This is just the picture postcard for
Christmas Greetings.
The view is of Bethlehem and the note, "Merry Christmas to all.," is
dated Dec. 25, 05.
The card was mailed from the Austrian Post Office in Jerusalem.
The first Austrian post office was set up in Galata in Constantinople
in 1748.
The right of resident foreigners to run their own postal services grew
from the 'Capitulations.'
These were extra-territorial rights negotiated in treaties for purpose
of trade since 1535.
The Austrian post office rights were included in a treaty negotiated in
1739.
The post office in Jerusalem was established in 1867.
The card is franked with a stamp made from the frame of the 10h rose
Austrian
stamp of 1901 with varnish bars overprinted in black 20 PARA 20 both at
the top and bottom.
This stamp was issued in 1903 for Austrian post offices in the Turkish
Empire (Scott 40a).
The stamp was cancelled with a JERUSALEM | OSTERR. POST CDS.
The card bears a purple oval handstamp from the Grand New Hotel
indicating that the hotel handled the card on the way to the post
office.
The destination of the card was Slatington, Pennsylvania.
Surprisingly, Slatington is only about 22 km northwest of
Bethlehem in Pennsylvania.
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, is about 75 km north northwest of Philadelphia.
The Slatington receiving handstamp indicates it arrival on January 15,
1906.
And with that, a Merry Christmas to
everyone!
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