Page 50 - Delcampe Collections classiques EN-006

Stamps

Stamps from French Somaliland

coast their way to the top!

While looking at the stamps sold on Delcampe, one
stamp caught my eye. First of all, because it is very
special due to its unconventional diamond shape
and two-colour printing. This 25F stamp called
“Caravane de Sauniers” is the No. 20 stamp from
French Somaliland. I wanted to find out more and
then share the fruits of my research with you.
French Somaliland was located on the territory of
present-day Djibouti. It was part of the second wave
of French overseas territories (TOM). Initially co-
lonised under the name of Territory of Obock and
Dependencies, French Somaliland officially bore
this name from 1896 to 1967. After 1967 and until
Djibouti’s independence in 1977, French Somaliland
was known as the French Territory of the Affars and
the Issas.
The territory was able to issue its first stamps as
early as 1894. However, it should be noted that these
early stamps were stamps of the French Republic
in Obock overprinted with DJ, to represent Djibouti.
The name Obock was itself overlaid with a black line
to make it invisible. In addition to these overprinted
stamps, a first larger issue was launched. It includes
12 rectangular stamps as well as a triangular stamp
and the diamond stamp that piqued my interest in
this subject.
This 25F value is one that is very hard to find on a let-
ter. This 25F rate is supposed to correspond to the
rate for transport by camel. In fact, these were very
little used, and were often cancelled out of conve-
nience. According to Bernard Laurent, a specialist
in this field, fiscal reconversion even took place for
some of these programmes. Like the other French
Colonies, French Somaliland’s postal rates were in
line with French postal rates (except for transport by
camel!).
French Somaliland 25F stamp, uncancelled.
French Somaliland, complete set.
Tonga, set of banana stamps.

50 Delcampe Magazine