2023International Mail from Eretz Israel - Sea Mail - Plate block of 4

In the 1840’s, Eretz Israel was a far-flung and meaningless part of the Ottoman Empire, with no organized transportation, trade or postal ties with the outside world. Foreign ships did not dock in Eretz Israel and the only way to get anywhere in the world was to travel by land via neighboring countries. Letters from overseas came into Beirut or Alexandria, and from there private messengers brought them to recipients.