Upper Volta (Haute Volte)
FIRST STAMPS French Sudan
from 1894.
FIRST STAMPS ISSUED December 1920 (withdrawn 31 December
1932).
CURRENCY
1920, as France CFA.
Separate French
colony created from the south-eastern part of Upper Senegal and Niger on 1
March 1919. Ceased to exist on 1 January 1933, when its provinces were divided
between French Sudan, Ivory Coast and Niger. Revived in 1947, and on 10
December 1958 became an autonomous republic within the French Community. This
it left on 5 August 1960 when it became independent. The name was changed to
Burkina Faso in 1984.
Originally used the stamps of
French Sudan (1894-1902), Senegambia and Niger (1902-4), Upper Senegal and
Niger (1904-20). Postmarks changed on each occasion. When Upper Volta was
broken up in 1933, the postmarks for each town were again changed to that of
the colony to which they were transferred.
When Upper Volta was revived in
1947, the stamps of French West Africa were used until 1960. The first issue as
an autonomous republic was on 11 August 1960. Upper Volta stamps continued to
be used after the change of name in 1984 until new stamps were issued.
Burkina Faso
FIRST
STAMPS see Upper Volta.
FIRST STAMPS ISSUED October
1984.
CURRENCY
1948, as Upper
Volta.
Formerly Upper Volta, the name was
changed in July 1984. Continued to use the stamps of Upper Volta until new
stamps were released in October. Following a number of military coups, Captain
Blaise Compaore seized power in 1987. A new constitution was adopted in 1998.
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