History of Benin Post and Postage Stamps

On the territory of coastal Benin, captured by the French and considered in 1889-1899 a separate colony of France ^{[5] [6]} , the postal stamps of the metropolis and universal issues for the French colonies ^[2] , which were in use in Porto Novo starting from 1888 ^{[7] [8]} . By the same time belong the preserved postmarks with the inscription “BENIN” (“Benin”), which marked the postal items from Aquoua, Cotonou , Gran Popo , Porto Novo and Uida ^[8] .

In 1899, the Benin colony was included in the French colony of Dahomey ^{[2] [3]} , which lasted for 1899-1958.

Until 1899, probably, there were only military offices in the northern regions of this country. The postal stamps of the provinces of French Sudan in 1899-1900 are also known, on which the words fr. Haut Dahomey (Upper Dahomey). These stamps were also used after the provinces were separated ^[8] .

By 1915, there were 30 colonial post offices in Dahomey ^[8] . From 1944 to 1960, the issue of their own Dagomean stamps for postal needs was suspended and postage stamps of French West Africa were in circulation ^[9] .

On August 1, 1960, Dahomey declared independence from France ^{[2] [9]} and on April 27, 1961 became one of the member countries of the UPU ^[4] . In the 1960s and 1970s, Dahomey was a party to the , within the framework of which measures were taken to streamline the market relations of African states with the European Economic Community , including in the field of postal services ^{[10] [^]} .

Colonial Period

French Benin

The first own stamps for the French colony of Benin came into circulation in 1892 ^{[2] [3]} . They were French colonial stamps, on which the text “Bénin” was imprinted . Subsequently, also postage stamps of the original drawings with the same inscription ^[3] were issued. On the French colonial type stamps issued in 1893 and 1894, two distinct territory names were given - Golfe de Bénin (Bay of Benin) ^[≡] and Bénin (Benin) , respectively ^[2] .

In total, from 1892 to 1894, 42 postage stamps of this colony were issued ^[3] .

French Dahomey

The first stamps of the colonial post of Dahomey were issued in 1899 ^{[2] [9]} . Among the postage stamps for Dahomey, there are also colonial-type stamps with an imprinted name of the country ^[≡] .

The first commemorative stamps were published in 1931, and the first postal block - in 1937 ^[9] .

• Examples of postage stamps of the colony of French Dahomey
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  1906: Colonial type stamp for French colonies with an imprinted name of the country. Inscriptions: "RF / Afrique occidentale française / Dahomey" (" French Republic / French West Africa / Dahomey ") - "Dahomey" ("Dahomey"). Portrait of General Louis Federb ^{[^]}

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  1940: a mark of the work of Pierre Gandon . Captions: “AOF / RF / Dahomey” (“French West Africa / French Republic / Dahomey”)

Postage stamps of the French Dahomey, issued between 1899 and 1942, had the inscription "Dahomey" ("Dahomey"). The following inscriptions can also be seen on the colonial Dagomean postage stamps of the original drawings: “Dahomey et dépendances” (“Dahomey and Dependent Territories”), “République française. Colonies ” (“ French Republic . Colonies ”), “ Postes ” (“ Post ”), “ Afrique occidentale française. Dahomey " (" French West Africa. Dahomey ") ^[3] .

Republic of Dahomey (French Community)

In 1958-1960, Dahomey had the status of a republic as a member of the French community , so since 1958 on its postage stamps appeared the inscription "République du Dahomey" (" Republic of Dahomey ") ^[3] .

Independence

Republic of Dahomey

In 1960, after the country gained independence ^{[2] [9]} , its own official issues of postage stamps of the Republic of Dahomey appeared on sale. Moreover, the declaration of independence of the country was marked by the issue of a commemorative stamp ^[9] .

• Examples of postage stamps of the independent Republic of Dahomey
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  1961: crafts

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  1963: 15 years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

In total, from 1899 to 1963, 231 postage stamps and 2 blocks were issued for Dahomey ^[3] . The publication of stamps of the Republic of Dahomey continued until November 30, 1975 ^[9] .

People's Republic of Benin

In 1975, the name of the state was changed to the People’s Republic of Benin , which was reflected in the appearance in April 1976 on the postage stamps of this country on the proclamation of the republic, the inscription: “République populaire du Bénin” (“People’s Republic of Benin”) ^{[2] [ 9]} . Then the first postal block with the new name of the country was released ^[2] .

Republic of Benin

Since March 1990, the state became known as the Republic of Benin , which led to a change in the corresponding inscription on postage stamps to “République du Bénin” (“Republic of Benin”).

Theme

Among many topics on the stamps of Benin, Rossika is also represented. In particular, there were two stamps marking the 110th anniversary of the birth of V. I. Lenin , a series dedicated to the Olympic Games in Moscow , and a series of stamps dedicated to the Lunokhod ^[2] .

Postal Charities

The first postal charity stamp was published in the colonial Dahomey in 1915 ^[9] .

Airmail

The first airmail stamps of the colonial Dagomei appeared in 1940 ^[9] . In 1967, an airmail stamp and a block ( Mi # 318 + 8 WS148204) in memory of the first Federal Chancellor of Germany Konrad Adenauer (1876-1967) were published in the Republic of Dahomey. They were simultaneously printed in the framework of the joint issue of EuropAfrique / CEPT , which noted the conclusion of the Yaounde Convention ^{[10] [≡]} .

• Airmail stamp and block of the Republic of Dahomey in memory of Konrad Adenauer (1967)
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Airmail stamps in the People's Republic of Benin were first published in 1976 ^[2] .

Paid

In Benin (Dahomey), extra stamps were issued on which there was an inscription: “Chiffre-taxe а percevoir” (“Amount to be paid”). The first toll signs were put into circulation in 1894 ^[2] , and there are four brands ^[3] . From 1906 to 1943, 36 surcharge stamps were issued for Dahomey ^{[3] [9]} . In the People's Republic of Benin, this type of stamps has been used since 1978 ^[2] .

• Levikov O., Torgashin V. Vintage territories of the world (Angola, Bateken, Benin, Botswana, Bouvet, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Gabon, Gambia) // Philately . - 2008. - No. 9. - P. 25—32. - (Topic: Philatelic Geography).

• The France & Colonies Philatelic Society of Great Britain.
• Benin: The Provisional Surcharges 1986-1996.