Egyptian Revolution

One thing that stamps teach us is history. One thing that history teaches us is that just as things change, so they remain the same.

The second Egyptian revolution of 1952 brought about the end of King Farouk and established a modern republic. This was a move promoted and sponsored by the United States and Soviet Union, who wanted an end to British colonial interests associated with a so-called puppet monarchy. The revolution involved a range of opposition movements led by the Free Officers Movement and including the Muslim Brotherhood. The latter was outlawed as the new regime took shape, leading to a difficult transition of civil inrest and street protests. Nasser was a key figure in the revolution and emerged as the second Egyptian president and key sponsor of the modern state.

July 23 1952 was the date the coup started, and this is commemorated with the central stamp in the image. Farouk's legacy was literally obliterated - as the thick bars through his image on the stamp above illustrate.

Hopefully one day, January 25 2011 will be marked in the same way - a stamp issue for the day that Egyptian history turned again.

commemorate ~ January 25 ~ the day ~ history was made ~ again