The Cedars of God resort - 15 piastre

The Cedars of God resort (تزلج بين الأرز) near Bcharre is one of the oldest and most prestigious ski destinations in the Middle East. High in the Mount Lebanon range, the slopes surround the ancient grove of Lebanon Cedars (Cedrus libani), which has served as the national symbol of Lebanon for centuries. From the 1930s onward and accelerating after independence—winter sports became a major driver of international tourism in Lebanon, earning the country a reputation as a unique Mediterranean destination where one could ski in the snow-capped mountains and swim in the sea on the same day.

To promote winter tourism and international travel, the Republic of Lebanon (الجمهورية اللبنانية) issued this 5 piastre airmail stamp (البريد الجوي) as part of its mid-20th-century pictorial definitive series. Designed by V. Pliiss and printed in Beirut by Imp. J. Saikali, the stamp depicts skiers navigating the mountain slopes past a towering Lebanon cedar, with a commercial airliner overhead highlighting Lebanon’s status as a premier tourist hub connected by modern air travel.