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Peace did not come to the island
with the independence, in 1960, from Britain. Fighting between two communities
broke out in December 1963 and, within months, a de facto separation of the two
peoples had emerged with the Turkish-Cypriots concentrated in a number of
enclaves scattered throughout the island.
The simplest way to study the
resultant Turkish-Cypriot postal services is to examine them stage by stage. The
postal services were commenced on the morning of 6 January 1964. Post Offices in
the Turkish sectors of Famagusta, Larnaca, Limassol, Paphos, Kyrenia and Lefke
were opened on the same date, although there was little postal activity in and
around Nicosia. The Turkish-Cypriot Administration introduced a handstamp on the
same date to cancel ordinary Cyprus adhesive stamps with the words "Kibris
Turks Postalari" (Turkish Cypriot Postal Services).
As the bulk of the Republic's
stocks of stamps were held in Ataturk Square post office there was no lack of
supplies. The handstamp had a fixed commemorative date 6.1.64 at the base of the
design. The Administra- tion also introduced a second type, which had a star in
place of the date. Although the same types of handstamp were used in all areas,
they are distinguishable due to their having been handmade; the imperfections
identify the towns where each was made.
Table below shows Kibris Turk Postalari
cancellations that have been definitely identified.
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