This is a survey of the postage stamps and

postal history Postal history is the study of postal systems and how they operate and, or, the study of the use of postage stamps and covers and associated postal artifacts illustrating historical episodes in the development of postal systems. The term is att ...

of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, formerly Zaire and the Belgian Congo.

Colonial period

The

Congo Free State ''(Work and Progress) , national_anthem = Vers l'avenir , capital = Vivi Boma , currency = Congo Free State franc , religion = Catholicism (''de facto'') , leader1 = Leopo ...

was established in 1885 as a personal initiative of Leopold II of Belgium, which was formally annexed, becoming the Belgian Congo, in 1907. Both entities issued their own stamps. File:Stamp Belgian Congo 1894 50c.jpg, An 1894 stamp of the

Congo Free State ''(Work and Progress) , national_anthem = Vers l'avenir , capital = Vivi Boma , currency = Congo Free State franc , religion = Catholicism (''de facto'') , leader1 = Leopo ...

. File:Belgian congo 1915 issue-25c.jpg, A 1915 stamp of the Belgian Congo.

Republic

In 1960, the Belgian Congo became independent as the

Republic of the Congo The Republic of the Congo (french: République du Congo, ln, Republíki ya Kongó), also known as Congo-Brazzaville, the Congo Republic or simply either Congo or the Congo, is a country located in the western coast of Central Africa to the w ...

. On 1 August 1964, the state's official name was changed to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Zaire

In 1971, the state's name changed to Zaire. The first stamps of Zaire were issued on 18 December 1971. Rossiter, Stuart & John Flower. ''The Stamp Atlas''. London: Macdonald, 1986, p.303.

1997-present

In 1997 the country's name reverted to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Katanga issues

The

State of Katanga The State of Katanga; sw, Inchi Ya Katanga) also sometimes denoted as the Republic of Katanga, was a breakaway state that proclaimed its independence from Congo-Léopoldville on 11 July 1960 under Moise Tshombe, leader of the local ''Co ...

seceded from the Republic of the Congo and, during its three years of independence, produced its own stamps and issues overprinted on earlier stamps of the Belgian Congo and the Republic of the Congo.

South Kasai issues

For a short period in 1960–61, South Kasai was a secessionist region in the south central area of the country that issued overprinted Belgian Congo stamps. File:Stamp_Katanga_1961_fair_50c.jpg, Katanga 50c stamp of 1961. File:South_Kasai_overprint_stamps.jpg, South Kasai created stamps by overprinting old Belgian Congo stamps.

References

* Adair, T. Stewart. ''The Belgian Congo: The Stamps of the Belgian Congo''. London: A.J.Sefi, 1925 * Cock, Andre de. ''Le Congo Belge et ses marques postales, evaluation des cachets du Congo Belge''. Antwerp: R-Editions, 1986 217p. Originally published in 1931. * Du Four, Jean and Rene Goffin. ''Congo, cinquante ans d'histoire postale''. s.l.: Editions de la Revue Postale, 1962 507p. * Gallant, Roger. ''Histoire du service postal au Congo Belge = De geschiedenis van de postdienst in Belgisch Kongo: 1886-1960''. Brussels: The Author, 2005 2 volumes (Volume 2 is subtitled: De Postzegels) * Gudenkauf, Abbe G. ''Belgian Congo: Postal History of the Lado Enclave, 1897-1910''. Newbury: Philip Cockrill, 1985 144p. * Keach, R. H. ''A Philatelic Bibliography of Belgian Congo & Ruanda Urundi''. Tadworth, Surrey: R. Keach, 1976 85p. * Mallet-Veale, H. ''The Stamps of the Belgian Congo and Belgian East Africa''. Johannesburg: The South African Philatelist, 1928 39p. * Oth, Jean. ''Le Congo belge en 1940-1950''. Neufchateau? : The Author?, 1992 51p.

Republic of Congo

* Frenay, J. M. ''Histoire Postale de l’Etat Indépendant du Congo''. ?: The Author, 1991 30p.

Katanga

* Donegan, George J., Jr. ''Donegan's Katanga philatelist: a specialized catalogue of the "Etat du Katanga" postal issues''. Springfield, MO.: G.J. Donegan, Jr., 1964 27p. * Hoorens, Emile R. ''Histoire postale de l'Etat du Katanga 1960-1963''. Brussels: E.R. Hoorens, 1997 197p.

South Kasai

* Dufresne, André. "Les Timbres-Poste Du Sud-Kasai". ''Les Cahiers de l’Académie ─ OPUS XV''. p. 153-15

External links

Congo Belge et Ruanda-Urundi: Septante-sept ans d'histoire postale en Afrique centraleLinns Refresher Courses - Name changes
{{Portal bar, Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Philately Communications in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Democratic Republic of the Congo Philately of Belgium History of the Democratic Republic of the Congo by topic