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FRENCH SUDAN

Soudan Français

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contact me if you want to purchase it.

French Soudan was a French colony in North West Africa. It issued stamps from 1894 onwards. It was then icluded in other colonies, but it resumed issuing its own stamps in 1921.


A stamp of the French Colonies, general issues, with a "KAYES SOUDAN FRANCAIS" cancel

 

1894 Stamps of the French Colonies, surchargd "SOUDAN Fais" and value

With a Sergio Sismondo certificate of genuineness Image reproduced with permission from: http://www.sandafayre.com '0,25' on 1 F green 

  '0,15' on 75 c red
  '0,25' on 1 F green

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
'0.15' on 75 c RRR RRR Only 1000 stamps printed
'0,25' on 1 F RRR RRR Only 950 stamps printed

These stamps were prepared on 12 April 1894 and were exhausted on 18 July 1894. They were used in Kayes and were only supposed to be put on military letters already cancelled. A few mint stamps are known to exist. See: http://www.timbresmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/1erVolet.pdf The forger Fournier is known to have made forgeries of these stamps.


A page with forged Fournier overprints.

The forger Oneglia offered 3 kinds of forgeries of these stamps in his 1906 stamp catalogue. One with a "0,15" overprint on a 1877 stamp. Then a "0,15" on 75 c (as in the genuine stamp). He also offered a "0,15" on 1 F (not "0,25"!).


A cancel used during a stamp shortage in 1894. Inscription "TAXE PERCUE: Manque de Timbres dans la Colonie."

 

1893 French colonies Tablet type, inscription "SOUDAN FRANCAIS" in red or blue

1 c black on blue 4 c brown 15 c blue 20 c red on green 1 F green 

  1 c black on blue
  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

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 ** ** With underprint
15 c grey *** *** 1900
20 c R R  
25 c black R ***  
25 c blue R R 1900
30 c R R  
40 c R R  
50 c red R R  
50 c brown on blue R R  
75 c R R  
1 F *** ***  

A postcard in the same design:


With "KAYES" cancel.

Forgeries, example:

Forgery!
Fournier forgeries. Fournier used the forged cancel "KAGES 3E/7 FEVR 93 SOUDAN FRANCAIS" (with the wrong inscription "KAGES" instead of "KAYES"?)


Another part of a sheet with Fournier forged cancels. It looks like the "G" in "KAGES" was removed and changed into an "Y"?


More modern forgeris of French Soudan.

For more information on these forgeries click here.

 

1921 Stamps of Upper Senegal overprinted "SOUDAN FRANCAIS"

  1 c brown and violet
  2 c grey and lilac
  4 c black and blue
  5 c brown
  10 c green
  10 c lilac on blue
  15 c red and yellow
  15 c green
  15 c brown and violet
  20 c lilac and black
  25 c black and green
  30 c orange and red
  30 c green and black
  30 c green
  35 c red and violet
  40 c grey and red
  45 c blue and brown
  50 c blue
  50 c orange and blue
  60 c violet on red
  65 c brown and blue
  75 c orange and brown
  90 c brown and red
  1 F brown and lilac
  1 F 10 violet and lilac
  1 F 50 blue
  2 F green and blue
  3 F red
  5 F violet and black

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 vc c  
2 c vc c  
4 c vc c  
5 c vc vc  
10 c green * *  
10 c lilac on blue c c  
15 c red and yellow * *  
15 c green c c  
15 c brown and violet c c  
20 c c c  
25 c c c  
30 c orange and red ** **  
30 c green and black c c  
30 c green c c  
35 c * *  
40 c c c  
45 c c c  
50 c blue * *  
50 c orange and blue c c  
60 c * *  
65 c * *  
75 c * *  
90 c * *  
1 F * *  
1.10 F * *  
1.50 F * *  
2 F * *  
3 F * **  
5 F ** ***   
Surcharged
  25 c on 45 c blue and brown
  60 on 75 c violet on red
  65 on 75 c orange and brown
  85 on 2 F green and blue
  85 on 5 F violet and black
  90 c on 75 c red
  1f25 (red) on 1 F blue
  1 F 50 on 1 F blue
  3 F on 5 F red and brown
  10 F on 5 F red and green
  20 F on 5 F lilac and red

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
25 c on 45 c * *  
60 c on 75 c * *  
65 c on 75 c * *  
85 c on 2 F * *  
85 c on 5 F * *  
90 c on 75 c * *  
1f25 on 1 F * *  
1f50 on 1 F * *  
3 F on 5 F ** **  
10 F on 5 F *** ***  
20 F on 5 F *** ***  

 

1931 Various designs

Local woman
  1 c red and black
  2 c blue and orange
  3 c red and black (1939?)
  4 c violet and red
  5 c blue and green
  10 c green and red
  15 c black and violet
  20 c red and blue
  25 c lilac and red

Local building (gate of Djenne, Porte de Djénné)

  30 c green (two shades of green on one stamp)
  30 c blue and orange (1939?)
  35 c olive and gren
  40 c green and red
  45 c blue and orange
  45 c olive and green (1939?)
  50 c red and black
  55 c blue and red
  60 c blue and brown (1939?)
  65 c violet and black
  70 c blue and red (1939?)
  75 c blue and brown
  80 c red and brown
  90 c red and orange
  90 c lilac and black (1939?)
  1 F blue and green
  1 F red

Local warrior
  1.25 F violet and lilac
  1.50 F blue and light blue
  1.75 F brown and blue
  1.75 F blue
  2 F brown and green
  2.50 F brown
  3 F blue and brown
  5 F red and black
  10 F blue and green
  20 F red and brown

Overprinted 'SECOURS NATIONAL' (1941)
  '2 fr' (?) on 50 c red and black (overprint in red)
  '2 fr' on 80 c red and brown 
  '2 fr' on 1.50 F blue
  '3 fr' on 2 F brown and green

 

1931 "EXPOSITION COLONIALE INTERNATIONALE PARIS 1931", various designs (designs identical to many other French colonies)

For an image of a similar stamp of another colony, click here.

  40 c green and black
  50 c lilac and black
  90 c red and black
  1.50 F blue and black

 

1937 "EXPOSITION INTERNATIONALE PARIS 1937", various designs, designs identical to many other French Colonies

For an image of a similar stamp of another colony, click here.

  20 c violet
  30 c green
  40 c lilac
  50 c brown and black
  90 c red
  1.50 F blue

 

1938 Pierre and Marie Curie, design identical to many other French Colonies, inscription "SOUDAN"

For an image of a similar stamp of another colony, click here.

  1.75 F + 50 c blue

 

1939 "EXPOSITION INTERNATIONALE NEW YORK 1939", design identical to many other French Colonies

For an image of a similar stamp of another colony, click here.

  1.25 F red
  2.25 F blue

 

1939 French revolution commemoration, Bastille, design identical to many other French colonies

For an image of a similar stamp of another colony, click here.

  45 c + 25 c green and black
  70 c + 30 c brown and black
  90 c + 35 c orange and black
  1.25 F + 1 F lilac and black
  2.25 F + 2 F blue and black

 

1941 Local building (gate of Djenne, Porte de Djénné), with portrait of Petain in upper right corner

  1 F green
  2.50 F blue

Overprinted 'OEUVRES COLONIALES' (1944)
  50 c + 1.50 F on 2.50 F (overprint and surcharge in red)
  1 F + 2.50 F green

 

1941 Soldiers issue, (so-called 'DEFENSE DE L'EMPIRE' set), similar designs were issued for other French Colonies

For an image of a similar stamp of another colony, click here.

  1 F + 1 F red
  1.50 F + 3 F brown
  2.50 F + 1 F blue

Apparently, these stamps were never put on sale in French Soudan.

Postage due stamps


Some Fournier forgeries with a forged "KAYES 21 MARS 95 SOUDAN FRANCAIS" cancel that does not appear in the Fournier Album.


30 c forgery (it has an accent on the "A"!) with forged "KAYES 15 MARS 95 SOUDAN FRANCAIS" cancel. The 30 c is the only value in the set of French Colonies postage due stamps that does not have an accent on the "A". It does not appear to be exactly the same as the 30 c black Fournier forgery. There is an extension to the upper right corner.

 

1922 Postage due stamps of Upper Senegal overprinted "SOUDAN FRANCAIS"

  5 c green
  10 c red
  15 c grey
  20 c brown
  30 c blue
  50 c black
  60 c orange
  1 F violet

Surcharged (1927)


(reduced sizes)

  '2F' on 1 F lilac
  '2F' on 1 F brown

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 vc c  
10 c c c  
15 c c c  
20 c c c  
30 c c c  
50 c c *  
60 c c *  
1 F * *  
2 F on 1 F * *  
3 F on 1 F * **  

 

1931 As above, but with inscription "SOUDAN FRANCAIS" (instead of overprinted)

  5 c green
  10 c red
  15 c grey
  20 c brown
  30 c blue
  50 c black
  60 c orange
  1 F violet
  2 F lilac
  3 F brown

 

Air Mail

1940 Inscription "AFRIQUE OCCIDle FRANCAISE SOUDAN FRANCAIS", aeroplane and palm trees landscape

  1.90 F violet
  2.90 F red
  4.50 F green
  4.90 F olive
  6.90 F orange


Similar stamp of Mauritania

 

1942 Inscription "AOF SOUDAN POSTE AERIENNE"

  50 c red and blue
  1 F brown and blue
  2 F green and brown
  3 F blue and red
  5 F violet and red


Similar stamp of French Guinea

 

1942 Inscription "AFRIQUE OCCIDle FRANCAISE SOUDAN", camels and aeroplane

 

  10 F blue and grey
  20 F red and violet
  50 F green and blue


Similar stamp of Mauritania

 

1942 "QUINZAINE IMPERIALE" and "PROTECTION DE L'ENFANCE", inscription "SOUDAN FRANCAIS" or "SOUDAN"

  1.20 F + 1.80 F blue and red ('Quinzaine')
  3 F + 9 F red ('protection')

Stamps - Timbres-poste - Briefmarken

Copyright by Evert Klaseboer