Postage stamps and postal history of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

This is a survey of the postage stamps and postal history of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, formerly Zaire and the Belgian Congo.

Issuing bodies

Colonial period

An 1894 stamp of the Congo Free State

The Congo Free State was established in 1885 as a personal initiative of Leopold II of Belgium, which was formally annexed, becoming the Belgian Congo, in 1907. Both entities issued their own stamps.

Post-independence

Republic of the Congo

Stamp issued by the Republic of the Congo celebrating independence in June 1960.

In 1960, the Belgian Congo became independent as the Republic of the Congo. On 1 August 1964, the state's official name was changed to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Katanga

Katanga 50c stamp of 1961.

The State of Katanga seceded from the Republic of the Congo and, during its three years of independence, produced its own stamps and issues overprinted on earlier stamps of the Belgian Congo and the Republic of the Congo.

South Kasai

South Kasai created stamps by overprinting old Belgian Congo stamps.

For a short period in 1960–61, South Kasai was a secessionist region in the south central area of the country that issued overprinted Belgian Congo stamps.

Zaire

1985 Stamps of Zaire showing sports.

In 1971, the state's name changed to Zaire. The first stamps of Zaire were issued on 18 December 1971.[1]

Democratic Republic of the Congo

In 1997 the country's name reverted to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Rossiter, Stuart & John Flower. The Stamp Atlas. London: Macdonald, 1986, p.303. ISBN 0-356-10862-7

Further reading

Katanga

  • Donegan, George J., Jr. Donegan's Katanga philatelist: a specialized catalogue of the "Etat du Katanga" postal issues. Springfield, MO.: G.J. Donegan, Jr., 1964 27p.
  • Hoorens, Emile R. Histoire postale de l'Etat du Katanga 1960-1963. Brussels: E.R. Hoorens, 1997 197p.

South Kasai

  • Dufresne, André. "Les Timbres-Poste Du Sud-Kasai". Les Cahiers de l’Académie ─ OPUS XV. p. 153-159.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.