Postage stamps and postal history of Morocco

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A 1979 stamp of Morocco.

The postal history of Morocco is complex due to the country's political development in the 20th century. Mails were sent via post offices operated by the European powers. After the partition of Morocco into French and Spanish protectorate and the international zone of Tangier in 1912, France and Spain established postal services in their respective zones.

Early Stamps

The first Moroccan postal stamps were produced in 1891 by private companies which managed courier services between cities.

The system was replaced after a reorganization in 1911, the Sharifian post was created to handle local mail, and produced two series of stamps which were valid for use until 1915 and until 1919 in Tangier.

List of Private Courier Transmission Lines

• Demnate – Marrakech
• Ksar-el-Kebir – Ouezzane
• Fès – Meknes
• Fès – Sefrou
• Mazagan – Azemmour – Marrakech
• Mazagan – Marrakech
• Mogador – Agadir
• Mogador – Marrakech
• Safi – Marrakech
• Tangier – Asilah
• Tangier – Ksar-el-Kebir
• Tangier – Fès
• Tangier – Larache
• Tangier – Tetouan
• Tetouan – Chefchaouen
• Tetouan – Ksar-el-Kebir

A French stamp surcharged for the French Post Office In Morocco, 1891.

Foreign Post Offices in Morocco

1902 stamp for the French Post Office In Morocco.

1911 stamp for the French Post Office In Morocco overprinted in Arabic.

French post offices in Morocco

See also: French protectorate in Morocco § Postal history

A French postal agency had sent mail from Tangier as early as 1854,^[1] but the formal beginning of the system was in 1891, when French post offices were established throughout the sultanate.^[2] The offices issued postage stamps of France surcharged with values in pesetas and centimos, at a 1–1 ratio with the denominations in French currency, using both the Type Sage issues, and after 1902, Mouflon issues inscribed "MAROC" (which were never officially issued without the surcharge). In 1911, the Mouflon issues were overprinted in Arabic.

Postage stamp for the Spanish Post Office in Morocco, issued 1903.

Morocco under European rule

French protectorate

See also: French protectorate in Morocco § Postal history

Stamp overprinted "PROTECTORAT FRANCAIS" in 1914.

A 1917 stamp of the French protectorate of Morocco.

The first stamps of the protectorate appeared 1 August 1914, and were just the existing stamps with the additional overprint reading "PROTECTORAT FRANCAIS".^[3] The first new designs were in an issue of 1917, consisting of 17 stamps in six designs, denominated in centimes and francs, and inscribed "MAROC" in French and Arabic.^[4]

Ifni

Spain began issuing postage stamps for Ifni, then a Spanish territory, in 1941, initially overprinting Spanish stamps with "TERRITORIO DE IFNI", then issuing new designs in 1943. Issues followed at the rate of about ten per year with the last on 23 November 1968. Most are commonly available and are more often seen unused than used.^[7]

After independence

In 1956, the kingdom of Morocco regained independence and postal autonomy. Tangier was reintegrated into the Moroccan state.

From 1956 to 1957, stamps were issued in franc and Spanish peseta for the southern zone and northern zone, respectively. The franc was used throughout Morocco from 1958 and the first stamps for the entire country were the issue for the World Fair in Brussels.

After the Ifni War in 1958, Cape Juby was re-incorporated into the Moroccan state. The Moroccan postal service was extended in 1969 to the former Spanish Ifni and 1975 to the northern half of Western Sahara. Since 1979, the Moroccan Post has operated in the entire Western Sahara within the Moroccan Walls.

Stamps marked Western Sahara

Stamps marked República Saharaui (Saharan Republic), Sahara Occidental (Western Sahara) or Sahara Occ. R.A.S.D. relate to the disputed region of Western Sahara occupied by Morroco.^[8] The Moroccan post office, in a Universal Postal Union circular, has stated that they do not regard these stamps as legitimate.^[9]

See also

• List of postal codes in Morocco
• British post offices in Morocco
• German post offices in Morocco

References and sources

References

Sources

• Stanley Gibbons Ltd, Europe and Colonies 1970, Stanley Gibbons Ltd, 1969
• Rossiter, Stuart & John Flower. The Stamp Atlas. London: Macdonald, 1986. ISBN 0-356-10862-7
• XLCR Stamp Finder and Collector's Dictionary, Thomas Cliffe Ltd, c.1960

External links

• AskPhil – Glossary of Stamp Collecting Terms
• Encyclopaedia of Postal Authorities