Stamps of Benin (formerly Dahomey) – Philatelic Country Profile

Benin is a country in West Africa bordered Togo to the West, Nigeria to the East, Burkino Faso to the North East, Niger to the North, and the Bight of Benin (a type of Bay stretching for 400 miles on the coast) to the South. Benin was known as Dahomey during the Colonial period until it was renamed as Benin in 1975 well after Independence (1960). Benin has a total land area of about 44,000 square miles with a population of close to 9M. It is an underdeveloped country with a per-capita GDP (ppp) of around $1600. The history of the region is dominated by the slave trade which flourished in the area for 300 years starting in the late fifteenth century as a result of the trade agreement with the Portuguese. Between 1600 and 1900, the Kingdom of Dahomey was considered a major regional power that continued to expand as a direct result of profiting from slave trade. The French took over the area in 1894 following the Franco-Dahomean war – slave trading and human sacrifices made the Kingdom unpopular and as a result, the army that fought against the King of Dahomey consisted mostly of native Africans. Between 1894 and 1960, Dahomey was part of French West Africa. After independence, the region saw a period of ethnic turbulence as three different political figures from different ethnicities tried to force themselves into power using coupes. Lt. Col. Mathieu Kerekou became president following a coupe in 1972. Under him, the country became Marxist with the banking and petroleum industries controlled by the state. He holds the distinction of becoming the first African president to step down following an election defeat to Nicephore Soglo in 1991. They traded places in 2001 following general election. In 2006, they both did not run in the election due to age and term restrictions – another praiseworthy outcome, as the common scene in Africa is to alter the constitution to fit the needs of the ruling party to stay in power. Fairly elected democracy is a bright spot for Benin. Projects to improve the business climate are underway and should help the country grow out of its status as an underdeveloped country in the coming years.

The first stamps of Dahomey are French key types in the “Navigation and Commerce” theme with the “DAHOMEY ET DEPENDANCES” print in red released in 1899. The set (Scott #1 to #16) consists of sixteen denominations (1c to 5fr). The lower denominations catalog for as low as $1 and the higher denominations go proportionally higher. The set catalogs for around $400 MNH and $280 Used. This was followed by another long set of fifteen stamps (Scott #17 to #31) in as many denominations and three designs. The designs show Gen. Louis Faidherbe (French General, Colonial Administrator, Geographer, Philologist, and Archeologist), Oil Palm (major export item from the French West Africa), and Dr. Noel Eugene Ballay (French Lt. Gov. and Explorer) in shades of black and white. Certain surcharges on these issues were the only stamps in circulation until 1913. A huge set of forty five stamps and certain varieties with new surcharges were the mainstay of Dahomian stamp issues between 1913 and 1931. The issues had a single design of a Man Climbing Oil Palm in different single-colors and denominations. The set (Scott #42 to #86) catalogs for around $50 MNH and $35 used.

1941 saw the issue of a long set (Scott #113 to #134) of twenty two stamps showing Dahomian local scenes. The scenes depicted are Man Poling a Canoe, Pile House, Sail Boat on Lake Nokoue, and a Dahomey Warrior. The set in denominations from 2c of 20fr catalogs for around $15 for MNH or Used. Stamps of French West Africa superseded Dahomian stamps from 1945 to 1960. Between 1960 and 1975, Dahomey stamps came with the inscription ‘Republique Du Dahomey’. Significant issues during the period include:

1. After Independence, the first stamps of Benin were released on March 1, 1960 and depict the lake village of Ganvie, a tourist attraction. The stamp (Scott #137) is pretty common and trades well below a dollar for MNH and 20c for Used. This was followed by a Common Design type that shows the symbol of Commission for Technical Cooperation in Africa South of the Sahara (CCTA), a non-political organization that existed between 1950 and 1965. This stamp (Scott #138) is also pretty inexpensive.
2. The Birds set of Air Post stamps released between 1966 and 1967. The set of five stamps (Scott# c33 to c37) catalogs for around $40 MNH and around $12 for Used. The designs show Pygmy Goose, Fiery-breasted bush-shrike, Broad-billed Rollers, Emerald Cuckoos, and Emerald Starling. A large number of air post stamps were issued during the 1960-1975 time frame in very colorful designs and some of them like this one are valuable.
3. An animal set of five stamps (Scott #245 to #249) released on March 18, 1968 in the theme Animals from the Pendjari Reservation. The designs show a Lion, Kobus Kob (Buffon's kob), African slender-snouted crocodile, and Hippopotamus. The set catalogs around $7 MNH and less than half that for Used. This was followed by a sister set of five stamps released on February 10, 1969. That set (Scott #252 to #256) is also similarly valued and depicts the following animals: Warthog, Leopard, Spotted Hyena, Anubius Baboon, and Hartebeest (grassland antelope native to West Africa).
4. A set of four stamps released on July 16, 1970 to mark the 300th anniversary of the mission from the King of Ardes to the King of France. The designs show Sailing Ships "La Justice" and "La Concorde", Matheo Lopes (ambassador of the King of Andres and his coat of arms), Louis XIV and fleu-de-lis (coat of arms of the French Monarch). The set (Scott #271 to #274) catalogs for around $5 MNH and about half that for Used.
5. The Fables set of three stamps released on August 28, 1972 to commemorate fables by Jean de La Fontaine (1621-1695), the French fabulist. The themes were The Hare and the Tortoise, The Fox and the Stork, and The Cat, the Weasel, and Rabbit. The set (Scott #297 to #299) has beautiful designs and catalog for around $10 MNH and less than half that for Used.

The Republic of Dahomey became the People’s Republic of Benin on November 30, 1975. Below are significant issues from that point on:

1. The first stamps after the name change to the Republic of Benin were the flowers set released on December 8, 1975. The set (Scott #342 to #345) had the ‘Republique of Dahomey’ inscription. The designs were Alamanda Cathartica, Ixora Coccinea, Hibiscus, and Phaemeria Magnifica. These catalog for around $5 MNH and about half that for Used.
2. The first stamps with the Benin inscription were the Proclamation of the People’s Republic of Benin released on April 30, 1976. The designs show Flag Bearers and Arms of Benin, Speaker - wall with "PRPB" inscription, and Flag and Arms of Benin. The set is very inexpensive at less than $3 for MNH and lesser still for Used.
3. A Birds set of eight stamps released on September 1, 1982. The set (Scott #525 to #532) is pretty valuable at around $30 MNH and less than $10 for Used. The designs show Daoeglo Gigas, Bluethroat, Swallow, Kingfisher, Great Sedge Warbler, Common Warbler, Owl, and Cockatoo.

Benin has released a large number of stamps since 1982. Many of them were reissued with surcharges. Some of the early surcharges in sets are pretty valuable but it is hard for collectors to acquire them as forgeries of the surcharges are common.