The Ibrahim Salem Collection of Syria and Lebanon

Foreword

Ibrahim Salem is an old friend of mine, and we share the same hobbies and interests. Although we live apart, we remain in constant contact. Ibrahim is a rare kind of gentleman, honest, sincere, generous, and very meticulous in detail. He possesses an excellent knowledge of history, geography, art, and antiquities, and he has an eye that picks out minute details, which I consider amazing. It's no wonder that his beloved bird is the owl.

We shared great times related to our common hobby; we both learned from each other and enjoyed the time that flew by without feeling that we spent hours and hours, even though it wasn't enough. From the core of my heart, I enjoy every time we share things that we admire and love.

I am honored to write this forward to Mr. Salem's auction of the Levant (Lebanon & Syria), where collectors will see excellent material never seen before. I do admire his selective collection and the rarities that go back decades.

I wish Ibrahim success in his auction results, which he has built over five decades. In addition, I want to wish the bidders good luck and the winners a great congratulations. I am still wondering how Ibrahim can let these jewels leave his home, which he always considers his babies.

Winners from Ibrahim Salem's auction of the Levant will never regret what they paid for; it will be doubled or tripled in the near future.

Best regards to all.

Adnan Djaroueh
Beirut, 10 November 2025


Ibrahim Salem’s decades-long passion led him to amass one of the world’s most remarkable banknote collections. Yet, it was his commitment to sharing that knowledge that truly set him apart, establishing him as one of the most known and beloved figures among collectors.

To ensure the passion would continue across generations, Mr. Salem made the deliberate decision to pass his collection on, part by part, to new enthusiasts. Following the successful sales of his South America, African, British Commonwealth, North Africa, Libya, and Egypt collections, the time has come for his highly anticipated Levant Collection.

The Lebanese section is particularly notable, featuring many specimens including key dates, issued notes, colour trials, and a remarkable number of unissued designs and projects. Complementing this is the Syrian section, which offers not only specimens, colour trials, and unissued designs but also an almost complete collection of issued notes. Collectors have been waiting for this auction for a long time, and we anticipate a truly memorable event—one that may well set a record for the online sale of a Lebanese-Syrian collection.

On a personal level, I am deeply honored that he has trusted my book, the Professional Catalogue of Lebanese Banknotes, as a primary reference for his archival work on the banknotes of the Levant (Syria and Lebanon). Having been given the privilege of writing this foreword, I am sincerely grateful for his confidence and support and for the opportunity to recognize his incredible contributions to the field.

With deep respect and gratitude,

Ali Chour
Côte d’Ivoire, 10 November 2025


It is always a pleasure to write a foreword for an auction full of exceptionally fine material, but it is even more gratifying when the collector is someone you have known, liked and respected for many years. This is certainly the case with The Ibrahim Salem Collection of Syria and Lebanon. As an auctioneer I have had the good fortune to handle many of the world’s finest banknotes and the opportunity to see Ibrahim’s ‘Levant’ collection go under the hammer is tremendously exciting. I love the variety Ibrahim has assembled in this collection over the years and one has to give credit to the time and dedication it takes to build a collection of this scale.

The name Levant, translating as the rising of the sun in the east, immediately conjures images of a land of sun and spice. I cannot think of any countries to compare to the Levant in the variety and scale both in printing styles and in images. Open this catalogue to any page at random and you will be dazzled by the colourful and intricate designs showcasing the fusion of eastern and western cultures, the contrasting styles of Bradbury Wilkinson and Clement Serveau, vignettes of Biblical landscapes and Islamic culture.

I must mention a few personal favourites of my own. We really have to start with the inimitable ‘Carpet Note’, the Lebanese 100 Livres of 1945, is widely regarded as being one of the most beautiful banknotes ever produced for any country, and this collection boasts no less than five examples of various types. Other issued notes include a Bon de Caisse 5 Livres from Syria, in astonishingly high grade, and with the incredible serial number of 000009. Without doubt, one of the finest single notes in the collection. There are also issued examples of the incredibly rare Syrian 5 and 10 Livres of 1930 and for the true specialists amongst you, there is an incredible Syrian 25 Livres of 1947, without the Syrian Republic overprint. Only a minuscule number of these notes exist today.

Ibrahim has always loved material from the printers such as proofs, specimens and above all, artworks. There are many artworks and essays in the collection, but I am especially partial to the stunning design for a 100 Livres of 1958. This beautiful blue essay showcases everything that is best about the designs produced by the British printers of the era. From the earliest days of modern Syria comes a superb and fully intact specimen book for the Syrian issues of 1920, originally given to Monsieur Ginier Giljet, the head of note issuance at the Bank of France. However, saving the best till last, I have to mention the spectacular proof for 500 Piastres, designed by Lucien Jonas and featuring the conqueror Khalid ibn al-Walid mosque in Homs. This proof is nothing short of iconic, and ever since it first came to market around a decade ago, many collectors have been eagerly awaiting a second chance to bid for it.

I hope our clients will be drawn to the notes much as Ibrahim has been for many years. I have every expectation that if the notes in this catalogue can also create new collectors then Ibrahim will feel that his passion and dedication has been worthwhile.

As always, all that remains is for me to wish you all the very best of luck with your bids.

Barnaby Faull
London, 10 November 2025


Levant for me is not a usual name, as I was raised calling it Bilad Al-Sham (بلاد الشام), or Greater Syria, which includes what are today Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, and Jordan. Bilad Al-Sham forms the northern border of Arabia, just as Iraq forms its eastern border. The Levant has a civilization dating back more than sixty thousand years; it is a blend of cultures from Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Arabian Peninsula. Geographically, the Levant is the centre of the Old World, linking Asia, Europe, and Africa. For this reason, countless intruders and foreign civilizations have passed through this region, and many cultures have developed and flourished during the periods in which they occupied all or part of the Levant.

The Levant is well known worldwide as the land where many religions and messengers of God came, lived, or concluded their journeys. Despite the region’s rich multicultural fabric, its people have long shown respect for all religions, and this is reflected in their personal relationships and behavior within their societies—whether in cities, towns, or villages. For two thousand years, people lived here in harmony. Things changed drastically after the First and Second World Wars, which fractured this once homogeneous region into multiple societies that lost the unity, flavor, and harmony they once shared, largely due to political and colonial aggression and greed for its wealth, in what was once called the Fertile Crescent.

I was born in this region and lived most of my life here. I know almost every city and village within it, and I consider every part of it my hometown. The Levant offers incredible variety: seashores, valleys and mountains, forests and deserts, rivers and lakes, rich and poor—yet most people were happy and content. I feel deep sorrow for having witnessed the decades of dictatorship and inhumanity that forced tens of millions to leave Syria for Europe, Africa, or refugee camps. I hope that this marks the end of the human tragedy suffered by the Syrian people and that it will never be repeated. As for Lebanon, long considered the Riviera of the Middle East, its mosaic of ethnic groups, religions, politics, and foreign interference has sadly prevented it from enjoying the peace it knew in the mid-twentieth century. I sincerely hope that stability returns to Lebanon soon, and without another civil war.

I have always loved the French design of banknotes—whether issued for France or its colonies. They are beautifully designed, colourful, eye-catching, yet delicate. Over the years, they have become extremely difficult to find in good condition due to several factors, including paper quality, colonial usage, and the small quantities issued. French banknote design stands unmatched by any other country in the world. I have followed the French administration issues of the Levant, as well as French banknotes in general, for more than five decades. I have enjoyed every single piece, and each note carries a memory— its history and the way I acquired it.

It is difficult for me to see this collection leave me after such a long time, but it is the nature of life that everything has its limit. I believe the time has come for this precious collection to find a new home and a new pair of careful hands to handle it with the utmost care. It is very important to delve into the details and distinguish between Syria and Lebanon in terms of design, engraving, colours, history, and mysteries, among others. You may wish to consult reputable reference books on Syrian and Lebanese paper money and coins from times of peace and war.

I highly recommend that interested bidders visit my personal website, where they will find all my previous publications available in PDF format at www.ibrahimsalem.com. I wish all bidders the best of luck, and I hope that this catalogue, together with my archival book “The Banknotes of the Levant – The Ibrahim Salem Collection,” proves valuable and enlightening.

Regards,

Ibrahim Salem
Dubai, 20 Nov 2025