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German East Africa,
Tanganyika
and Tanzania
1st July 1893
↓ - Occupation - Independence
 |
 |
 |
| #1 | xxx |
perf 13½ x 14½, no wmk
| Description | Scott | SG | Mi | Y&T | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stamps of Germany overprinted | ||||||
| 2 pesa on 3 pfennigs brown | 1 | 1 | ||||
| other values and overprint variants | 2-5 | 2-6 | ||||
 |
British Mandated Territory |
| 1922 Sc22 SG74 |
In February 1885, Germany estabished a protectorate over the area, having agreed treaties with various local leaders. Gibbons [1] lists a number of postal agencies and offices (Lamu (1889), Zanzibar (1890), Dar-es-Salam (1890), Bagamamoyo (1890), Tanga (1891), Lindi (1891), Kilwa (1892), Saadani (1892), Pangani (1892), with many more from 1894)) using German stamps, identifiable only from the postmark or cancellation. In 1893 overprinted German stamps were issued.
At the end of WW1, the League of Nations granted a mandate for most of the area to Great Britain, with the exception of Ruanda-Urundi which went to Belgium and Kionga to Portugal.
Occupation
 |
 |
 |
Mafia Island |
Nyasaland-Rhodesian Force |
British Occupation |
| 1915 Sc? SG-M1A | 1916 Sc-N101 SG-N1 | 1917 Sc-N106 SG45 |
During WW1, the areas of Ruanda and Urundi were seized by Belgian troops, from the Belgian Congo. These stamps are (or will be) shown under Ruanda-Urundi.
There are three categories of stamp to consider for the British occupation.
- Mafia Island - captured from German forces in January 1915, the first stamps used were handstamped GEA yacht issues. The handstamps were black or blackish lilac (Gibbons suffix "A"), deep purple ("B") or reddish-violet ("C").
- the Nyasaland-Rhodesian Force - for use by these forces while on operations in GEA, Nyasaland overprints.
- British Occupation - stamps of the Indian Army postal services (I.E.F. overprints) were used before the G.E.A. overprints on East Africa and Uganda Protectorates became available.
| Gibbons | SG |
Date |
Scott | Sc |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| German East Africa | 1-44 |
1893-1920 |
German East Africa | 1-41 |
| Tanganyika | ||||
| - Mafia Island | M1-M52 |
1915-16 |
German East Africa, British Occupation | ? |
| - Nyasaland-Rhodesian Force "NR" o/p | N1-N5 |
1916 |
N151-105 |
|
| - British Occupation "GEA" o/p | 45-73 |
1917-22 |
(1917) |
N106-N122 |
| Tanganyika "GEA" o/p (1921-22) | 1-9 |
|||
| - British Mandated Territory | 74-107 |
1922-31 |
10-44 |
|
| - Independence | 108-119 |
1961 |
45-60 |
|
| - Republic | 120-123 |
1962 |
57-60 |
|
| - United Republic of T & Z | 124-127 |
1964 |
Tanzania | 1-4 |
| Tanzania | 128+ |
1965+ |
5+ |
|
Tanganyika
and Tanzania
7th July 1964
|
Africa | 33a | |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Independence |
Republic |
United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar |
Tanzania |
| 1961 Sc45 SG108 | 1962 Sc57 SG120 | 7th July 1964 Sc1 SG124 | 9th December 1965 Sc8 SG128 |
Gibbons [2] states that "Tanganyika became part of the joint East African postal administration on first January 1933 and subsequently used the stamps of Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika." Scott [3] takes up the story, "On Dec. 9, 1961, Tanganyika became independent. On Dec. 9, 1962 it became a republic. April 26, 1964, it joined Zanzibar to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar (later renamed Tanzania)". Both Tanganyika and Zanzibar at first produced stamps celebrating their union that were not valid in the other country.