These are all plates that were obtained direct from Egypt in the 1960s by one of the earlier American collectors. They are all cast aluminium and there is one of each type. There may even be more than this, I do not know.
I am not sure if they were made by a Syrian or Lebanese casting company but I do not think there was a plate casting industry in Egypt in the 1960s although cast plates were used there until the 1940s.
There has never been any sign of this type of plate actually being used in Egypt and I am sure these are a set of manufacturer’s samples. The same type of officially issued pressed plates were used from 1956 to the 1980s and owner provided plates were always painted sheet metal.
Very pretty though and a great shame Egypt didn’t use this system!
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