Postage stamps and postal history of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

This is a survey of the

postage stamps and postal history of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, formerly Zaire and the Belgian Congo
.

Colonial period

The Congo Free State was established in 1885 as a personal initiative of Leopold II of Belgium, which was formally annexed, becoming the Belgian Congo, in 1907. Both entities issued their own stamps.[1]

Republic

Stamp celebrating independence in June 1960.

In 1960, the Belgian Congo became independent as the Republic of the Congo. On 1 August 1964, the state's official name was changed to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.[2]

Zaire

1975 stamp of Zaire.

In 1971, the state's name changed to Zaire. The first stamps of Zaire were issued on 18 December 1971.[3][4]

1997-present

In 1997 the country's name reverted to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Katanga issues

The State of Katanga seceded from the Republic of the Congo and, during its three years of independence, produced its own stamps and issues overprinted on earlier stamps of the Belgian Congo and the Republic of the Congo.[5]

South Kasai issues

For a short period in 1960–61, South Kasai was a secessionist region in the south central area of the country that issued overprinted Belgian Congo stamps.[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Belgian Congo | Stamps and postal history | StampWorldHistory". Archived from the original on 2017-12-14. Retrieved 12 August 2018.[title missing]
  2. ^ "Congo (Kinshasa) | Stamps and postal history | StampWorldHistory". Archived from the original on 2017-12-14. Retrieved 12 August 2018.[title missing]
  3. ^ "Zaire | Stamps and postal history | StampWorldHistory". Archived from the original on 2017-12-14. Retrieved 12 August 2018.[title missing]
  4. ^ "Katanga | Stamps and postal history | StampWorldHistory". Archived from the original on 2017-12-14. Retrieved 12 August 2018.[title missing]
  5. ^ "South Kasai | Stamps and postal history | StampWorldHistory". Archived from the original on 2018-03-03. Retrieved 12 August 2018.[title missing]

Further reading

Belgian Congo

Republic of Congo

  • Frenay, J. M. Histoire Postale de l’Etat Indépendant du Congo. ?: The Author, 1991 30p.

Katanga

  • Donegan, George J., Jr. Donegan's Katanga philatelist: a specialized catalogue of the "Etat du Katanga" postal issues. Springfield, MO.: G.J. Donegan, Jr., 1964 27p.
  • Hoorens, Emile R. Histoire postale de l'Etat du Katanga 1960-1963. Brussels: E.R. Hoorens, 1997 197p.

South Kasai

External links