Stamps of French West Africa

Separate issues of stamps in the French colonies of Dahomey, French Guinea, French Sudan, Ivory Coast, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal and Upper Volta were superseded in 1944 by stamps inscribed ‘Afrique Occidentale Francais’. Hitherto stamps with this inscription or the abbreviation AOF had been used in these territories, but distinctive designs and the names of the colonies had been featured. A series for the Free French was followed in 1947 by a series depicting the scenery and peoples of the various regions. The 30c stamp shows a girl by the submersible bridge over the Bamako River in French Sudan. The stamps of French West Africa were gradually phased out in 1958 – 1959 as the component territories became independent and resumed separate issues of stamps.

Dahomey issued its own stamps from 1899 to 1944 while under French colonial administration. The colonial key plates of 1899 – 1900 were superseded by the West Africa omnibus designs in 1906 – 1907 and these, in turn, gave way to a distinctive series showing a native climbing a palm tree.

Guinea became an independent republic in October 1958 but did not begin issuing its own stamps until the following year. A set of four stamps and two miniature sheets were issued in October 1964 to mark the New York World’s Fair. The stamps depicted the Guinea pavilion while the miniature sheets showed the Unisphere with the Guinea pavilion in the background. The stamps were reissued the following year in new colours with the date ‘1965’ incorporated in the design. Since independence, Guinea has changed its definitive series at frequent intervals, using various themes.  The series of 1971 illustrates various fish in denominations from 5 to 200f.

The independent Islamic republic of Mauritania began issuing its own stamps in 1960. The stamps reflect a catholicity of taste and interest, ranging from Soviet space achievements to Old Master paintings. The stamp portraying Martin Luther King was one of a pair of November 1968 dedicated to ‘Apostles of Peace’. The other stamps portrayed Mahatma Gandhi. Since independence, Mauritania has issued numerous short thematic sets. A series from June 1965 was devoted to tourism and archaeology.