Home Catalogue index Volume 1 index Volume 2 index
Preview of Stamps Catalogue: VOLUME 1

OBOCK 1892 Issue

(French Colony in Africa)

Return To Catalogue - Obock 1892 issue, forgeries - Obock 1893 onwards - Obock postage due stamps - French Somali Coast and Djibouti

Note: on my website many of the pictures can not be seen! They are of course present in the catalogue;
contact me if you want to purchase it.

1892 Stamps of the French colonies, overprinted manually in two types, type I: 'OBOCK' curved, type II: 'OBOCK' straight

35 c black on yellow 75 c red
Type I overprint

4 c brown, type II
Type II overprint

  1 c black (I)
  2 c brown (I)
  4 c brown (I)
     (type II)
  5 c green (I)
     (type II)
  10 c black (I)
     (typeII)
  15 c blue (I)
     (type II)
  20 c red on green (II)
  25 c black (I)
     (type II)
  35 c black on yellow (I)
  40 c red (I)
     (type II)
  75 c red (I)
     (type II)
  1 Fr green (I)
     (type II)

The surcharges were done with a rubber device, creating many defects (see also the Serrane Guide).

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
Type I; 'OBOCK' curved
1 c R R  
2 c R R  
4 c RRR RRR  
5 c *** ***  
10 c RR RR  
15 c R R  
25 c RR RR  
35 c R RR  
40 c RR RR  
75 c RR RR  
1 F RRR RRR  
Type II; 'OBOCK' straight
4 c *** ***  
5 c *** ***  
10 c R R  
15 c R R  
20 c R R  
25 c R R  
40 c R R  
75 c RR RR  
1 F RR RR   
Surcharged in type II with additional value

'2' on 15 c and '4' on 15 c 1 on 25 c black, 4 on 25 c black and 5 on 25 c black Genuine stamp Image obtained from a Cherrystone auction

  '1' (red) on 25 c black
  '2' (red) on 10 c black
  '2' (red) on 15 c blue
  '4' on 15 c blue
  '4' on 25 c black
  '5' (red) on 25 c black
  '20' (red) on 10 c black
  '30' (red) on 10 c black
  '35' (red) on 25 c black
  '75' (red) on 1 Fr green
  '5 F' (violet) on 1 Fr green

Many of the surcharges exist with inverted numbers.

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' on 25 c *** ***  
'2' on 10 c RR RR  
'2' on 15 c R R Exists with inverted surcharge
'4' on 15 c *** ***  
'4' on 25 c *** *** Black or red overprint
'5' on 25 c *** ***  
'20' on 10 c RR RR  
'30' on 10 c RR RR  
'35' on 25 c RR RR I've seen a stamp with a missing '3' in the surcharge
'75' on 1 F RR RR An error '55' on 1 F exist; RRR,
I've also seen '57' instead of '75': RRR
and '77' on 1 F: RRR
'5 F' on 1 F RRR RRR  

Errors:

Image obtained from a Harmers auction Image obtained from a Harmers auction
Error '55' on 1 F and inverted '2' on 15 c

Reprints:


(Reprints?)

I've been told that the above stamps are reprints, made at the demand of a Paris dealer. Inverted overprints were also reprinted. The Serrane Guide only mentions reprints of the 4 c value. The rubber devices had shrunk over time and therefore, for example, the first "O" is only 3 mm high instead of 4 mm. I have no further information.

I've seen several stamps with a neatly applied cancel "OBOCK 22 MAI 92 COLONIE FRANCSE" (cancelled to order?):


"OBOCK 22 MAI 92 COLONIE FRANCSE" cancels.


Suspicious "OBOCK" in two rings cancel.

Click here for Obock 1892 issue, forgeries

 

Obock 1893 onwards

Copyright by Evert Klaseboer