came out in 1949 to mark the 75th anniversary of the Universal Postal Union. Faisal's 1953 coronation was also marked by a set of three, along with a souvenir sheet. The last of the Faisal definitives had only partly appeared before the revolution of 1958, and both issued and unissued types were overprinted. Republic General Qassim's period was noted by the usual round of commemoratives, many featuring him as benevolent leader. Later presidents also appeared, though less frequently. Saddam Hussein, as vice-president, makes a first appearance in a souvenir sheet of 1976, and by the mid-1980s appeared on a great many Iraqi stamps. Post-Saddam era The 2003 invasion of Iraq brought the stamp program to a sudden halt, the last Saddam-era issue being a Saddam University stamp on 5 February 2003. Two additional issues were planned, themed "Old Methods of Transportation" and "Popular Industries", and proofs had been made. The printing works were destroyed in the looting, but not the Post Office building, and the proofs survived. The Coalition Provisional Authority subsequently approved the printing of the Transportation stamps, and they were issued 29 January 2004. In the meantime, overprints appeared on various stamps, but none were officially authorized. Fantasies and bogus issues Beginning in 1963 a number of Iraqi stamps appeared overprinted "AT TAWAL", supposedly for "Al Tawal" the so-called neutral zones between Iraq and Saudi Arabia. These were a student hoax that continued until 1970. See also Iraqi Telecommunications and Post Company List of people on stamps of Iraq Iraq Stamps Blog / Fantasy Iraq Stamps References and sources References Sources Pearson, Patrick and E.B. Proud, The Postal History of Iraq. Proud-Bailey, 1996 . Armitage, Douglas & Robert Johnson. Iraq Postal History 1920s to 1940s. Rossiter Trust, May 2009. Stanley Gibbons Ltd: various catalogues. Encyclopaedia of Postal Authorities Rossiter, Stuart & John Flower. The Stamp Atlas. London: Macdonald, 1986. Philately of Iraq