- Ost-Afrika Post Offices
- Ost-Afrika Feldpost
- Ost-Afrika Navy Post
- Ost-Afrika Seepost
- Ost-Afrika Bahnpost
GERMAN COLONIES
OST-AFRIKA
STAMPS
1890 / 1901
Occupation on 27th Feb 1885, German Post starting from 4th oct 1890.Two German foreign post offices were used temporarily in the creation of German East Africa from the end of 1888. Neither Lamu nor Zanzibar fall under the German post in German East Africa however they are usually listed as such. Both post offices were only used for a short time and only used German Empire stamps. Lamu was located to the north of German East Africa on the coast of what later became British East Africa. Zanzibar was an island off the coast of German East Africa. Both of these postal agencies were later surrendered to Britain with the signing of the German-English Helgoland-Zanzibar Treaty.
German East Africa consisted of the region from Lake Victoria in the north and Lake Nyassa in the southwest, to lake Tanganyika in the west.
Post Offices in German East Africa were established in many towns and cities, here are some postmarks to look out for: AMANI, BAGAMOYO, BISMARCKBURG, BUKOBA, DAR ES SALAAM, DEUTSCHE SEEPOST OSTAFRIKA LINIE, DEUTSCHE SEEPOST OSTAFRIKA HILFSLINIE, DODOMA, HANDENI, IRINGA, KIGOMA, KILIMATINDE, KILOSSA, KILWA, KINDANI, KISSENJI, KONDOA-IRANGA, KOROGWE, LANGENBURG, LEGANGA, LINDI, MAHENGE, MARINESCHIFFE, MIKINDANI, MITTELLANDBAHN, MKALAMA, MKUMBARA, MOHORO, MOMBO, MOROGORO, MOSCHI, MPAPUA, MUANSA, MUHESA, NEO-LANGENBURG, NGOMENI, PANGANI, RUANDA, SAADANI, SCHIRATI, SONGEA, SOGA, TABORA, TANGA, TSCHOLE, UDJIDJI, USAMBARA BAHNPOST, USAMBURA, UTETE, WIEDHAFEN, WILHELMSTHAL and WUGIRI.
Forerunners are stamps of the German Empire that were in circulation in foreign countries and the colonies without any special identification (i.e. not overprinted "China"), until issue of their own stamps. 'Proper' forerunners were officially delivered to post offices and were sold from postal counters, stamps that were not used or not officially issued are non-proper forerunners (e.g. Michel V39 and V43). All forerunners and interim stamps can only be recognised by the cancellation and as such there is no such thing as an unused forerunner.
MICHEL VL45a to VL50d
LAMU FORERUNNERS (VL)
Issued: 1890/91, Regular issue German Empire Stamps, Michel Nr 45 to 50 (internal service: so-called "Crown/eagle". These stamps must have 'LAMU' cancels.
MICHEL VZ37 to VZ50
ZANZIBAR FORERUNNERS (VZ)
Issued: From 27th Aug 1890 to 31st Jul 1891 the German Post Office in Zanzibar used German Empire stamps. Michel Nr VZ37 (internal service: number in oval. Michel Nr 45 to 50 so-called "Crown/eagle". These stamps must have 'ZANZIBAR' cancels.
MICHEL VO37 to VO50
FORERUNNERS (VO)
Issued: 1890/99. The German East Africa Post Office used German Empire stamps. Michel Nr 37 (internal service: number in oval). Michel Nr 45 to 50 so-called "Crown/eagle". These forerunners have cancels other than 'LAMU' or 'ZANZIBAR', e.g 'DAR-ES-SALAM' or 'TANGA'.
VO49a and VO49b were not officially issued but are considered forerunners until 1900 since no corresponding overprint denomination existed.
MICHEL M45 to M50
MITLAUFER (M)
(Stamps Valid for Postage)
German Empire Regular Issue stamps, so-called "Crown/eagle" with cancel date starting from July 1893 except Michel M49 with cancel date starting from 1901.
