Benin
FIRST STAMPS French Colonies General Issues at Porto Novo from 1888.
FIRST STAMPS ISSUED September 1892.
CURRENCY
As France to 1894.
Treaty of 1851 gave
France possession of Whydah (Ouidah); control was extended to Grand-Popo in
1857, Porto Novo by 1863 and Cotonou by 1883.
Placed first under Gabon, then
transferred to Senegal in 1886 under the name of Etablissements Francais du
Golfe de Benin. They were incorporated into Dahomey (see below) in 1899.
Cancellations inscribed BENIN are
known from Aquoua, Kotonou (later Cotonou), Grand-Popo, Porto Novo and Whydah.
Dahomey
FIRST STAMPS
ISSUED 1899.
CURRENCY
1899, as
France CFA.
Originally an
independent African kingdom inland of the Benin settlements, subdued by the
French in 1892-4. Ouidah was formally annexed 3 December 1892 and the rest of
Dahomey was made a colony in 1894. In 1899 it absorbed the Etablissements
Francais du Golfe de Benin and two provinces from French Sudan. These last were
returned to the new colony of Upper Senegal and Middle Niger in 1900.
Dahomey remained within the French
Community after autonomy was granted 4 December 1958, but left it at
independence on 1 August 1960.
Changed name to the People's Republic of
Benin (see below) on 30 November 1975.
It is probable that only military
offices existed up-country before 1899, but the provinces of French Sudan were
issued with postmarks in 1899-1900 worded 'Haut Dahomey', which continued to be
used after the provinces were detached. By 1915 there were 30 POs in the
colony.
The stamps of French West Africa
were used 1944-60. The first stamps issued as an independent republic were in
1960. Between 1963 and 1972 successive Governments were overthrown by the
military and a coup d'etat in 1972 brought to power a Marxist-Leninist military
government. The name was changed to the People's Republic of Benin.
Dahomey pre 1920
Click
map for larger view
People's
Republic of Benin
FIRST STAMPS ISSUED 3 April
1976.
CURRENCY
1976, as France CFA.
Independent
republic based on the colony of Dahomey, which changed its name
on 30 November 1975. The Government dropped Marxism-Leninism in
1989, revoked the Constitution in March 1990 and changed the country's
name to the Republic of Benin early in 1990.
Republic
of Benin
FIRST
STAMPS ISSUED inscribed Republique du Benin March 1990
CURRENCY
1990 - 100 centimes = 1 CFA
Successor to the People's Republic of
Benin created in March 1990. It now has a pluralist constitution
and has remained stable since the change in ideology.
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