COVER N. 762 - BENIN

Postmark: Comè 14.0?.2026

Posted on 14th ?;  Received on the 18th August 2026

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Getting mail in one's letterbox from such uncommon origins as Benin is always a motive for great joy, this being only the second time this Western Africa country is featured on the blog. 

A basketful of heartfelt Mercis goes out to Roland, who made sure I was included in such a great circuit and also to fellow member of the LCC, Marie-José, and to her kind friend who made it all possible.

The stamp on the cover is a curious one because it seems to have been originally issued as a Postage Due stamp in 1978, when the country was still named République Populaire du Benin, as part of a two stamp set, illustrated with images highlighting mail distribution services in the country by bicycle (60 Franc) and by river canoe (80f).

In 1990 it would again be issued with the new official name of the country - République du Benin - overprinted in black.

Somewhere in time, the stamp was again re-issued,  with the legend "Timbre Taxe"  and the face value of 60 franc blocked in black and a  surcharge for the new face value, which is now 600 Franc, this being the version used on the cover.

The stamps on this set are very much "French" in design, being bi-colour and recess printed. Pretty beautiful stamps if I may say so. Pity the overprinting hiding so much detail...

Postmark from Comé, a town in the south-west of tyhe country.