkey (nearest town: Kas), 9 sq. km, 273 m high, population 5 000 (1910, 15 000 in 19th century, 2 200 in 1936, now only 200). In 1943–4 he population, entirely Greek, was removed and many houses were destroyed in an explosion (compare the pictures). Most islanders have emigrated to Australia and other countries. Medieval Crusader castle, Blue Cave and other sights. When the rest of the Dodecanese islands were occupied by Italian forces in May 1912 Kastellorizon remained nominally Turkish. On 1 Jan. 1913 the inhabitants, however, declared the island to be part of Greece and Greek soldiers from Samos arrived (left in Oct. 1915). Turkey did not react.
On 24 Dec. 1915 the French Navy, First Fleet Third Squadron, occupied the island; Greece protests. In 1917 Turkish shore-based artillery sunk the British seaplane carrier Ben-my-Chree here. By Treaty of Sèvres 1920 Turkey ceded Kastellorizon to Italy, effective 1 March 1921, and on 21 Aug. 1921 the French Navy set sail. In the 1920s–30s it was a seaplane stop-over. Occupied by the Germans in 1944 and by the British in 1943 and 1945. In March 1947 the administration of all the Dodecanese was taken over by Greece. In the 1960s Greece offered Kastellorizon to Turkey in exchange for Enosis (union with Cyprus). Important for the Levantine timber trade and freight in the 19th century, fishing and (yacht) tourists now means a lot. In 1986 a 799 m airstrip was constructed and in 2003 the tiny island was the scene of the meeting of European Union foreign ministers. A good web site.
Turkish postmark. 1913–15 ordinary Greek (and this) stamps were used. In July 1913 a set of 12 stamps were overprinted vertically, but this is not an official issue. After 1915 French Levant stamps (1–50 c) were sold in Kastellorizon. Only in 1920 did the French issue special, locally overprinted stamps for this island. A fourth set was made in the last minute, and is considered bogus. The Italians produced five Castelrosso sets; otherwise the general Egeo issues were current. During the British occupation 1945–47 GB stamps overprinted M.E.F., and in 1947 Greek with S.D.D., were used in the Dodecanese. You can see samples of the stamps here. A modern Greek stamp, and a modern bogus one.