FRENCH POST IN ZANZIBAR

Zanzibar Français

Return To Catalogue - Zanzibar

Note: on my website many of the pictures can not be seen! They are of course present in the cd's;
contact me if you want to purchase them: evert@klaseboer.com.

From 1894 to 1904 a french post office existed in Zanzibar.

1894 Stamps of France surcharged with value in 'ANNA'

2 1/2 a on 25 c black Image obtained from a Harmers auction


1 1/2 a on 15 c, misprint with "ANNAS" instead of "ANNA"

  1/2 a (red) on 5 c green
  1 a (blue) on 10 c black
  1 1/2 a (red) on 15 c blue
  2 a on 20 c red on green
  2 1/2 a (blue) on 25 c black
  3 a on 30 c brown
  4 a on 40 c red on yellow
  5 a (blue) on 50 c red
  7 1/2 a (red) on 75 c lilac on yellow
  10 a (red) on 1 F olive
  50 a on 5 F lilac

Value of the stamps

 
vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
 
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
1/2 a on 5 c *** **  
1 a on 10 c *** ***  
1 1/2 a on 15 c RR RR  
2 a on 20 c R R  
2 1/2 a on 25 c *** ***  
3 a on 30 c R R  
4 a on 40 c R R  
5 a on 50 c R R  
7 1/2 a on 75 c RRR RRR  
10 a on 1 F RR RR  
50 a on 5 F RRR RRR   
Further surcharged with 'ZANZIBAR' horizontally and value 
in 'centimes (1894)

Image obtained from a Harmers auction Image reproduced with permission from: http://www.sandafayre.com

  1/2 ANNA + 5 c (red) on 1 c black
  1 ANNA + 10 c (red) on 2 c grey
  2 1/2 ANNAS + 25 c on 4 c brown
  5 ANNAS + 50 c on 20 c red on green
  10 ANNAS + 1 F on 40 c red on yellow

Value of the stamps

 
vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
 
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
1/2 a + 5 c on 1 c RR RR Two types of the '5'
1 a + 10 c on 2 c RR RR Three types of the '10'
2 1/2 a + 25 c on 4 c RR RR Three types of the '25'
5 a + 50 c on 20 c RR RR Three types of the '50'
10 a + 1 F on 40 c RRR RRR Three types of the '1 Fr.' 
Overprinted 'ZANZIBAR' vertically and surcharged (provisional issue: july 1897)

Image obtained from a Harmers auction Image obtained from a Harmers auction Image obtained from a Harmers auction Image obtained with permission from http://www.sandafayre.com Image obtained with permission from http://www.sandafayre.com 

(exists with and without 'Poste France')
  2 1/2 + 25 (black) on 1/2 a (red) on 5 c green
  2 1/2 + 25 (black) on 1 a (blue) on 10 c black
  2 1/2 + 25 (black) on 1 1/2 a (red) on 15 c blue
  5 + 50 on 3 a on 30 c brown
  5 + 50 on 4 a on 40 c red on yellow

Value of the stamps

 
vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
 
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
2 1/2 + 25 c on 1/2 a on 5 c RRR RR Twelf types, differing in '2 1/2' or '25 c'
2 1/2 + 25 c on 1 a on 10 c RRR RRR Twelf types, differing in '2 1/2' or '25 c'
2 1/2 + 25 c on 1 1/2 a on 15 c RRR RRR Twelf types, differing in '2 1/2' or '25 c'
5 + 50 on 3 a on 30 c RRR RRR Eight types, differing in '5' or '50 c.'
5 + 50 on 4 a on 40 c RRR RRR Eight types, differing in '5' or '50 c.' 
Overprinted 'ZANZIBAR' horizontally and value (1897)

1/2 a on 5 c green 5 a on 50 c red 5 a on 50 c red 

  1/2 a (red) on 5 c green
  1 a (blue) on 10 c black
  1 1/2 a (red) on 15 c blue
  2 a on 20 c red on green
  2 1/2 a (blue) on 25 c black
  3 a on 30 c brown
  4 a on 40 c red on yellow
  5 a (blue or black) on 50 c red
  10 a (red) on 1 F olive
  20 a on 2 F brown on blue
  50 a on 5 F lilac

Image obtained from a Harmers auction
The values 20 a on 2 F and 50 a on 5 F exist with error 'ZANZIBAS' (with final 'S' instead of 'R': RRR)

Value of the stamps

 
vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
 
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
1/2 a on 5 c ** ** Basic stamp exist in two shades of green
1 a on 10 c ** **  
1 1/2 a on 15 c *** ***  
2 a on 20 c *** ***  
2 1/2 a on 25 c *** ***  
3 a on 30 c *** ***  
4 a on 40 c *** ***  
5 a on 50 c R R  
10 a on 1 F R R  
20 a on 2 F RR RR  
50 a on 5 F RR RR   
Surcharged (only given to the public in cancelled condition)

Genuine Image obtained from a Harmers auction 

  '25c = 2 1/2' on 4 a on 40 c red on yellow
  '50c = 5' on 3 a on 30 c brown
  '50c = 5' on 4 a on 40 c red on yellow
  '1F. = 10' on 3 a on 30 c brown
  '1F. = 10' on 4 a on 40 c red on yellow

Value of the stamps

 
vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
 
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
25 c + 2 1/2 on 4 a on 40 c - RRR  
50 c + 5 on 3 a on 30 c - RRR  
50 c + 5 on 4 a on 40 c - RRR  
1 F + 10 on 3 a on 30 c - RRR  
1 F + 10 on 4 a on 40 c - RRR   
Bogus overprint:


(Bogus overprint)

Not sure if this stamp is genuine....
Possibly forgeries, the overprint doesn't look "genuine" and there appears to be another cancel under the "ZANZIBAR" cancel.

 

1897 Inscription 'Poste France ZANZIBAR', printed on empty fields of stamp sheets

"Forgery?" Image reproduced with permission from: http://www.sandafayre.com Image obtained from a Harmers auction Image obtained from a Harmers auction Image reproduced with permission from: http://www.sandafayre.com 

  2 1/2 a + 25 c green
  2 1/2 a + 25 c black on lilac
  2 1/2 a + 25 c blue
  5 a + 50 c brown
  5 a + 50 c red on yellow

The '2 1/2 25 c' overprint exists in 3 types, the '5 50c' overprint in 2 types.

Value of the stamps

 
vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
 
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
All values RRR RRR  

I've been told that the above stamp is genuine, even though the word 'ZANZIBAR' is written horizontally instead of vertically.


Another 'misprint'? Inscription 'Post France' instead of 'Poste France'


Forgery with inscription "Posie Fronce"....

 

1902 Stamps as french types, but inscription 'ZANZIBAR' and surcharged

1 a on 10 c red 5 a on 50 c brown and grey 

  1/2 a (red) on 5 c green
  1 a on 10 c red
  1 1/2 a on 15 c red
  2 a on 20 c brown
  2 1/2 a on 25 c blue
  3 a on 30 c violet
  4 a on 40 c red and blue
  5 a on 50 c brown and grey
  10 a on 1 F red and green
  20 a on 2 F violet and brown
  50 a on 5 F blue and yellow

Value of the stamps

 
vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
 
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
1/2 a on 5 c *** **  
1 a on 10 c *** ***  
1 1/2 a on 15 c *** ***  
2 a on 20 c R R  
2 1/2 a on 25 c *** ***  
3 a on 30 c *** ***  
4 a on 40 c R R  
5 a on 50 c R R  
10 a on 1 F RR RR  
20 a on 2 F RR RR  
50 a on 5 F RR RR   
Surcharged (only given to public in cancelled condition)

Image obtained with permission from http://www.sandafayre.com Image obtained with permission from http://www.sandafayre.com

  '2 25' (red) on 1/2 a (red) on 5 c green
  '25c 2 1/2' on 1 a on 10 c red
  '25c 2 1/2' on 3 a on 30 c violet
  '50c cinq' on 3 a on 30 c violet
  '1 fr dix' on 3 a on 30 c violet

Value of the stamps

 
vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
 
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
2 + 25 on 1/2 a on 5 c - RR  
25 c + 2 1/2 on 1 a on 10 c - RR I have seen an inverted '25 c 2 1/2' surcharge
25 c + 2 1/2 on 3 a on 30 c - RRR  
50 c cinq on 3 a on 30 c - RRR  
1 fr dix on 3 a on 30 c - RRR  

 

1904 Postage Due stamps overprinted 'Timbre' , 'Affrancht' or bars on 'CHIFFRE TAXE'

Image obtained from a Harmers auction 1 1/2 a on 15 c green

  1/2 a on 5 c blue
  1 a (blue) on 10 c black 
  '1 1/2 ANNA' and bars (red) on 15 c green

These stamps were given to the public in already cancelled condition.

Value of the stamps

 
vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
 
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
1/2 a on 5 c - RR  
1 a on 10 c - RR  
1 1/2 a on 15 c - RRR  

Postage Due stamps

1897 Postage due stamps of France overprinted with value and 'ZANZIBAR'

1/2 a on 5 c blue 

  1/2 a (red) on 5 c blue
  1 a (blue) on 10 brown
  1 1/2 a (red) on 15 c green
  3 a on 30 c red
  5 a (blue) on 50 c lilac

Value of the stamps

 
vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
 
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
1/2 a on 5 c *** **  
1 a on 10 c *** ***  
1 1/2 a on 15 c *** ***  
3 a on 30 c *** ***  
5 a on 50 c R ***  

An error 2 1/2 a on 50 c exists. This error also exists with a handwritten '5' across the '2 1/2'. I have never seen this error or the handwritten correction.

Postage Due stamps overprinted 'Timbre' , 'Affrancht' or bars on 'CHIFFRE TAXE' are actually postage stamps issued in 1904 (see there).

Stamps - Timbres Poste - Briefmarken - Postzegels

Copyright by Evert Klaseboer