
Benin's postage stamps are a fascinating reflection of the country's rich history. The first postage stamps of Benin were introduced in 1889, during the French colonial period.
Benin's postal history dates back to 1889, when France established a postal service in the region. This marked the beginning of a new era in communication and exchange between Benin and the rest of the world.
The first stamps featured images of French monarchs, which was a common practice in many French colonies at the time. These early stamps were used to send mail between Benin and other French colonies in West Africa.
Benin's postal system has undergone significant changes since its introduction in 1889. Today, the country has a modern postal service that connects it to the global community.
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Postage Stamps
Benin has a rich history of postage stamps, with many rare and unique issues available for collectors. The country's early stamps, such as the 1894 Allegory Stamps, feature beautiful designs and are highly sought after by collectors.
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One of the most interesting aspects of Benin's postage stamps is the variety of overprints that can be found. For example, the Benin overprint variety on margin mnh stamp soccer block of 4 from 2009 is a rare and unique issue that is highly prized by collectors.
Benin's stamps have also been used to commemorate significant events and people, such as Marie Curie, the famous scientist. The Benin rare overprint mnh stamp Marie Curie chemistry science oddity from 2009 is a great example of this.
The value of Benin's postage stamps can vary greatly, depending on their condition, rarity, and demand. For example, the Benin stamps Industry Series of 5 Specimen Large Die Proofs VF is listed for $78.50, while the 1894 Allegory Stamps - Inscription "BÉNIN" - 10c - MINT NO GUM is listed for $2.87 or best offer.
Benin's postage stamps have also been used to send mail between countries, such as the 1894 French West Africa Postcard Cover Whydah Benin to Hamburg Germany. This item is a great example of the role that postage stamps have played in international communication.
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Postal History

Benin's postal history is fascinating. The first stamps used in Benin were the general issues for the French colonies in Porto Novo, starting from 1888.
These stamps were later superseded by the issues for the Établissments du Golfe de Benin in 1892. The Établissments du Golfe de Benin issues were short-lived, as Dahomey formed in 1899 and took over.
The issues for Dahomey were used from 1899 until 1944, when the issues for French West Africa were introduced. These issues remained in use until 1960, when Dahomey resumed issuing its own stamps.
Postal History Benin
The first stamps used in Benin date back to 1888, with the general issues for the French colonies in Porto Novo.
These early stamps were eventually superseded by the issues for Dahomey in 1899, after Dahomey was formed.
From 1944 to 1960, the issues for French West Africa were used in Benin.
France used stamps with overprints for Benin from 1892 to 1894, with the overprints reading 'BÉNIN' or 'GOLFE DE BENIN'.
In 1960, Benin resumed issuing its own stamps, and by 1975, these were superseded by the issues of Benin.
People's Republic

The People's Republic has issued special-use stamps since 1975.
Benin has been issuing these specialty stamps for over 45 years, which is a significant part of their postal history.
Airmail postage and postage due stamps are examples of special-use stamps that Benin has issued.
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Sources
- https://www.cherrystoneauctions.com/_auction/results.asp
- https://mypoststamps.com/collecting-postage-stamps-from-benin/
- https://www.davidfeldman.com/2024/11/postal-history-of-the-niger-coast-and-niger-company-territories/
- https://stampworldhistory.nl/country-profiles-2/africa/benin/
- https://www.megaministore.com/stamps/africa/benin
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