French West Africa (Mauritania) Post Aerienne Desrt Tribesman - 1947

FRENCH WEST AFRICA  (Mauritania) Post Aerienne stamp issued in 1947. This 200F stamp is fascinating in that it shows a group of desert tribesman with an outline of an airplane overhead, as though it were a mirage!

Latvua Lettland Definitive Flower Set - 2014

LATVIA LETTLAND on 2 January 2014 issued a colourful definitive set of flower stamps.

French Polynesia Traditional Hats Series - 1983 and 1984

FRENCH POLYNESIA (POLYNESIE FRANCAISE) in 1983 and 1984 issued a series of eight stamps dedicated to the traditional women's hats of French Polynesia. The stamps were photographed by Adolphe Sylvain and printed by Cartor.

1983 Series:

11F - Chapeaux en Polynésie
13F - Chapeaux en Polynésie
25F - Chapeaux en Polynésie
35F - Chapeaux en Polynésie

1984 Series:
20F - Chapeaux en Polynésie
24F - Chapeaux en Polynésie
26F - Chapeaux en Polynésie
33F - Chapeaux en Polynésie

French West Africa (Senegal) Diourbel Mosque

FRENCH WEST AFRICA (Afrique Occidental Francaise  Senegal) from 1935 till 1943  printed six definitive stamps -- four versions shown here, plus two Vichy versions --  of the  Diourbel Mosque in various colours and values. The printers were Institut de Gravure and d'Impression de Papiers-Valeurs, Paris, using a Recess printing method. Perforations were 12½ x 12¼.

The overprint stamp affixed to the picture postcard is one commonly found in during the Vichy government in 1943. The postmark cancellation originated from Bamako, Mali. The postcard itself depicts a market scene in Bamako of the same period.

After independence from France in 1959, the former colony was divided into two countries: Senegal and Mali.

 

Republique du Senegal Muhammad Ali

REPUBLIQUE DU SENEGAL  in 1998 issued three souvenir stamp sheets of Muhammad Ali in various boxing stances during his amateur, Olympic and professional boxing periods.

Not just an accomplished athlete, Ali also made his mark on the world as an actor, author, and civil rights activist.  He inspired countless people around the world during his lifetime. 

 Bob Dylan in a tribute to Muhammad Ali had this to say, "If the measure of greatness is to gladden the heart of every human being on the face of the earth, then he truly was the greatest. In every way he was the bravest, the kindest and the most excellent of men."

La Poste France 100th Birth Anni

LA POSTE FRANCE on 20 March 2023 issued a first day cover stamps marking the 100th birth anniversary of Marcel.Marceau.

Marcel Marceau (born Marcel Mangel -  1923-2007) was a French mime artist and actor most famous for his stage persona, "Bip the Clown". 

As a Jewish youth, he lived in hiding and worked with the French Resistance during most of World War II,, for which he was credited with saving 75 children from the Nazis. He gave his first major performance to 3,000 troops after the liberation of Paris in August. Following the war, he studied dramatic art and mime in Paris.

With his body as his only instrument, Marcel Marceau  brought the art of mime to stages around the world, imposing a universal language. He who knew how to "make visible the invisible” gave life to characters who, without saying a word, express life as it is, with its struggles, its hopes, its dreams.

Source: Wikipedia

Luxembourg Post General George S. Patton

LUXEMBOURG POST in 1947 issued four stamps honouring U.S. General George S. Patton. The stamps were printer in four values and colours which referred to the liberation of Luxembourg/Europe and his burial at the U.S. military cemetery in Luxembourg. Later,  in 1953, the U.S. postal department would issue a single stamp dedicated to him.

Saar Schwartzenberg Telecommunications and Observation Tower - 1956

 

SAAR (under French protectorate) issued on 6 May 1956 a 15 Fr postage stamp showing the Schwartzenberg telecommunications and observation tower on Schwartzenberg, Saarbrücken. Postmark originated from Hilbringen Über Merzig, (Saarland). 

The square - section tower was built in 1930 of reinforced concrete. The builder of the tower was undertaken by the St. Johann Beautification Society, and the design was drawn up by the Saarbrücken city architect at the time, Hermann Leiber. The foundation stone was laid on June 27, 1930, and the tower was inaugurated on October 12, 1930.

During World War II, the Schwarzenberg Tower was only slightly damaged, and damage portion was repaired in 1949.

Due to its height at 377 meters above sea level, the Schwarzenberg Tower has been used by several operators for radio purposes since the 1950s. Transmitters for police and fire brigade radio, VHF radio and mobile radio are currently installed on the top of the tower.

Source: Wikipedia

Saargebiet Surcharged Charity Stamps - 1926-1927

SAARGEBIET, the Saar Plebiscite Territory ("Saargebiet" or "Saar Occupation" in German) between 1926 and 1928 issued their first surcharged charity stamps and a brand new series of definitive postage stamps.

At the end of 1926, the Saar Plebiscite Territory issued a series of pictorial definitive postage stamps. These new stamps were wider than the previous definitive postage stamps, and one could say the stamps were beginning to get that French-colonial-postage-stamp "look" to them. These new stamps were printed in photogravure, and they were all perforated 13 1/2.

The designs, which are repeated throughout the set, feature (in the order of their appearance): the Market Fountain in St. Johann, a view of the Saar Valley, a scene from the Saarlouis fortifications, Colliery Shafthead, Tholey Abbey, and the Burbach Steelworks.

New Zealand Post "The Emerging Years" - 1920s, 1930s, 1940s & 1950s

NEW ZEALAND POST between 1992 to 1995 issued a series of stamps entitled the "The Emerging Years" which highlighted developments in the country during the 1920s, 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. Each decade featured six stamps, making a total of 24 stamps in this four-year print run. Each set showed images relevant to the decade and used the type of lettering suggestive of the period.

1920s - PAINTING THE CLOUDS WITH SUNSHINE

45c - Flaming Youth, a Flapper and young man in a candy striped collegiate look suit stand together. The 20s was famous for shrinking hem lines and more in your face women. Formality also began to melt away from the body fock, floral hat look of the 1900s.

50c - Radio in New Zealand was born on the night of 17 November 1921 when Dr Robert Jack, Professor of Physics at Otago University, switched on a small transmitter in his Dunedin laboratory and began broadcasting music from gramophone records. The country promptly became wildly enthusiastic about the new-fangled 'wireless' that could pick up voices and music from the air, and by the end of 1927 more than 30,000 homes had radio licences. The Radio Broadcasting Company of New Zealand was established in 1925 with stations in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. By 1929 they were a staple in most middle class homes.

80c - All Black - based on the 1924/25 Invincibles, who won almost every match in a tour of the UK. This team was remembered for their skills. Their toughness built up by years on the New Zealand terrain and back country.

$1 - Swaggie, NZ in the 1920s was still very rural, and homeless old men who walked from place to place doing odd jobs for a living was a common sight. Many were once shepherds, gold or gum diggers and few would turn them away. Called a swaggie as he often carried his worldly possessions in the swag bag behind him. They usually slept at the Starlight Hotel and numbers increased in the Depression, by WW2 they were a thing of the past.

$1.50 Motorcar - Owing a car became a reality in the 20s for many. First arriving around 1900, cars became more commonplace in the 1910s, but really took off in the 20s, every year saw more growth, so that by 1926 a National Board and agency was set up for registrations and driver licencing.

In 1920 there were under 5000 cars in New Zealand, by 1929 it was nearly 100,000 or 1 for every 14 people. By 1939 it was 215,000 cars. Most popular were Model T's, Austin 7s, Chevrolets and Oldsmobiles. In 1926 Ford and GM opened assembly plants in NZ that assembled foreign made cars and included local coach bodies.

$1.80 - Air Age, this was more late 20s and got a real push when Smithy flew here from Australia in 1928. Already in the 1920s we had aerodromes at Ohakea (Whanganui) and Wigram (Christchurch). However it was the next decade things went commercial.

1930s - I'VE GOT A POCKETFUL OF DREAMS

45c - Buttons and Bows, the 30s fashion was more toned down than the 20s, thanks to the Depression and the can-do attitude of 30s people (Most clothes were homemade, rather than store bought - although the material came from stores).

50c - The Great Depression affected NZ too. There were paycuts in 1930 and 1931, 1932 saw 25% unemployed and riots and horrible relief camps where some men lived in tents and got paid 5s a week. It was not until 1935 it receded and the Labour Government introduced social security and State Housing.

80c - Phar Lap - Known to Kiwis and Aussies, this famous racehorse won the Melbourne cup and our hearts at the start of the decade. Born in Timaru, his death is still shrouded in mystery.

$1 - State Housing - Following a housing crisis in the Depression, the Labour government built state houses for the working class and helped the country out of poverty. The first ones opened in 1937 and the stamp shows the solidly built homes of the 30s and 40s. In the 50s/60s they cut cost and built cheap wooden and fibrolite homes which are now decaying and being replaced. Many original 30s homes are brick and still standing.

$1.50 - Free Milk - Poor health of our kids in the 30s, led to the Labour Government giving free milk in schools from 1937. Each child got a half pint and scrawny ones got sent to health camps, funded by the other great 30s institution, the health stamp! The Milk programme lasted until 1967 and some schools have now revived it with breakfast clubs.

$1.80 - The talkies, movies had been in NZ since the 1900s, but Talkies only arrived at the end of 1929 and in 1930 and 1931 despite the Depression, cinema after cinema went to talkies, laying off the Orchestra players in the process. Movie going was a constant in the period of the 30s to 60s before Television and most Kiwis regardless of class, went at least once a week. Most movies of course were from Hollywood, with some cinemas offering only British ones.

1940s -- KEEP THE HOME FIRES BURNING

45c - The War, this must be dealt with, first and fast. The Second World War saw much fighting by Kiwis and this series of stamps being issued in 1993, New Zealand saluted the Maori Battalion, who deserve the accolade, very devoted and brave men, who showed how wrong Hitler's racist theories were, despite Maori officers, the commanders were still white and thought little of their charges. Maori soldiers could only serve in the infantry or navy and were banned from the Air Force except as cooks and janitors.

After the war, separate Maori Battalions were ended and Maori were mainstreamed into the NZ Defence force like everyone else. There was also much bravery by Pakeha New Zealand soldiers and thousands died defending our freedom, some also were decorated with medals for bravery.

50c - Aerial Topdressing - the spreading of fertiliser using aircraft was very much the minset, which started in earnest in the late postwar 1940s. Shown here, a flight c. 1949 in a Tigermoth spreading the possibly deadly fertiliser. In the 1940s people still used poisonous stuff like DDT.

80c - Hydroelectric - the 1930s to 1960s saw much infrastructure development and the 40s were no exception. Once the war had ended, many large dams were built in the North and South Islands, bringing cheap renewable energy to many. Many British, Polish and Dutch immigrants worked on these projects with Maori and Pakeha New Zealanders.

$1 - Marching (Majorettes) were very popular through to the 1970s, and still is in some parts now. In the late 1940s it was an obsession and again we are in the later part of the decade. Mostly this was a female occupation and gave them something to do away from sexist 40s/50s stereotypes of housewifery.

$1.50 - American GIs -- known as the 'Friendly invasion' -- arrived here from 1942 to help in the War in the Pacific (Japanese submarines came into Auckland Harbour). They lived here and introduced Hamburgers, Coca Cola and the Jitterbug and some women married them becoming GI Brides. They added a touch of glamour in amongst the dreariness of war.

Of course it was not all peaches and cream, NZers were angry at the gung-ho attitude of some the GIs, rapes and pub punch ups that happened and many NZers were shocked at the way Black GI soldiers were treated and how some white soldiers treated Maori.

$1.80 - Victory - It is difficult to say whether this stamp commemorates VE Day or VJ Day or both, as celebratory parades were held in NZ. The misery of war had lifted, but rationing and austerity remained until the 1950s.

1950s - ALL SHOOK UP

The 1950s in general were a prosperous and peaceful decade, a waterfront strike in 1951 was the only disharmony and NZ got rich off high agricultural prices, the welfare state and protectionism.

45c - Rock and Roll Dancers, Rock and Roll music swept the nation's teenagers from 1955 onwards. More money and more free time for teenagers led to more fun. The stamp looks tame, but there were moral panics over this "Jungle music" that caused "Juvenile deinquency", and the worst was the Mazengarb report in to Hutt Valley youth who frequented "Milk bars", wore leather and stove top pants and listened to rock n roll wasting as much as a whole shilling on a cup of "wog" coffee.

 

Mazengarb despite his colourful name, was a boring old man born in the 1890s and he had no idea about 50s youth who were mostly bored and used rock and roll, motorcycles, American movies and smoking as a form of freedom. Stories of 14 year old girls having sex for a meatpie and a rock n roll party in a graveyard did the rounds of the tabloid press and a book about raising your kids was sent to every beneficiary family in the country. It caused a storm in a teacup.

The 50s was a time of increasing poverty and expression, but society was still very rigid and full of rules, only in the 60s did real self-expression become acceptable.

80c - Conquest of Everest celebrated Edmund Hillary, a beekeeper from Waiuku and Tenzing Norgay who together conquered the world's highest mountain. Many Kiwis and the British were proud of it and Hillary went on to more achievements.

$1 - Aunty Daisy (Grace Green) was a well-known NZ radio personality of the 1940s and 1950s who was known for her cheery demeanour, hints on being a good housewife, gardening, feminine etiquette and every other conformity with mid 20th century sexist stereotypes of womanhood. She is still remembered with affection by the older generation. She also had several cookbooks.

$1.20 - Queen Elizabeth II - The glamorous young Queen made New Zealand a stop on her world tour of 1953/54 and spent Christmas and most of January 1954 here visiting many parts of the country and winning hearts where she went. Prince Philip also accompanied her.

$1.50 - Opo the friendly dolphin, for a few months at the beginning of 1956, this tame dolphin frolicked with swimmers and vistors alike at Opononi in the far north. Songs were written about this dolphin, who was sadly found dead in late March 1956; it was believed he had been poisoned by some sicko.

$1.80 - Auckland Harbour Bridge, this was important to make transport in Auckland more efficient. Between 1945 and 1960, its population grew from 250k to nearly 500k and North Shore expanded from 20k to nearly 50k. The 4 lane bridge was built between 1954 and 1959 and was opened 30th May 1959 causing queues in every direction and even cars breaking down. It was a Godsend and answered a 100 year quest to build a harbour crossing.

In 1969, it gained four additional lanes from Japan (Nippon clip-ons) and today still does its service. Originally it had toll booths to pay for it, but these were removed in 1984. Popularly known as the coat hanger, given its arched metal shape, I always saw it as a poor cousin of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

French West Africa (Dahomey) Tribal Man Harvesting Bananas - 1947

FRENCH WEST AFRICA (Afrique Occidental Francaise /Dahomey) in 1947 issued a blue coloured stamp depicting a tribal man harvesting bananas. It was printed by Institut de Gravure, Paris.

French West Africa 50th Anniversary of International Rotary Club

FRENCH WEST AFRICA (Afrique Occidental Francaise) in  1955 issued a stamp commemorating the 50th anniversary of the International Rotary Club. This blue stamp was valued at 15F.

Saarland Announcement of Plebiscite in 1955

SAARLAND issued on 22 October 1955 three definitive postage that were overprinted "VOLKSBEFRAGUNG 1955" to publicise the Saar Protectorate Independence Referendum (Plebiscite) to be held on 23 October of that year.

France offered to establish an independent Saarland, under the auspices of the Western European Union, but the referendum held on 23 October rejected the plan by a vote of 68% to 32%, with a 97% voter turnout. The rejection of the plan by the electorate was interpreted as support for Saarland to join the Federal Republic of Germany.

Saarland Melbourne Summer Olympics - 1956

SAARLAND  on 25 July  1956 issued two surtax stamps to promote the "Summer Olympics" in Melbourne.  The postage stamps for 12 + 3Fr and 15 + 5Fr depicted an athlete's head from the sculpture "Victor of Benevent".

The surtax went to support Olympic athletes.Though athletes from Saar participated in the 1956 Olympic Games, they did so as members of the Federal Republic of Germany Olympic team.

The Summer Olympics were held in Melbourne, Australia from 22 November till 8 December  1956, and were played outside of Europe and the United States for the first time in history.

Deutsche Bundespost Saarland Agriculture & Nutrition

DEUTSCHE BUNDESPOST SAARLAND issued in 1958 a series of charity stamps "Helpers of Humanity". The set was designed to highlight the merits of agriculture for  nutrition and preservation of the people in the widest circles. In agreement with the consortium of the non-profit welfare organisations and the bodies responsible for representing agriculture, it was decided to choose the image of Friedrich Wilhelm Raiffeisen for the value 600 + 400 centimes, which has gained general significance as the creator of the agricultural cooperative system.

The Federal Minister of Post and Telecommunications decided in favour of the series submitted by Erich Meerwald.  He was tasked to depict a farmer, a dairymaid and a winemaker at work, in order to grasp the extensive area of ​agriculture. The series was executed in a multi-colour offset printing process at  Bundesdruckerei Berlin.

Deutsche Bundespost Saarland Coal and Steel Industry in Saar - 1957

DEUTSCHE BUNDESPOST SAARLAND on 1 October 1957 issued a set of "Helpers of Humanity" charity stamps which depicted the coal and steel industry in the Saar.

French West Africa Timber Industry - 1954

FRENCH WEST AFRICA (Afrique Occidental Francaise) in  1954 issued a stamp showing timber industry in Africa. This green and brown air mail stamp was valued at 50F.

French West Africa Colonial Soldiers Definitives - 1945

FRENCH WEST AFRICA (Afrique Occidental Francaise) in  1945 issued a definitive set dedicated to their colonial soldiers. These multicoloured stamps had  11½ x 12 perforations and used an offset lithography printing method.

Face values included: 10 French centime; 30 French centime; 40 French centime; 50 French centime; 60 French centime; 70 French centime; 80 French centime; 1 ₣; 1.20 ₣; 1.50 ₣; 2 ₣; 2.40 ₣; 3 ₣; 4 ₣; 4.50 ₣; 5 ₣; 10 ₣; 15 ₣; 20 ₣.

French West Africa Hinyin and Fishing Couple - 1954

FRENCH WEST AFRICA (Afrique Occidental Francaise /) in 20 September 1954  issued a single stamp of a tribal couble Hunting and fishing. It was designed/printed by  Myrto Debard and the engraving was done by Jean Pheulpin. This 25F stamp was brown/rose coloured, and it had 13 perforations.

French West Africa (Senegal) Senegalese Woman - 1938

FRENCH WEST AFRICA (Afrique Occidental Francaise /Senegal) on 14 March  1938 issued a series of  definitive stamps depicting a Senegalese woman. This first day cover  maximum card features a Senegalese woman  carrying a basket of fruits.

Stamp values:
   35C - Green (shown)
   80C - Purple
     1F  - Brown (shown)
1.75F  - Blue

French West Africa (Mali) Roadway in Bamako

FRENCH WEST AFRICA (Afrique Occidental Francaise /Mali) in 24 March 1947 issued a red-brown coloured stamp depicting a roadway in Bamako. It was valued at 30 French centime. It featured 12½ perforations and was printed using a recess method.

French West Africa (Ivory Coast) Marcel Treich-Laplene

FRENCH WEST AFRICA (Afrique Occidental Francaise /Côte d'Ivoire) in 12 January 1952 issued a lilac-red coloured stamp depicting Marcel Treich-Laplene. The denomination was 40F. It was designed and engraved by René Cottet. It featured 13 perforations using a Recess printing method.

Marcel Treich-Laplene (1860-1890) was the first explorer of Côte d'Ivoire and first French colonial administrator.  

French West Africa (Niger) Tribal Men Transporting Goods in a Long Boat - 1947

FRENCH WEST AFRICA (Afrique Occidental Francaise/Niger) in 1947 issued a green coloured stamp depicting tribal men transporting goods in a long boat. It was printed by Institut de Gravure, Paris.

Frennch West Africa (Senegal) Tribal Women and Donkey Caravan - 1947

FRENCH WEST AFRICA (Afrique Occidental Francaise /Senegal) in 1947 issued a crimson coloured stamp depicting a tribal women and donkey caravan. It was printed by Institut de Gravure, Paris.

Pos Malaysia 50th Anniversary of Rukun Malaysia

POS MALAYSIA on 18 August 2021 issued the 50th Anniversary of Rukun Malaysia or National Principles. The five principles of the nation (printed in Bahasa Malaysia on the Miniature Sheet)  are: "Belief in God, Loyalty to King and Country, Supremacy of the Constitution, Rules of Law and Courtesy and Morality".This Miniature Sheet featured a unique die-cut in the shape of an oversized stamp with gold foil printing of the map of Malaysia and the National Principles (Rukun Negara).

Post Malaysia 125th Anniversary of Johor's Constitution

POS MALAYSIA on 31 December 2020 issued a series of stamps marking the 125th Anniversary Of Johor's Constitution (Miniature Sheet) which featured a  phosphorous coated effect.  The Miniature Sheet also depicted the the past five Sultans of Johor since the establishment of the State's Constitution.

Pos Malaysia Malay Sultanate Coins

POS MALAYSIA on 3 April 2023 issued  The Malay Sultanate Coins (Duit Syiling Kesultanan Melayu) series. It included three stamps: a pair of 50sen se-tenant stamps featuring Duit Syiling Perak “Real”, Kedah and Duit Syiling Timah “Pitis”, Melaka. The third stamp with a RM1.50 face value displays Duit Syiling Emas “Mas”, Johor.

 Shown here is the Miniature Sheet entitled Duit Syiling Emas known as Duit Kijang “Kupang”, Kelantan (RM5). The Miniature Sheet involved three special printing techniques: die-cut, gold foil and embossed.

Source: Pos Malaysia

Pos Malaysia World's Tallest Tropical Tree

POS MALAYSIA on 29 December 2020 issued  a VERY large stamp dedicated to the World's Tallest Tropical Tree, the Yellow Meranti tree, found in the Danum Valley, Sabah. Measuring over 100.8 metres tall, and weighing around 81,500kg, the Menara (Malay for Tower) is known as the tallest tropical tree in the world. Shown here is the Miniature Sheet valued at RM8. The stamp was first released with a postmark from Kuala Lumpur.

Pos Malaysia Cattle Breeds of Malaysia

POS MALAYSIA on 18 March 2022 issued the Cattle Breeds in Malaysia Miniature Sheet featuring the well-known types of cattle found in Malaysia. These domesticated animals have special roles such as transportation, farming, livestock production, and leather production which contributes to our agricultural industry. Among the various breeds, our stamps featured the Bali Cattle, Kedah Kelantan Cattle (indigenous), Nelore Cattle, and the Brahman Cattle (shown) in a traditional Chinese ink painting art style.

Source: Pos Malaysia

Pos Malaysia Traditional Art of Making Kuih

POS MALAYSIA on 15 February 2022 issued  The Seni Pembuatan Kuih Tradisional or Traditional Art of Making Kuih special stamp which highlighted the old-fashioned ways of making popular Malaysian kuih using brass moulds of various shapes and sizes, as well as materials including coconut shell, coconut fibre and charcoal while baking. There are five conventional methods featured and they are of Kuih Akok, Kuih Bakar, Kuih Kapit, Kuih Jala and Kuih Bahulu. Shown here is the Miniature Sheet (without postmark) first issued from Kuala Lumpur.

Pos Malaysia "Honey Bees in Malaysia"

POS MALAYSIA on 9 April 2019 issued the "Honey Bees in Malaysia" stamp series. Three stamps with a face value of 60 cents each were produced for this series. Among the honey bee species featured in this series are Tualang Bees (Apis Dorsata), Bees Village (Apis Cerana) and Black Dwarf Bee (Apis Andreniformis). This die-cut Miniature Sheet of a bee features two stamps valued at RM2 set within it.

Polynesie Francaise Tahitian Dancer

FRENCH POLYNESIA (POLYNESIE FRANCAISE)  in 1964 issued an air mail stamp depicting a Tahitian dancer. This cover letter featured two stamps with the cachet of a silhouetted Tahitian woman. The postmark originated from Papeete, Tahiti, 1964.

French Polynesia Copra - 1989

 

FRENCH POLYNESIA (POLYNESIE FRANCAISE) in 16 March 1989 issued two stamps on copra production in French Polynesia. Among the two stamps sold -- and the controversial one -- is a bikini clad woman grating coconuts. The photographer was Erwin Christian.

The 55f stamp was withdrawn for sale when the woman depicted in the stamp filed a lawsuit in the French Polynesian capitol of Papeete. She claimed it was an invasion of her right to privacy and she won after it was discovered the French Polynesian Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications had not secured a letter of permission to use her photo. Sale of the stamp was stopped on 11 July 1989, but the stamps printed were not recalled. 

Eventually about half of the entire stock of 25,000 copies of the stamp was sold, principally at the Philexfrance show in Paris, before the stamp was withdrawn from sale. That number is in addition to a considerable but unspecified portion of the 100,000 copies produced for domestic and philatelic consumption in French Polynesia and sold during the four months prior to the court order.

Today, the stamp commands a premium price.

French West Africa Medical Laboratory in Africa - 1953

FRENCH WEST AFRICA (Afrique Occidental Francaise - AOF)  in 1953 issued this Medical Laboratory in Africa. As with most AOF stamps of the era, this one was designed and printed in France.

French West Africa Antoine de Staint-Exupery - 1947

FRENCH WEST AFRICA (Afrique Occidental Francaise - AOF) issued an air mail stamp  in 1947 showing writer/aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupery, map and natives over French West Africa.

Other Air Mail Stamps:

French Sudan Sudanese Woman and Camel Rider Definitives

FRENCH SUDAN from 1931 till 1939 issued a series of definitive stamps called "Life in Sudan". Shown here, Sudanese Woman and Camel Rider.

French West Africa Rifle Dance of Mauritania

FRENCH WEST AFRICA (Afrique Occidental Francaise - AOF) in 1947 issued a blue coloured stamp depicting a Rifle Dance in Mauritania.

French West Africa Post and Telecommunications Infrastructure

FRENCH WEST AFRICA (Afrique Occidental Francaise - AOF) issued an air mail stamp depicting a native woman using a radio telephone in  post and telecommunication infrastructure.