British Commonwealth
African Stamps
At one time, many African countries were part of the British Commonwealth until Harold Macmillan’s ‘wind of change’ swept independence across the Continent. Appropriate, therefore, to begin in West Africa at the Gold Coast. Its first stamps were issued on 1 July 1875 (interestingly, the centenary was not commemorated) and now command high prices unused. Gold Coast stamp designs were modest, with pictorials only being introduced in 1938. On 6 March 1957, it would be the first of a new swathe of independent countries, thereafter known as Ghana. The ‘wind of change’ certainly blew across Ghana as stamp issues became more colourful and frequent, establishing a trend that extended to many other countries.
Countries such as Sierra Leone, issued stamps from 21 September 1859, producing some fine designs along the way including the sought-after Centenary of the Abolition of Slavery set of 1933. Independence came on 27 April 1961, but it would be two years before the philatelic possibilities started to emerge, including the world’s first self-adhesive postage stamps issued on 10 February 1964.
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A Brief History of African Stamps
Sierra Leone
Countries such as Sierra Leone, issued stamps from 21 September 1859, producing some fine designs along the way including the sought-after Centenary of the Abolition of Slavery set of 1933. Independence came on 27 April 1961, but it would be two years before the philatelic possibilities started to emerge, including the world’s first self-adhesive postage stamps issued on 10 February 1964.
Kut
The first stamps of Uganda, first issued on 20 March 1895, are unusual in that they were typewritten, and are highly priced, especially if postally used. Typeset versions appeared the following year and are also scarce. Stamps showing Queen Victoria and inscribed Uganda Protectorate were issued in November 1898, while two values (½ anna and 2½ anna) of the 1896 British East Africa Protectorate set were overprinted ‘OGANDA’ in February 1902.
The postal administrations of Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika were amalgamated on 1 January 1933 resulting in stamps suitably inscribed appearing from 1 May 1935. The combined name was changed to Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania in 1965.
Rhodesia
Stamps for the British South Africa Company were introduced on 2 January 1892 and for Rhodesian stamps, the inscription continued past the official recognition of Rhodesia as a South African state in 1979. The overprint ‘RHODESIA’ was added in 1909, and stamps inscribed both 'British South Africa Company' and 'Rhodesia' were issued on 13 November 1910.
Stamps inscribed Nyasaland Protectorate were first issued on 22 July 1908, the name being reduced to Nyasaland in 1934. On independence on 5 July 1964, the country's name changed to Malawi. Following the division of Rhodesia into Southern Rhodesia and Northern Rhodesia, distinctive stamps were issued: for Southern Rhodesia from 1 April 1924, and for Northern Rhodesia one year later. Thus it remained until a period from 1 July 1954 until 19 February 1964 when stamps inscribed Rhodesia & Nyasaland were released.
Southern Rhodesia
In October 1964 Southern Rhodesia was renamed Rhodesia, as reflected on the stamps. On 11 November 1965 came the unilateral declaration of independence, with a special stamp and overprinted definitive: these were not recognised as valid stamps by the British Post Office. The country formally became independent on 18 April 1980, being renamed Zimbabwe. Over the years the country’s rampant inflation has become all too evident from its stamp issues.
Stanley Gibbons Journal
Stampex International 2024
November 2024
