Ethiopian Postal Serice Ancient Rulers of Ethiopia (Series 2)

ETHIOPIAN POSTAL SERVICE (The Ministry of Posts, Telegraphs and Telephones of the Imperial Ethiopian Government) in 1964 issued of the fourth and last series of stamps depicting some of the greatest ancient Leaders of Ethiopia. This issue of six stamps starts with the Emperor Sertse Dengel, Founder of the Gondar Dynasty who began to reign in 1571, and ends with the Emperor Menelik II who died in 1913. The stamps were written in English and Amharic. Harrison & Sons Ltd were the printers.

- 5c - SERTSE DENGEL (1563-1597) The Emperor Sertse Dengel came to power shortly after Ahmen Gragn’s invasion was overcome with immense struggle.

- 10c - FASILIDAS (1632-1667) The Gondar Dynasty began to flower in the reign of Emperor Fasilidas.

- 20c - EYASU THE GREAT (1682-1706) The City of Gondar which had grown in glory during the reign of the Emperor Sosnios, Fasilidas and John I attained the summit of its splendor during the reign of the Emperor Eyasu I.

- 25c - THEODORE II (1855-1868) The last 80 years of the Gondar Period of Ethiopian History are called the “Period of the Princes”.

- 60c - JOHN IV (1872-1889) The Emperor John was a sovereign who was devout, heroic and a great patriot.

- 80c - MENELIK II (1889-1913) The Emperor Theodore united the northern and central parts of Ethiopia and thus accomplished the first part of the task of unifying the Nation.