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FRENCH CONGO

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French colonies stamps used in Congo, example:

1891 Stamps of the french colonies, overprinted 'CONGO FRANCAIS' and value

(reduced size)

  '5 c' on 1 c black
     (exists overprinted in red)
  '5 c' on 15 c blue
  '5 c' on 20 c red on green
  '5 c' on 25 c black
  '10 c' on 25 c black
  '10 c' on 40 c red
  '15 c' on 25 c black

The stamps '5 c' on 25 c black, '10 c' on 25 c black and '15 c' on 25 c black exist with overprint vertically, example:

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
5 c on 1 c	R	R	With red overprint: RRR Red and black overprint: RRR
5 c on 15 c	RR	RR
5 c on 20 c	RRR	RR	Double overprint: RRR
5 c on 25 c	R	R	'COngo' or 'Congo', vertical overprint, all same value Inverted overprint ('COngo' only): RR
10 c on 25 c	RR	R	'COngo' Vertical overprint 'Congo': R Double overprint: R Inverted overprint 'COngo': RR
10 c on 40 c	RRR	RR	'COngo' Double overprint: RRR
15 c on 25 c	RR	R	'COngo' Vertical overprint 'COngo' or 'Congo': R Double overprint: RR Inverted overprint: RR

(5 c on 1 c double overprint)

1892 Postage due stamps of the French Colonies overprinted: 'Congo francais timbred poste 10 c'

  5 c on 5 c black
  5 c on 20 c black
  5 c on 30 c black
  10 c on 1 F brown

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

1893 French colonies type, inscription 'CONGO FRANCAIS' in red or blue

  1 c black
  2 c brown on yellowish
  4 c brown
  5 c green
  10 c black
  10 c red
  15 c blue
  15 c grey
  20 c red on green
  25 c black
  25 c blue
  30 c brown
  40 c orange
  50 c red
  50 c brown on blue
  75 c lilac
  1 F green

Overprinted 'Valeur' and value (1900)

  'Valeur 5' on 20 c red on green
  'Valeur 15' on 30 c brown

These stamps have perforation 14 x 13 1/2. For stamps in the same Tablet design, but for other French colonies, click here.

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 c	*	*
2 c	**	**
4 c	***	***
5 c	***	***
10 c black	***	***
10 c red	**	**	1900
15 c blue	***	***	Has underprint (see below)
15 c grey	***	***	1900
20 c	R	R
25 c black	***	***
25 c blue	***	***	1900
30 c	***	***
40 c	***	***
50 c red	R	R
50 c brown on blue	***	***	Double country name: RR
75 c	R	R
1 F	R	R
Surcharged
5 on 20 c	-	RRR	Does not exist uncancelled
15 on 30 c	-	RRR	Does not exist uncancelled

For the specialist: the 15 c blue has a underprint of horizontal and vertical lines.

(The 50 c brown on blue with double countryname variety)

Fournier has made forgeries of these stamps, note that the perforation in the corners is not like in the genuine stamps:

(Fournier forgeries, reduced sizes)

(Fournier forgery)

Furthermore the hand next to the last 'E' of 'REPUBLIQUE' doesn't show any fingers in the forgeries. For more information on these forgeries click here.

I have seen a postcard ('CARTE POSTALE') in the same design in the value 10 c black (country name in blue).

1900 Leopard, woman and palm trees, inscription 'republique francaise Congo Francais'

Leopard  

  1 c brown and grey
  2 c brown and yellow
  4 c red and blue
  5 c green and olive
  10 c red
  15 c violet and yellow

Woman

  20 c green and orange
  25 c blue
  30 c red and yellow
  40 c brown and green
  50 c violet and lilac
  75 c red and yellow
 
Palm trees

  1 F grey and olive
  2 F red and brown
  5 F orange and black

Surcharged (1903)

(reduced view)

  '5c' on 30 c red and yellow
  '0,10' on 2 F red and brown

These stamps have a watermark 'Plant', this watermark is slightly different for the 3 types of these stamps, on the values 1 c to 15 c it is a 'thistle tree', on the values 20 c to 75 c it is a 'rose tree' on the values 1 F to 5 F it is an 'olive tree'.

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 c	*	*
2 c	*	*
4 c	*	*
5 c	**	*
10 c	***	***
15 c	*	*
20 c	**	**
25 c	***	***
30 c	**	**
40 c	**	**
50 c	***	***
75 c	***	***
1 F	R	R
2 F	RR	RR
5 F	RR	RR	Exists in the colours yellow and black
Surcharged
5 c on 30 c	RRR	RR
0,10 on 2 F	RRR	RR

For similar stamps, but with inscription 'Moyen Congo' see under: Middle Congo.

Parcel post

1891 inscription 'Congo francais COLIS POSTAUX'

  10 c black on blue

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

Forgeries exist of this stamp, (by the way, I'm not sure if all the above stamps are genuine), examples:

Fournier forgery:

(Reduced size)

The above stamp is a Fournier forgery from a Fournier album, there is an overprint 'FAUX' that has been scillfully disguised with a black bar (in front of the '10').

I have seen so-called Hialeah forgeries of this stamp (uncancelled and in a block of 4).

1893 Fiscal stamp of France, overprinted 'Congo Francais COLIS POSTAUX'

  10 c grey

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

Fiscal Stamps

1892 Postage stamp of the French Colonies overprinted 'Congo Francais ENR 10 Centimes'

This overprint exists reading upwards or downwards.

Other fiscal stamps exist.

Copyright by Evert Klaseboer

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