Dahomey was renamed
People's Republic of Benin on 30 November 1975 by president Mathieu Kérékou. In 1990
he left his Marxist ideology behind after an economic crisis and decided to
introduce democracy again. In 1991 he lost the presidential elections and thus
became the first black African president to resign after an election defeat.
Since then elections have been held regularly. The success of these multiparty
elections make Benin a model democracy in Africa.
The name Benin refers to the historic African Kingdom
of Benin and was chosen to replace the French colonial name of the country.
Capital: Porto-Novo (seat of
government Cotonou)
Government: people's republic (1972-1990),
republic (since 1990)
Area: 112.620 km²
Population: 7.862.944 (2006)
Currency: CFA Franc (100 centimes)
Internet TLD: .bj
Dialling code: +229
Member of: United Nations and most
related organizations
For more stamps see:
Dahomey
Links
Benin in Wikipedia.
Flag of Benin in Flags of the World.
Country description from the BBC.
Country description from
the CIA.
Official website of the
government of Benin (in
French).
Permanent Mission of Benin
to the United Nations
(in French)
Stamp Catalogue
date: 2
August 1977
designer: Luc Tchibozo
printer: Cartor
perforated: 12½:12¾
remark: overprinted
as parcel stamp ('Colis Postaux') in 1998 (Michel P21/SG -)
1 100 F health
assistance bureau, patients, text "ANNEE MONDIALE CONTRE LE
RHUMATISME"
multicoloured
(cat. Michel 99/SG 660/Yvert
393)
date: 17
May 1978
designer: Jean Chesnot
printer: Edila
perforated: 13
2 100 F ITU
emblem, satellite dish, satellite, students, workers, industry, ofices, text
"1978. 10ème
JOURNÉE MONDIALE / DES TÉLÉCOMMUNICATIONS"
multicoloured
(cat. Michel 131/SG
694/Yvert 414)
date: 22
September 1978
designer: -
printer: -
perforated: 12½
remarks: airmail; nr. 5 overprinted '90 F' in 1985 (Michel 393/SG
966/Yvert A338) and '150 F' in 1995 (Michel 665)
3 70 F Acropolis
overview, part of a frieze (women and cows), UNESCO emblem, text
multicoloured
(cat. Michel 156/SG
713/Yvert A286)
4 250 F Parthenon,
part of a frieze (horsemen), UNESCO emblem, text
multicoloured
(cat. Michel 157/SG
714/Yvert A287)
5 500 F Parthenon,
UNESCO emblem, text
multicoloured
(cat. Michel 158/SG
715/Yvert A288)
2nd UPU Congress, Paris Centenary
date: 16
October 1978
designer: A. Assouto (6), Jean Chesnot (7 and 8)
printer: -
perforated: 13:12¾ (6), 12¾:13 (7 and 8)
remark: nr.
8 overprinted '10 F' in 1995 (Michel 883/SG -)
6 50 F royal
mail runner, houses, UPU emblem, text "ACHEMINEMENT DU COURRIER / MESSAGER
DU ROI"
multicoloured
(cat. Michel 163/SG
726/Yvert 434)
7 60 F man
rowing a canoe, motor boat, car, UPU emblem, text "1878 - L'UNION GENERALE
DES POSTES /
DEVIENT L'UNION POSTALE
UNIVERSELLE"
multicoloured
(cat. Michel 164/SG 727/Yvert 435)
8 90 F mail
runner, Boeing 747, UPU emblem, text "1878 - L'UNION GENERALE DES POSTES /
DEVIENT L'UNION
POSTALE UNIVERSELLE"
multicoloured
(cat. Michel 165/SG 728/Yvert 436)
International Year of the Child
date: 20
February 1979
designer: A. Assouto (9 and 11), J. Kpobly (10)
printer: Edila
perforated: 12½:13
9 10 F IYC
emblem in circle, arrows, banner with text "ANNEE INTERNATIONALE DE
L'ENFANT"
multicoloured
(cat. Michel 170/SG
733/Yvert 441)
10 20 F children
in hot air balloon (earth), IYC emblem, signs, text "ANNEE INTERNATIONALE
DE L'ENFANT"
multicoloured
(cat. Michel 171/SG
734/Yvert 442)
11 50 F children
from different races holding hands around the globe, IYC emblem, banner with
text "ANNEE
INTERNATIONALE DE
L'ENFANT"
multicoloured
(cat. Michel 172/SG
735/Yvert 443)
date: 17
May 1979
designer: -
printer: -
perforated: 12½:12¼
12 50 F ITU
emblem, antenna, people, satellite, text "JOURNEE MONDIALE DES /
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
/ 17 MAI 1979"
multicoloured
(cat. Michel 180/SG 748/Yvert 454)
date: 8
June 1979
designer: -
printer: -
perforated: 13:12½
remarks: issued in a series of two stamps; printed in small
sheets with vignettes with the exposition emblem
13 50 F airplane,
rowers in boat, satellite, UPU emblem, exposition emblem, text "la
communication / reduit / la
distance" and "U.A.P.T.
Philexafrique 2 Libreville Juin 1979"
multicoloured
(cat. Michel 185/SG
753/Yvert 449)
date: 12
December 1979
designer: Dorothe Adokou (14), Dine Alougbin Mouhinou (15)
printer: Cartor
perforated: 12½
14 50 F map
of Africa, airplane, ASECNA emblem, text "1959 1979" and "20e
ANNIVERSAIRE DE L'ASECNA"
multicoloured
(cat. Michel 195/SG
763/Yvert 461)
15 60 F map
of Africa, airplane, ASECNA emblem, text "20e ANNIVERSAIRE DE L'ASECNA
1959-1979"
multicoloured
(cat. Michel 196/SG
764/Yvert 462)
Save the Monuments of Nubia 20th anniversary
date: 15
April 1980
designer: Charles Bridoux
printer: EDILA
perforated: 13
16 50 F pillar
at Philae, UNESCO emblem, text "20e ANN. DE LA SAUVEGARDE / DES
MONUMENTS DE NUBIE"
multicoloured
(cat. Michel 203/SG
771/Yvert 475)
17 60 F temple
at Abu Simbel, UNESCO emblem, text "20e ANN. DE LA SAUVEGARDE / DES
MONUMENTS DE NUBIE"
multicoloured
(cat. Michel 204/SG
772/Yvert 476)
18 150 F temple
at Abu Simbel, UNESCO emblem, text "20e ANN. DE LA SAUVEGARDE / DES
MONUMENTS DE NUBIE"
multicoloured
(cat. Michel 205/SG
773/Yvert 477)
date: 17
May 1980
designer: Ngoc Tuvet (19), K. Marcellin (20)
printer: Cartor
perforated: 12¾
19 50 F man
on the telephone, cattle, telephone with ITU emblem, antenna with satellite
dishes,
text "12e Journée
mondiale des Télécommunications (T. rurales)"
multicoloured
(cat. Michel 212/SG
780/Yvert 492)
20 60 F rising
sun, telephone with ITU emblem, text "Journée mondiale des
Télécommunications
/ 17 MAI 1980 / Télécommunications
rurales"
multicoloured
(cat. Michel 213/SG
781/Yvert 493)
World Tourism Conference, Manila
date: 27
September 1980
designer: Eny K. Marcellin
printer: Edila
perforated: 13
remark: nr.
21 overprinted '5 F' in 1983 (Michel 327/SG 887/Yvert 571)
21 50 F globe,
hand with magnifying glass over Philippines, bird, WTO emblem, text
"CONFÉRENCE
/ MONDIALE SUR / LE
TOURISME" and "27 Septembre - 10 Octobre 1980"
multicoloured
(cat. Michel 242/SG
810/Yvert 503)
22 60 F globe,
hand pointing at Philippines, flag with WTO emblem, text "Conférence /
Mondiale /
sur / le Tourisme / à
Manille"
multicoloured
(cat. Michel 243/SG
811/Yvert 504)
Convention for the Protection of Human Rights 30th anniversary
date: 4
November 1980
designer: Huguette Sainson
printer: -
perforated: 12½:13
remarks: although nr. 23 depicts the UN emblem, the series is
issued for the 30th anniversary of the
signing
of the European Convention on Human Rights in Rome, 4 November 1950; nr. I
overprinted
as
a parcel stamp '75 F' and 'COLIS POSTAUX' in 1990 (Michel P14/SG -)
23 30 F hands
with broken chains, UN emblem, text "30e anniversaire / Signature de la
Convention pour la /
protection des Droits de l'Homme"
multicoloured
(cat. Michel 248/SG 816/Yvert 515)
I 50 F man
holding globe and olive branches behind bent bars, globe, text "30e
anniversaire / Signature de la
Convention / pour la
protection / des Droits de l'Homme"
multicoloured
(cat. Michel 249/SG 817/Yvert 516)
II 60 F man
holding torch with olive branches and broken chains, flames, text "30e
anniversaire
/ Signature de la
Convention pour la / protection des Droits de l'Homme"
multicoloured
(cat. Michel 250/SG
818/Yvert 517)
International Year of Disabled Persons
date: 10
April 1981
designer: -
printer: -
perforated: 12½
remark: nr.
24 overprinted '75 F' in September 1984 (Michel 364/SG 931/Yvert 600)
24 115 F man
in wheelchair, WHO emblem, text
multicoloured
(cat. Michel 259/SG
827/Yvert 522)
date: 30
May 1981
designer: Yahouedeou Leonard
printer: Cartor
perforated: 12½
remark: nr.
25 overprinted '75 F' in September 1984 (Michel 365/SG 932/Yvert 601)
25 115 F special
WTD design with ITU and WHO emblems as caduceus, text "17 MAI 1981 / UNION
INTERNATIONALE
DES TELECOMMUNICATIONS
/ ORGANISATION MONDIALE DE LA SANTE / TELECOMMUNICATIONS ET SANTE
/ 13eme Journée Mondiale / des Télécommunications"
multicoloured
(cat. Michel 261/SG
829/Yvert 528)
World Post Day / Heinrich von Stephan 150th
anniversary
date: 9
October 1981
designer: Cécile Guillame
printer: -
perforated: 13
26 100 F portrait
of Heinrich von Stephan, signature, UPU emblem, text "12e JOURNÉE MONDIALE
DE
L'U.P.U. / 1831-1981 /
HEINRICH VON STEPHAN-CRÉATEUR de l'U.P.U."
multicoloured
(cat. Michel 270/SG 840/Yvert 535)
International Letter Writing Week
date: 15
October 1981
designer: Jacques
Gauthier
printer: -
perforated: 13
remark: nr.
27 overprinted '10 F' in November 1983 (Michel 328/SG 888/Yvert 572)
27 100 F faces,
paper air planes, UPU emblem, text "Semaine Internationale de la Lettre
écrite"
multicoloured
(cat. Michel 271/SG
841/Yvert 534)
date: 2
November 1981
designer: -
printer: Edila
perforated: 12½:13 (28), 13:12½ (29)
remark: airmail;
stamps depict paintings by Picasso; nr. 28 overprinted '15 F' in September 1984
(Michel
369/SG 936/Yvert A323); nr. 29 overprinted '90 F' in March 1985 (Michel 395/SG
967/Yvert A340)
28 300 F The
dance, text "LA DANSE / PICASSO (1881-1973)"
multicoloured
(cat. Michel 272/SG
842/Yvert A298)
29 500 F Three
musicians, text "LES TROIS MUSICIENS / PICASSO (1881-1973)"
multicoloured
(cat. Michel 273/SG
843/Yvert A299)
ITU Plenipotentiary Conference, Nairobi
date: 26
September 1982
designer: -
printer: -
perforated: 13
remark: nr.
30 overprinted '15 F' in September 1984 (Michel 367/SG 934/Yvert 604)
30 200 F world
map, antenna on Nairobi, ITU emblem, text
multicoloured
(cat. Michel 296/SG
869/Yvert 543)
date: 9
October 1982
designer: -
printer: -
perforated: 13
31 100 F UPU
emblem, faces, text "13e JOURNEE DE L'UPU"
multicoloured
(cat. Michel 297/SG
870/Yvert 533)
date: 17
May 1983
designer: -
printer: Edila
perforated: 13:12¾
remark: nr.
32 overprinted '75 F' on 18 June 1984 (Michel A351/SG 933) and overprinted '15
F' in 1995
(Michel
886/SG 1469)
32 185 F WCY,
ITU and UNO emblems, text "1983 / ANNEE MONDIALE / DES /
COMMUNICATIONS"
multicoloured
(cat. Michel 314/SG
907/Yvert 563)
date: 9
October 1983
designer: Claude Haley
printer: -
perforated: 13
remark: nr.
33 overprinted '5 f' in September 1984 (Michel 357/SG 923/Yvert 595)
33 125 F Boeing
747, world map, UPU emblem, text "XIVe JOURNEE DE L'U.P.U / 9
OCTOBRE"
multicoloured
(cat. Michel 321/SG
914/Yvert 570)
19th UPU Congress, Hamburg/Salon der Philatelie
zum XIX. Weltpostkongress, Hamburg
date: 18
June 1984
designer: V. Philippe Abayi
printer: Edila
perforated: 13:12¾
34 90 F hand
with magnifying glass, exhibition emblem, UPU emblem, stamped letter, map of West
Germany,
text "19e Congrès
de l'UPU à Hambourg du 18-6 au 30-7-1984"
multicoloured
(cat. Michel 351/SG
944/Yvert 589)
date: 16
October 1984
designer: -
printer: -
perforated: 12¾
35 100 F undernourished
child, FAO emblem, text "JOURNEE MONDIALE DE L'ALIMENTATION"
multicoloured
(cat. Michel 376/SG
950/Yvert 605)
date: 16
July 1985
designer: -
printer: -
perforated: 13¼:12½
36 150 F youth
holding torch, embroidery, text "ANNEE INTERNATIONALE / DE LA
JEUNESSE"
multicoloured
(cat. Michel 403/SG
989/Yvert 618)
date: 16
September 1985
designer: -
printer: -
perforated: 12¾
37 150 F airplane,
world map, ASECNA emblem, text
multicoloured
(cat. Michel 416/SG
991/Yvert 621)
UNO 40th anniversary / UNO Membership 25th anniversary
date: 24
October 1985
designer: -
printer: -
perforated: 12½
38 250 F UN
emblem, peace dove carrying text, hands
multicoloured
(cat. Michel 422/SG
997/Yvert 622)
date: 14
December 1987
designer: Sylvain A.C. Gansou
printer: Cartor
perforated: 13½
remark: airmail
39 500 F agricultural
scene, fisheries, IFAD emblem, text "10ème ANIVERSAIRE DU FONDS
INTERNATIONAL
/ DE DEVELOPPEMENT AGRICOLE"
multicoloured
(cat. Michel 461/SG
1065/Yvert 364)
date: 1
September 1988
designer: -
printer: -
perforated: 13:12½
remark: nr.
40 overprinted '25 F' in 1995 (Michel 649/SG -)
40 175 F doctor
and patient, healthy people, WHO emblem, text "10e ANNIVERSAIRE DE LA
DECLARATION D'ALMA
ATA / 40e ANNIVERSAIRE
DE L'O.M.S. / SANTE POUR TOUS D'ICI A L'AN 2000"
multicoloured
(cat. Michel 467/SG
1098/Yvert 662)
date: 1991
designer: -
printer: -
perforated: 13½
41 190 F symbols
of African cultures and landscapes, emblem, text
multicoloured
(cat. Michel 508/SG
1150/Yvert 695)
International Conference on
Nutrition, Rome
date: 5
December 1992
designer: -
printer: -
perforated: 13
remark: nr.
42 overprinted '150 F' in 1995 (Michel 653/SG -)
42 190 F child,
food, FAO, WHO and ICN emblems, text "Conférence Internationale sur la
Nutrition"
multicoloured
(cat. Michel 535/SG
1161/Yvert 702)
The Slave Route - International Scientific Committee session, Ouidah
date: 1994
designer: -
printer: -
perforated: 13:13½
remark: the
status of these stamps is not clear
43 135 F Slave
Route and UNESCO emblems, text
multicoloured
(cat. Michel 618/SG -)
44 200 F Slave
Route and UNESCO emblems, text
multicoloured
(cat. Michel 619/SG -)
45 300 F Slave
Route and UNESCO emblems, text
multicoloured
International Year of the Family
date: 1994
designer: -
printer: -
perforated: 12½:12¾
46 200 F world
map in number 94, IYF emblem, text "Année Internationale de la
Famille"
multicoloured
22nd UPU Congress, Beijing/China 1999, Beijing
date: 22
August 1999
designer: -
printer: -
perforated: 12½
remark: printed
together in small sheets of eight stamps
46 50 F Chinese
experiment with rockets in the 15th century, text
multicoloured
(cat. Michel 1184/SG
1837/Yvert 920)
47 100 F Jiuquan
Satellite Launch Center, text
multicoloured
(cat. Michel 1185/SG
1838/Yvert 921)
48 135 F satellite
DFH-3, text
multicoloured
(cat. Michel 1186/SG
1839/Yvert 922)
49 150 F satellite
transport, text
multicoloured
(cat. Michel 1187/SG
1840/Yvert 923)
50 200 F Long
March rocket, text
multicoloured
(cat. Michel 1188/SG
1841/Yvert 924)
51 300 F Yuanwang
transport ship, text
multicoloured
(cat. Michel 1189/SG
1842/Yvert 925)
52 400 F radio
telescope, text
multicoloured
(cat. Michel 1190/SG
1843/Yvert 926)
53 500 F space
letters, text
multicoloured
(cat. Michel 1191/SG
1844/Yvert 927)