Israel postage stamps year 1977 Red Sea Shells set

Israel postage stamps year 1977 Red Sea Shells set MNH(**)

🇮🇱 Israel — 1977 “Red Sea Shells” Stamp Set

📅 Issue Details

• Country: Israel
• Year of issue: 13 December 1977
• Theme: Shells from the Red Sea — stylized illustrations of sea shells native to the Red Sea coast of Israel.

📦 Stamps in the Set

This series typically consists of 4 different postage stamps featuring various shell species.
Each design shows a detailed, colorful illustration of a different shell type, with the word “ISRAEL” in both Hebrew and English and the face value shown in Israeli currency:

• Stamp 1: Often depicting Cryptopecten pallium or similar Red Sea shell species.
• Stamp 2: Another shell type with a distinct pattern.
• Stamp 3: Additional Red Sea mollusk.
• Stamp 4: Often a Lioconcha castrensis shell.

The set is widely listed under Michel catalogue numbers 726–729 (sometimes noted with tab if the selvage with text is present).

📌 Design & Production

• Designer/Engraver: Arye Glaser (typical for fauna and nature themes).
• Printer: E. Lewin-Epstein Ltd., Bat Yam, Israel.
• Perforation: Comb perforation 14.
• Paper: Regular with phosphor tagging (fluorescent stripes for machine sorting).
• Gum: Traditional water-activated gum.

📨 Collector and Usage Notes

• These stamps were issued for regular postage use but are also popular with thematic collectors of marine life and shells.
• They are frequently sold mint never hinged (MNH), sometimes with tabs (extra selvage printed text at bottom).
• First Day Covers (FDCs) with special Red Sea cancellations are collectible and occasionally seen on auction sites.