Cameroons (UKTT) - Travel/Philately/Numismatics/Memorabilia Profile

Cameroons (UKTT) was a territory mandated to the British by the League of Nations in 1922. The area was a German Protectorate in late nineteenth century with the British, French, and Belgian troops occupying the area during World War I. Part of the area was mandated to France as Cameroun and the British mandate included Northern Cameroons and Southern Cameroons divided at the present-day Cameroun-Nigeria border. Following a plebiscite, Northern Cameroons became part of the independent state of Nigeria in 1960 and the Southern Cameroons were termed U.K.T.T. (United Kingdom Trust Territory). UKTT became part of Cameroun on October 1, 1961.

Philatelic Profile:

Red “Cameroons U.K.T.T.” overprints on a Nigerian set oftwelve stamps (Scott #80 to #91) of 1953 were used in the area during 1960 and 1961. The issues were withdrawn from Northern Cameroons on May 31, 1961 when that area became part of Nigeria and in Southern Cameroons on September 30, 1961 when that area joined the Cameoun Federal Republic. The parent set from Nigeria is sought after and catalogs for around $55 MNH and around $15 Used. The designs show Manilla Bracelet Currency, Bornu Horsemen, Peanuts of Kano City, Mning Tin, Jebba bridge over Niger River, Cocoa Industry, Olokun Head in Ife Bronze, Logging Industry, Victoria Harbor, Palm Oil Industry, Cattle Industry showing Goats and Fulani, and Lagos Waterfront from the 19th and 20th centuries. The British Crown Head design or the QE head portrait design is featured in Inset on all stamps of this set. The U.K.T.T. overprints (Scott #66 to #77) were issued on October 1, 1960 and catalogs from around $20 MNH and around double that for Used.

Collectible Memorabilia:

Early 20th century colonial maps and late 19th century German maps are a very collectible item from the area. First prints coveringnative art, flora, and fauna are also sought after. Original photographs from the period covering the early 1950s to independence era of the early 1960s showing political or other union activism is another sought after item from the area. Original art work including postcards covering native pygmy and other ethnic themes are also sought after.

Related Posts:

1. Cameroon. 
2. Nigeria. 

Last Updated: 12/2015. 

Bushire - Travel/Philately/Numismatics/Memorabilia Profile

Bushire is a seaport in Iran and is the capital city of Bushehr Province. It is located around 750 miles south of Tehran. In the nineteenth century, Bushire was the main seaport of the area although there are currently several other prominent ports in the country. Great Britain occupied the port in 1856 during the Anglo-Persian War and again in 1915. In recent times, Bushire was in the news as being close to the site of Bushire Nuclear Power Plant. The project was conceived as early as 1975 but was finally commissioned only in September 2011.

Philatelic Profile:

Philatelic items from Bushire include ‘used in Bushire’ stamps from India and Great Britain along with Iranian stamps with “BushireUnder British Occupation” overprints issued in 1915. Most of the stamps from the period are sought after and highly collectible. Valuable Indian stamps used in Bushire include early issues with the 308 overprint in Used condition from the period between 1854 and the turn of the century. Certain inverted overprints and other errors also exist although there are very well executed forgeries in the market as well. Iranian stamp designs with the “Bushire UnderBritish Occupation” overprints include Ahmad Shah portrait issues, the Imperial Crown issues, King Darius Farvahar overhead issues, and ruins of Persepolis issues in different colors and denominations. A notable variety among theoverprints is the “no period after OCCUPATION” issues which fetch roughly double the premium compared to the regular varieties without the period. There are a total of twenty nine stamps along with fourteen “no period” varieties. It will however require quite an effort to assemble the complete set of these issues as some of them are very rare and valuable. The 2c blue & car, the 5c red, and the 6c olive green & car are the rarest and feature the Imperial Crown design. All the stamps in that set (Scott #N15 to #N29) issued in September 1915 fetch a premium upwards of $500 in Used or Mint condition. The first set (Scott #N1 to #N14) is also sought after and catalogs for around $2600 for Mint and around $2K for Used. The issues have the Lion watermark (161) and form a step in identifying forgeries. The “Used in Bushire” examples are also very collectible although the values vary widely depending on condition and whether the examples are on cover.

Coins and Collectible Memorabilia:

Bushire had a mint (Abu Shahr) and several coins of the nineteenth century were produced there. Copper coins with animal designs form the majority of the issues and they fetch around $40 or so in VF. Originalpostcards and photographs showing local scenes of nineteenth century life in Bushire fetch a premium into the $100s depending on condition. First editionsof Persian books covering the area are also very collectible.

Last Updated: 12/2015.

British Honduras - Travel/Philately/Numismatics/Memorabilia Profile

British Honduras is present-day Belize located in the North East of Central America bordered by Mexico to the North, Guatemala to the South and West and the Caribbean Sea to the East covering around 8700 square miles. The area was first colonized by Spain in the seventeenth century but became a British Crown Colony in 1862, subordinate to Jamaica. It became an independent British colony in 1884. The colony was renamed as Belize in 1973 and became the last continental possession of the United Kingdom to become independent in 1981.  From 1964 to 1981, the colony was self-governing.

Philatelic Profile:

The first stamps of British Honduras were QV key types issued in 1866. Prior to that, philatelic items of the area consist of certain prestamp philatelic markings and Great Britain stamps used in British Honduras. The first set consisted of three stamps (Scott #1 to #3) in different colors and denominations that ranged from 1p to 1sh. The set is sought after and catalogs in the $800 range for Mint and less than half that for used. Certain combinations in vertical and horizontal gutter pairs are known to exist and they catalog upwards of $30,000 - the distinct combinations exist as the 6p and 1sh denominations were printed only in a sheet with 1p early on. Surcharge varieties of the first set were the primary stamps used in British Honduras till around 1891. Several rare surcharge markings from this period exist and they fetch a premium well into the 1000s. Another QV key type set debut in 1891 (Scott #38 to #46) and that along with some charge varieties and key types ofKEVII and KGV formed the bulk of British Honduran stamp issues during the period through 1937. The only other issues from the area were common design types. Many of the issues from the period are sought after and very collectible.

The first original issue of British Honduras was a long set of twelve stamps (Scott #115 to #126) issued in 1938. The set is valuable and catalogs for around $80 MNH and around $45 Used. The designs show a KGVI head portrait as an inset along with a scene of local relevance: Mayan Figures, Chicle Tapping, Cohune Palm, Local Products, Grapefruit Industry, Mahogany Logs on River, Sergeant’s Cay, Dory, Chicle Industry, Belize Court House, Mahogany Cutting, and Seal of Colony.

Several Common Design Types were the mainstay of British Honduras stamp issues during the period till 1953. The only release outside this theme was a set of six stamps (Scott #131 to #136) issued on January 10, 1949 to mark the 150th anniversary of the Battle of St. George’s Cay. The designs show St. George’s Cay and H.M.S. Merlin. The set is common and can be had for a few dollars. It is however very collectible. A local scenes set of twelve stamps (Scott #144 to #155) appeared in 1953 and that set continued to be sold till 1957. The designs show a QEII head portrait as inset along with local scenes: Arms, Tapir, Legislative Council Chamber and mace, Pine industry, Spiny lobster, Stanley Field Airport, Mayan Frieze, Blue Butterfly, Maya, Armadillo, Hawkesworth Bridge, and Pine Ridge Orchid.

Common Design Types continued to dominate the scene until 1962 when British Honduras started issuing stamps in brilliant colors to promote visual appeal. First was a stunningly beautiful set of twelve stamps featuring Birds issued in April 1962 in the theme “Birds in Natural Colors”. The set is very sought after and catalogs for around $75 MNH and around one-third that for Used. The designs show QEII head portrait as a top-right inset along with the main bird design: Great Curassow, Red-legged honeycreeper, American Jacana, Great Kiskadee, Scarlet-rumped tanager, Scarlet Macaw, Massena Trogon, Redfooted Booby, Keel-billed Toucan, Magnificent Frigate Bird, Rufoustailed Jacamar, Montezuma Oropendola. Another very collectible set is the Fish type, a set of twelve stamps released on October 15, 1968. It uses a very similar design with the British Crown instead of QEII as inset: Jewfish, White-lipped Peccary, Sea Bass (Grouper), Collared Anteater, Bonefish, Paca, Dolphinfish, Kinkajou, Yellow-and-green-banded muttonfish, Tayra, Great Barracudas, and Mountain Lion.

Numismatic Profile:

Several countermarked coins were in use in the area starting around the late 18th century. The ‘GR’ monogram was used in several coins in the early 19th century and crown over ‘GR’ was in use as well. The first such issue was a six shilling 1 penny silver coin dated between 1810 and 1818 with host dates between 1808 and 1811 (Mexico City 8 Reales). The issue is very valuable and fetch upwards of $800 in VF - better varieties are not known to exist.  Several other varieties exist and they generally fetch around the same price.

Decimal Coinage debut in 1885 with the issue of QV headcents in Bronze. They have mintage mintage in the 100,000 range. UNC varieties go for upwards of $75 and Proofs can be had for upwards of $250. Denominations from 1c to 50c exist and the higher denominations are in silver.  Premiums go up to around $1,500 for a 50 cent QV silver proof dated 1894. Token coinage consists of Brass Indian Head Rialsof 1871 and Copper numerals Pence by Henry Gansz of 1885. Mintages are unknown and UNC varieties go for upwards of $500.

Last Updated: 12/2015.

British Guiana - Travel/Philately/Numismatics/Memorabilia Profile

British Guiana is the area of present-day Guyana located on the northern coast of South America covering 83,000 square miles. The area was originally settled by the Dutch at the start of the 17th century but eventually became a British colony by 1814. It remained a colony until May 26, 1966 when it became the independent country of Guyana.

Philatelic Profile:

The British Guiana postal service came into being as early as 1796 when privately run packet service was the modus operandi. The services used postage stamps of Great Britain at the time in the areas of Essequibo-Demerara and Berbice. An inland mail service was established in 1850 with a minimum rate of 4c based on distance. The first stamps were printed locally in 4c, 8c, and 12c denominations in 1850 and were followed by a 2c denomination in 1851. The imperforate stamps (Scott #1 to #5)  printed by the Royal Gazette newspaper in black on different colors were known as the “Cottonreels” - a reference to their circular shape and resemblance to the labels found on spools of cotton - as part of an effort to prevent forgery, all stamps in this simple set had to be initialed by an official at the Post Office of Georgetown. The first issues are very rare and fetch between $10,000 and $100,000. The rarest among them is the 1851 2c stamp printed on rose paper (nickname “pale rose” came from this) of which only around 10 are known to exist. Cut-to-shape varieties are cheaper. The rarest stamp of British Guiana is the 1c black on magenta (Scott #13) - it is considered unique and can fetch well into the millions if it is ever put up for sale. It was part of a set of four stamps (Scott #13 to #16) that were printed locally in 1856. These stamps were also initialed before being issued. The other issues in the set are also quite rare and fetch between $8,000 and $80,000.

Issues printed in London first appeared in 1852 with the release of a set of two stamps in the “Ship and Motto of Colony” design. The set (Scott #6 and #7) is very rare and fetch upwards of $10K for Mint and around half that for Used. A “Seal of the Colony” design was the mainstay of British Guiana stamps during the period from 1853 to 1859. Those stamps (Scott #8 to #12) are also rare fetch into the 1000s. The colony continued to have intermittent problems with stamp availability due to delays of shipments from London. As such, locally printed issues were used in 1862 and again in 1882. Those issues (Scott #35 to #43 and #103 to #106) are rare and very valuable. Meanwhile, the Seal of the Colony issues along with several overprinted varieties continued to be issued from London till around 1898.

British Guiana issued a set of five stamps (Scott #152 to#156) in 1898 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Queen Victoria’s accession to the throne. The set is valued at around $150 Mint and around $50 Used. The designs show Mount Roraima and Kaieteur Falls. KGV and Seal of the Colony themes dominated the scene till 1931 when a set of five stamps commemorating the 100th anniversary of the colony’s formation was released. The set (Scott#205 to #209) catalogs for around $40 Mint and around $60 Used. The designs show Plowing a Rice Field, Indian Shooting Fish, Kaieteur Falls, Georgetown Public Buildings. This was followed with a longer local scenes set (Scott #210to #222) on October 1, 1934. That set catalogs for around $130 Mint and around $150 Used. Similar sets were released in 1938 and 1954. The sets (Scott #230 to#241 and #253 to #267) are popular among thematic collectors.

A set of three stamps were released on October 23, 1961 in the “Clasped Hands” design promoting self-government. They had the “One People - One Nation - One Destiny” inscription with a QE head on the top-right and was issued to mark the fourth annual history and culture week. The set (Scott #268to #270) is surprisingly inexpensive and can be had for under a dollar MNH or Used. A set of three stamps to mark the 18th Olympic Games in Tokyo was released on October 1, 1964. The set (Scott #290 to #292) is very beautiful and inexpensive at under a dollar.

Numismatic Profile:

Guilders were the currency of British Guiana from 1796 when it was known as Essequibo and Demerary. The first coins in circulation in British Guiana were overstamps on Brazilian pecas issued between 1798 and 1799. Holed Spanish 8 Reales was also in use since around 1808. The first coins (KM#1 3 bits) with “E & D 3 Bt” countermark on serrated center plug design catalog around $3500 in XF. The holder 3 Guilder versions on 8 Reales host coins (KM#2) catalogs for roughly double that and was issued in 1791, 1796, and 1803. Essequibo and Demerary started issuing regular coins in 1809 denominated in guilders. In 1836, British Guiana introduced a new series of guilders simultaneously with the issue of 4p coins by the British Royal Mint for use in British Guiana - they did not have any indication that said it should circulate in British Guiana with the result that they were in circulation in UK as well (Maundy sets). Groats and the seated Britannia types originally issued for use in UK was circulated in the colony as well later on. Private token copper stivers were also in use in British Guiana in the late 1830s. The most collectible issues of British Guiana are the 1836 0.8160 Silver with an ASW of 0.2039oz reeded edge Guilder proofs that are valued upwards of $1250. Plain edged versions can be had for around $600 and regular guilders with a mintage of 57,000 go for around $400 in UNC. The issue had a mintage of 336,000. The 1830s also saw the issue of papermoney denominated in joes and guilders. Colonial era proofs from the later period also have low mintages and fetch a premium upwards of $100.

Collectible Memorabilia:

Slavery related original memorabilia from British Guiana from the early 19th century is very collectible and fetch a huge premium. Postcardsand government documents from the period also fetch a premium. Artworkfeaturing the mining industry, sugarcane industry, and native Indian portraits are also very collectible and fetch upwards of $20. Original 19th century maps of the area fetch upwards of $60. 

Last Updated: 12/2015.

British East Africa - Travel/Philately/Numismatics/Memorabilia Profile

British East Africa is the area of present-day Kenya which was controlled by Great Britain during the period from 1895. It became the colony of Kenya in 1920. The colony of Kenya remained through the period from 1920 to 1963 when it gained independence.

Philatelic Profile:

The first stamps of British East Africa were surcharge and ‘British East Africa Company”  overprints on Queen Victoria (QV) issues of the period. The set of three stamps (Scott #1to #3) is very rare and sought after. They each catalog in the range of $300 to $600 Mint and slightly less for Used. The overprinted denominations read HALF ANNA, 1 ANNA, and 4 ANNAS.

The first set was followed between 1890 and 1894 with a set of seventeen stamps (Scott #14 to #30) in the Light and Liberty theme showing the Sun and Crown Symbolical in a very simple single color design. The set catalogs in the $700 range for Mint and around $950 for Used. A number of varieties from this set including surcharge and British East Africa overprint variations dominated the scene during the period till 1896.

Queen Victoria and British Lions design with British East Africa and denomination printed as key types replaced the previous QV issues during the period between 1896 and 1903. The first set (Scott #72 to #87) featured sixteen stamps in different colors and denominations and they catalog in the $500 range for Mint and $350 for Used. The key types were supplemented with British East Africa overprints on certain Zanzibar key types also appeared during the period and they are also very much sought after and rare. A sister set (Scott #102a to #109) featuring higher values (1r to 50r) was also issued in 1898. Those catalog in the $1500 range for Mint and a little more for Used.

British East Africa stamps were replaced by Stamps of East Africa and Uganda Protectorate in 1904.  

Numismatics and Collectible Memorabilia:

Coins of Mombasa (the capital) from the late 1800s and EastAfrica from the early 1900s are both very collectible and sought after in better grades.

 Original photographs,postcards, etc depicting life in the area from the period is a good collectible item of the area.

Last Updated: 12/2015.

British Central Africa - Travel/Philately/Numismatics/Memorabilia Profile

The area of British Central Africa protectorate covered the lands west of Lake Nyasa and the Shire Highlands south of Lake Nyasa. Following a crisis over control over the area in 1889 between the British and the Portuguese, Great Britain took over the area and named it the British Central Africa Protectorate in 1893. The area changed its name to Nyasaland Protectorate on July 6, 1907.

Philatelic Profile:

The first stamps of British Central Africa were “B.C.A.”overprints on Rhodesian stamps of the British South Africa Company. The stamps were released as a large set of seventeen (Scott #1 to #17) during the period from 1891 to 1895. The set is sought after and catalogs in the $8.2K range for Mint and a lot more for Used – the two pound and five pound varieties are not known to exist in Used condition. Denominations vary from a penny to ten pounds. Fiscal cancellations are fairly common from most issues of British Central Africa and catalog well below these values – the most common among the fiscal cancels is the undated double-circle with a town name in the center in Black. The first set was followed by a set of two stamps with three shilling and four shilling surcharge overprints on the original issues (Scott #18 and #19 on Scott #11 and #12). That set is also sought after and catalogs in the $475 range for Mint and around the same for Used. Certain double surcharge varieties exist and genuine copies of those fetch a huge premium into the 1000s.

The first original issues of British Central Africa were a couple of designs on the Coat of Arms theme issued in 1895. The set of twelve stamps with denominations that range between a penny and twenty five pounds (Scott #21 to #31) is highly valued. The first eight stamps forming the denominations till 5 shillings catalog in the $850 range for Mint and around hundred less for Used. The poundage denominations fetch well into the 1000s. The Coat of Arms theme along with certain surcharges formed the primary stamp issues of British Central Africa during the period till the turn of the century. A couple of sets that were King Edward VII (KEVII) keytypes were issued during the period from 1903 to 1907 and those form the complete stamp issues of British Central Africa. The most valuable stamps of British Central Africa are the 2p and 4p varieties of the KEVII issues of 1907 (Scott #71 and #72) and those catalog in the $12.5K range.

Collectible Memorabilia:

Prints of Sir Harry H. Johnston artwork are a good collectible item from the period. Original maps of the area is also a collectible item.


Last Updated: 12/2015. 

Belgian Congo - Travel/Philately/Numismatics/Memorabilia Profile

Belgian Congo was a free state founded by King Leopold II that was annexed to Belgium as a colony in 1908. Between 1884 and 1908 it was the Congo Free State privately controlled by Leopold II. Belgian Congo gained independence and became the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on June 30, 1960.

Philatelic Profile:

The first stamps of Belgian Congo were Independent State issues depicting a head-portrait of King Leopald II in different colors and denominations. The set (Scott #1 to #5) of five stamps catalogs for around $400 Mint and around $300 Used. There are certain varieties of the highest denomination which catalog much higher. This was followed between 1887 and 1894 by another set of Leopald II issues. That set (Scott #6 to #13) is more expensive and catalogs in the $1.5K range for Mint and around half that for Used. The first original issues were a local scenes set of thirteen stamps (Scott #14 to #26) issued between 1894 and 1901. The set catalogs for around $375 Mint and around $95 Used. The designs show Port Matadi, River scene on the Congo and Stanley Falls, Inkissi Falls, railroad bridge on M’pozo river, Hunting Elephants, and Bangala Chief and Wife. Several other local scenes sets and certain varieties were the primary stamp issues of Belgium through the period till 1928.

Belgian Congo released a large set of fifteen stamps on June 30, 1928 depicting a portrait of Sir Henry Morton Stanley in different single-colors and denominations. The set (Scott #115 to #129) is sought after and catalogs for around $20 Mint and around half that for Used. A set of seven stamps depicting the four kings (Leopold I, Leopold II, Albert I, and Leopold III) was issued on August 15, 1935 and that set (Scott #159 to #165) catalogs for around $10 MNH and around half that for Used. The most sought after set among the later issues is a large set of twenty six stamps issued between 1947 and 1950 in the “Carved Figures and Masks of Baluba Tribe” theme. The set (Scott #231 to #256) catalogs for around $45MNH and around $5 for Used. The designs show “Ndoha” figure of tribal king, “Tshimanyi” idol, “Buangakokoma” – kneeling beggar statue, “Mbuta” – sacred double-cup carved with two faces (man and woman), “Ngadimuashi” – female mask, “Buadi-Muadi” – square mask, “Mbowa” – buffalo horned executioner’s mask.

Numismatic Profile:

The first coins of Belgian Congo was a 5 Centimes Copper-Nickel coin issued in 1909 with a mintage of 1.8M. The issue (KM# 12) shows a crowned “JL” with a hole in the middle in Obverse and star, date, and value in Reverse. It catalogs in the $200 range for BU and can be had for as low as $5 for F. Copper-Nickel varieties with denominations up to a Franc formed the major coin issues of Belgian Congo. Higher denominations using distinct designs include a hexagon shaped brass 2 Franc coin issued in 1943 with a mintage of 25M. the issue (KM# 25) catalogs for around $75 in BU. The design shows the denomination with stars flanking in obverse and an African Elephant with date in Reverse. Other higher denominations of prominence include a 50 Francs silver coin (KM# 27) issued in 1944 with a mintage of 1M. That coin catalogs in the $200 range in UNC. It has a similar design and contains 0.23914 oz actual silver weight.

Belgian Congo was administered together with Ruanda-Urundi between 1925 and 1960. As such coins of both these areas were made jointly during the period between 1952 and 1960. Ruanda-Urundi Aluminum and Brass Centimes of the period are pretty common and catalog in the few dollars range. There are silver Essais (E1 through E6) of the 5 Franc denomination for a few different years and they catalog much higher.

Collectible Memorabilia:

Colonial era postcards, Christian missionary maps, and authentic Congo fetish figures, sculptures, etc form the major collectible items of the area. 

Last Updated: 12/2015.

Bechuanaland Protectorate - Travel/Philately/Numismatics/Memorabilia Profile

Bechuanaland Protectorate was British Protectorate established in 1888. The provinces which include the Protectorate was the country of the Tswana people and was divided into two political entities – Bechuanaland Protectorate which formed the northern part and the crown colony of British Bechuanaland which was the southern part. The British Bechuanaland became part of South Africa in 1895 while the Bechuanaland Protectorate became the Republic of Botswana in 1966. The British government had a plan to turn over the administration of the protectorate to South Africa but Tswana opposition resulted in the status-quo under British rule for an extended period of time.

Philatelic Profile:

The first stamp of Bechuanaland Protectorate was a ‘British Bechuanaland Protectorate’ overprint on Britsh Queen Victoria (QV) Postage and Revenue issues. The stamp (Scott #52) was issued in 1888 and is fairly common cataloging in the $5 range for Mint and around $30 for Used. There are varieties of the same issue from 1990 and several error varieties. Those issues (Scott #51, #53, etc) fetch a premium well into the 100s.  The first issues with the ‘Bechuanaland Protectorate’ black overprints were on stamps of Great Britain from 1881 to 1887. The set (Scott #69 to #74) catalogs for around $65 Mint and around $45 Used and were issued in October 1897. King George V (KGV) overprints (vertical) debut in1904 with the issue of a set of four stamps (Scott #76 to #79) that were overprints on GB KGV issues of 1902. The set catalogs for around $60 Mint and around $160 Used.

Key types stated appearing around 1932 with the issue of a set (Scott #105 to #116) of twelve KGV key types issued on December 12, 1932. The set is sought after and catalgos in the $300 range for MNH and around $350 for Used. King George VI (KGVI) key types debut in 1938 with the issue of a set of eleven stamps (Scott #124 to #136) on April 1, 1938. The set catalogs for around $80 MNH and around $70 for Used. The most recognized set of the area is a set of three stamps which formed the Peace Issue of December 3, 1945 with alternate inscriptions in English and Afrikaans. The set (Scott #137a-b to#139a-b) is inexpensive and catalogs for a few dollars either MNH or Used.

The first Queen Elizabeth (QE) issues were a set of twelve stamps (Scott #154 to #165) that had a QE head design along with local fauna issued in 1955. The set catalogs for around $85 MNH and around $70 Used. The first original issues were a set of three stamps issued on January 21, 1960 to mark the 75^th anniversary of the proclamation of the protectorate. The set (Scott #166 to #168) catalogs for around $2 MNH or Used. The design shows Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth II bust portraits along with a water hole scene. QE issues dominated the scene until 1966 when it gained independence as the Republic of Botswana. Chief among them was a flora and fauna set of fourteen stamps (Scott #180 to #193) issued on October 2, 1961. The colorful set catalogs in the $65 range for MNH and around $40 for Used.

Last Updated: 12/2015.