GERMAN COLONIES
TOGO
STAMPS
1897
Togo became a German Protectorate from 5th Jul 1884 with the German post Office starting from 1st Mar 1888. Togo was located on the western coast of Africa and occupied a thin 50Km wide strip of the "Slave Coast". The area expands into the hinterland for about 560Km and is 175Km wide from north to south at its widest part. As the area was so small it was difficult to defend militarily and so was forced to surrender to British and French troops on 26th Aug 1914.
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 "Togo"), 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. 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 M45 to M50
STAMPS VALID for POSTAGE
(Replaced by New Issue)
Michel M45 to M50 with cancel date starting from August 1897, beginning/middle 1898 or starting from 1899 (depending on the issue date of Michel 1 to 6).
MICHEL 1 to 6
REGULAR ISSUE GERMAN EMPIRE
Aug 1897 to Jan 1899. Michel 1 to 6, regular issues German Empire stamps (Michel 45 to 50), so-called "crown/eagle" with black sloping Typography overprint.
