Originally part of the Ottoman Empire located at the southern tip of the Red Sea and strategically of great Military importance controlling the entrance to the Red Sea and later the Suez.

British Royal Marines landed January 1839 and British Military & Navy remained in occupation, later joined by RAF personnel.

During WW1 Turkish military forces invaded from the North and got as far South as Lahej before British/Indian military forces repelled them.

From 1964 to the end of 1967 after bitter urban and hinterland fighting British Military forces pulled out at the end of November 1967.

Aden is now part of Yemen, impoverished and embroiled in a long, bitter and seemingly never ending Civil war.

The first stamps of Aden which dipicted a Dhow were issued in 1937 prior to that stamps of India were used commencing with the India lithograph 1a placed on sale at Crater from 10 October 1854. These early issues of Indian stamps used from Aden are much in demand.