African postage stamps serve not only as a means of communication but also as cultural artefacts that reflect the continent’s complex history and vibrant identity. Today, African nations continue to issue a wide variety of postage stamps that celebrate cultural heritage, wildlife, historical events, and significant national figures. African stamps are popular among collectors for their historical significance and artistic designs.
The European nations that colonized Africa during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries shaped African postal systems and, hence, African philately. Even the postal systems of Liberia and Ethiopia, the two countries that were not colonies, had postal systems that were designed and supplied from outside the continent.
Few places in Africa had adequate facilities to print postage stamps. When supplies of a particular value ran out, local presses created 'provisional' issues-overprints and surcharges, for instance-pending the arrival of new supplies. Such circumstances produced many of the rarities of African philately.
Images of British kings and queens appear on the stamps of British colonies prior to the 1930s, after which local scenes appeared. French symbols graced the stamps of French colonies until, as with British stamps, printers included local scenes. German colonies, which ceased to exist after WWI, showed the Kaiser’s yacht.
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Early Stamp Issues in Africa
Colonial Era
Many African countries were part of European empires during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The stamps issued during this period often featured images of colonial rulers or symbols associated with the colonizing power.
Provisional Issues
Due to inadequate printing facilities, many regions resorted to creating provisional stamps when supplies ran low.
Regional Examples
- West Africa: Countries like Ghana (formerly the Gold Coast) issued their first stamps in 1875.
- East Africa: Uganda’s first stamps were issued in 1895 and were unique for being typewritten.
- Southern Africa: The British South Africa Company introduced stamps in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) starting in 1892.
British East Africa
Britain had interests in this area as early as 1824. Missionaries are known to have settled in the area in 1844. The Imperial British East Africa Company obtained a concession in 1887 to administer this area, from Sultan Bargash of the Sultanate of Zanzibar. The company started to experience financial difficulties in 1891.
The early missionaries in British East Africa sent letters by runner to forwarding agents in Zanzibar. Letters are known from as early as 1848. They were also the first to create a series of surcharged stamps with authorizing initials. During an acute shortage of stamps in August and September, 1890 stamps of India were used and are known postmarked 'MOMBASA' or 'LAMU'.
In 1896 a series of stamps depicting Queen Victoria was issued, inscribed 'BRITISH EAST AFRICA', these ran short in 1897 and stamps of Zanzibar were overprinted as the stamps of India had been previously. All postal stationery items were inscribed 'IMPERIAL BRITISH EAST AFRICA COMPANY'.
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Two different sizes of registration envelopes were issued in 1891; produced by Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co. Three different sizes of pre paid 2½ annas envelopes were issued in 1893. In 1895 one of the sizes of Imperial British East Africa Company envelopes was overprinted 'BRITISH EAST AFRICA'. In 1896 Two different envelopes were produced by overprinting envelopes from India with 'British East Africa'; 2½ annas on 4½ annas envelope and 2 annas 6 pies. In 1895 Imperial British East Africa Company registration envelopes was overprinted 'BRITISH EAST AFRICA'. These were followed by 2 annas registration envelopes, in two different sizes, from India being overprinted 'British East Africa'. Four different newspaper wrappers were issued during 1896. A total of eight different postcards were produced with a face value of ½ anna or 1 anna.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa, previously The Union of South Africa, is a country located at the southern tip of Africa, with a coastline on the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Before South Africa was united in 1910, each part of what would later become South Africa issued their own stamps. During the Second Boer War, some cities issued their own stamps. The first stamp of the Union of South Africa was a 21⁄2d stamp issued on 4 November 1910. It portrayed the Monarch King George V and the arms of the four British colonies which formed the Union: Cape Colony, Natal, Orange River Colony and Transvaal.
Most South African stamps issued between 1926 and 1951 were in pairs. In 1941 a set of stamps was issued to publicise the War Effort. The Second World War was the impetus for another well-known South African stamp format, the so-called “bantams”. Between 1942 and 1944 these stamps were reprinted in a much smaller format, between half and one third the size of the previously issued stamps, hence the nickname “bantam”.
After the end of the Second World War, the push for full independence from Great Britain intensified. This was achieved in 1961 when the Union of South Africa became the Republic of South Africa. The change of currency took place in February, which resulted in a stop-gap measure of several previously issued stamps being reprinted in the new currency.
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Stamps inscribed with the new name and currency were ready to be issued on the first day of independence, 31 May 1961, although the bilingual pairs format was no longer in use, with each stamp being inscribed in both English and Afrikaans. The first set of the Republic was issued on 31 May 1961.
From 1961 to 1966, stamps were inscribed "REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA - REPUBLIEK VAN SUID-AFRIKA". However, from 1967 stamps were simply inscribed "RSA". South Africa issued many attractive and interesting stamps throughout the 1970s and 1980s, including what is arguably the country's most (in)famous stamp, the withdrawn “Word of God” 40c stamp from 1987. The stamp was to have been released as part of a set of four commemorating the Bible Society of South Africa, but was withdrawn after objections to the use of the Hebrew word for “God”.
South West Africa/Namibia
The South African Army overran German South West Africa in 1914-15 and, in 1922, a League of Nations mandate gave South Africa the responsibility of administering the colony, now renamed South West Africa. South Africa controlled the postal service until Namibian independence in 1990. Stamps issued by the Union of South Africa were used from 1914 until 1953. The first stamps inscribed "South West Africa" were issued bilingually in English and Afrikaans (Suidwes Afrika) on 1 January 1923.
In 1989, the last definitive stamps of South West Africa were a set of 15 depicting minerals and mining. Another problem was that one of the stamps, for boltwoodite, had an error in its chemical equation.
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Former Bantustans
After 1948, South African internal policy was based on apartheid, a program of separate development of the races. This policy reserved for the white minority (17.5 percent of the population) the best jobs, political control of the government, and much higher wages than those of other ethnic groups. The plan aimed at the eventual creation of a large number of independent ethnic states.
Four black states (Bantustans) were created: Transkei (1976); Bophuthatswana (1977); Venda (1979); and Ciskei (1981). None received international recognition, although each issued stamps that were routinely used within their borders.
| Bantustan | Year of Creation | Issued Stamps |
|---|---|---|
| Transkei | 1976 | Yes |
| Bophuthatswana | 1977 | Yes |
| Venda | 1979 | Yes |
| Ciskei | 1981 | Yes |
