International Postage Meter Stamp Catalog/East African Community

East African Community

The East African Community started as a group of British colonies whose postal affairs were administered by the British East African Postal Administration. Included were Kenya, Uganda, and Tanganyika from 1931 to 1961/63. Another British colony, Zanzibar, was adjacent but not part of the Postal Administration. In 1961 Tanganyika gained its independence and merged with Zanzibar to become the new country of Tanzania. Kenya and Uganda also gained their independence around this time. For years after independence the three countries continued to manage their postal affairs communally and stamps marked with all three country names were used. Eventually the three began to issue stamps with only their own name, but both kinds of stamps — one-country name and three-country names — were used in tandem for years. For post-independence stamps with one country name see KENYA, TANZANIA, and UGANDA.

The stamps are grouped by inscription:

A - British East Africa, inscribed KENYA & UGANDA

B - British East Africa, inscribed KENYA, UGANDA, and TANGANYIKA

C - British East Africa, inscribed TANGANYIKA

D - East African Community, inscribed KENYA, UGANDA and TANZANIA

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GROUP A: Franks inscribed KENYA & UGANDA

A1. Neopost (FV), 1931. [$25]

Small frank with “KENYA & UGANDA” curved at top,

value figure in center with small “POST” at left and “PAID” at right.

With solid blocks in lower corners and “CENTS” between.

One meter known used by East African Power and Lighting Co.

TM: BIC

Values seen: 5, 10, 15, 20

A2. Neopost (LV-6), 1931.

Similar to Type A1 but with inner box with leaves surrounding value figure.

With “CENTS” at bottom center.

TM: BIC

A. With solid blocks in both lower corners [$10]

B. With “N” at lower left, solid block at lower right [$25]

C. With “N” at lower left and M# at lower right. M# N4 only [$35]

Values seen:

(with “c”): 10, 20

(without “c”): 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 50, 1/-

a. Used during World War 2 without TM on air letter sheets and airgraphs. M# N4 only. Values seen: 25, 30 [$100]

A3. Neopost (LV-6). [$40]

As Type A2 but without “CENTS”, blank at bottom center.

TM: BIC

A. With solid blocks in both lower corners

B. With “N” at lower left, solid block at lower right

Values seen: (with “c”): 5, 10, 15, 20, 40, 50

(without “c”): 1/-

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GROUP B: Franks inscribed “KENYA, UGANDA and TANGANYIKA”

Sub-group BA: Inscription reads KENYA & UGANDA / TANGANYIKA

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BA1. Neopost (LV-6).

Similar to Type A2 but with TANGANYIKA” curved below “KENYA & UGANDA”.

M# prefix “N” at lower left, “CENTS” at bottom center.

A. With solid block instead of M# at lower right [$25]

B. With M# at lower right

TM: BIC

Values seen: 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 1.00, 1·25, 1.50, 2.00, 2.50

BA2. Neopost (LV-6). [$50]

As Type BA1 but with “CENTS” removed.

M# with prefix “N” at lower left and solid block at lower right.

TM: BIC

Values seen (with “c”): 10, 20

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Sub-group BB: Inscription reads KENYA UGANDA / AND / TANGANYIKA

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BB1. Universal “MultiValue” (MV).

Large frank. M# with “U” prefix in small boxes in lower corners.

TM: DC

A. Frank 26 mm wide (U18-22) [$15]

B. Frank 31 mm wide

C. TM lowered with 4-digit S# above. Post Office stamp used for registered mail. M# U78 only [$35]

V/F: 0oo (O), oo (O,A), 00oo (O), 0oo (A,O)

BB2. Universal “MultiValue” (MV). [$10]

As Type BB1B but without crown, blank at bottom center.

M# with “U” prefix.

TM: DC

V/F: 0oo (O), 00oo (O), 0oo (A)

BB3. Neopost “Frankmaster 305” (MV). [$10]

Similar to Type BB1A but M# with “N” prefix, both unboxed.

With crown over “EiiR” at bottom center.

TM: DC

V/F: 0.00 , 00.00 , =0/00

BB4. Neopost “Frankmaster 305” (MV). [$20]

As Type BB3 but blank at bottom center, without crown over “EiiR”.

M# with “N” prefix.

TM: DC

V/F: 00.00

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Sub-group BC: Inscription reads KENYA UGANDA / & TANGANYIKA

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BC1. Universal “Simplex” (LV-25). [$5]

Three vertical lines at each side.

M# with “S” prefix in small boxes in lower corners.

“CENTS” over crown at bottom center.

Wide spacing between TM and frank.

TM: DC

Values: 10 through 250

BC2. Universal “Simplex” (LV-25). [$20]

As Type BC1 but without crown.

“CENTS” alone at bottom center.

M# with “S” prefix.

TM: DC

Values: 10 through 250

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Sub-group BD: Inscription reads KENYA UGANDA / TANGANYIKA

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BD1. Neopost “105” (LV). [$25]

As Type BA1 but without “&” in the country name.

M# with “N” prefix.

TM: BIC

Value seen: 30¢

BD2. Neopost “Frankmaster 305” (MV). [$10]

Similar to Type BB3 but without “AND” in the country name.

M# with “N” prefix.

TM: DC

V/F: 00.00

BD3. Neopost “Frankmaster 305” (MV). [$20]

As Type BD2 but with crown/”EiiR” removed” from bottom.

M# with “N” prefix, N556 and N571 known.

TM: DC

V/F: 00.00

BD4. Universal “Simplex” (LV-25). [$25]

As Type BC1 but without “&” in the country name.

M# with “S” prefix.

“CENTS” over crown at bottom center.

Wide spacing between TM and frank.

TM: DC

Values: 10 through 250

BD5. Universal “Simplex” (LV-25). [$25]

As Type BD4 but with crown removed; “CENTS” alone at bottom center.

M# with “S” prefix.

TM: DC

Values: 10 through 250

BD6. Universal “Simplex” (LV-25). [$25]

As Type BD5 but with “POSTAGE/ PAID” below “CENTS” at bottom.

M# with “S” prefix.

TM: DC

Values: 10 through 250

BD7. Neopost (LV-6). [$50]

Similar to Type BD6 but smaller.

Small “SH CTS” above “POSTAGE/ PAID” at bottom.

M# N357 seen.

TM: BIC

Value seen: 15

BD8. Neopost “Frankmaster 305” (MV). [$20]

As Types BD4 through 6 but with “SH CTS” above “POSTAGE/ PAID” at bottom.

M# prefix “N” in small box at lower left, M# between horizontal lines at lower right.

TM: DC

V/F: 00.00

BD9. Universal “Automax” (MV). [$10]

Similar to Type BD8 but with “SH CTS” above crown at bottom center.

M# with “A” prefix in small boxes in lower corners.

TM: DC

V/F: =0.oo

BD10. Universal/Pitney Bowes-GB “Automax” (MV).

As Type BD9 but with crown removed, blank at bottom center.

TM: DC

A. M# with “A” prefix [$20]

B. M with “PB” prefix [$40]

V/F: =0.oo

a. Completely blank at bottom, with "SH" and "CTS" also removed (A17)

BD11. Pitney Bowes-GB “Automax” (MV). [$15]

As Type BD10B but with “POSTAGE/ PAID” centered at bottom.

M# with “PB” prefix.

TM: DC

V/F: =0.oo

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GROUP C: Franks inscribed “TANGANYIKA”

C1. Neopost (LV-6). [$50]

As Type BD3 but with “TANGANYIKA” alone at top.

M# N291 seen.

TM: BIC

Values seen: 15, 20, 30

C2. Neopost “Frankmaster 305” (MV). [$25]

As Type BD2 but with “TANGANYIKA” alone at top and “POST/ PAID” at bottom center.

M#s N577, N578, N615, N630 and N671 known.

Spacing variable between TM and frank.

TM: DC

V/F: 00.00

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GROUP D: Franks inscribed “KENYA, UGANDA and TANZANIA”

Sub-group DA: Inscription reads KENYA UGANDA / TANZANIA

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DA1. Neopost “205” (MV). [$25]

Small frank with three vertical lines at the sides.

M# prefix “NE” boxed at lower left, M# unboxed at lower right.

Date figures tall.

TM: BIC

V/F: 0.00

DA2. Neopost “Frankmaster 305” (MV). [$25]

As Type DA1 but taller frank.

M# prefix “N” boxed at lower left, M# between horizontal lines at lower right.

Date figures short.

TM: DC

V/F: 00.00

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Sub-group DB: Inscription reads TANZANIA / UGANDA KENYA

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DB1. Neopost “205” (MV). [$5]

As Type DA1 but with revised inscription.

M# prefix “NE” boxed at lower left, M# unboxed at lower right.

Date figures tall.

TM: BIC

V/F: 0.00

a. Date only without TM

DB2. Neopost (LV-6). [$20]

Similar to Type DB1 but narrower, M# with “N” prefix.

TM: BIC

Values seen: 10, 15, 20, 30, 50, 1.00, 1.25

DB3. Neopost “Frankmaster 305” (MV).

As Type BD2 but with revised inscription and with “POSTAGE/ PAID” at bottom center.

M# with “N” prefix boxed at lower left.

TM: DC

A. M# between horizontal lines

B. M# without horizontal lines

V/F: 00.00

a. Frank inverted, value figures upright. M# N647 [$35]

b. V/F: =0/00 (N211 only, probably an assembly error)

DB4. Universal “MultiValue” (MV). [$5]

As Type BB2 but with revised inscription.

Blank at bottom center, M# with “U” prefix.

TM: DC

V/F: 0oo , 00oo , 0oo

a. Without M#, with small block inside box at lower right [$10]

DB5. Universal “Simplex” (LV-25). [$5]

As Type BC2 but with revised inscription.

M# with “S” prefix.

TM: DC

Values: 10 to 250

DB6. Universal/Pitney Bowes-GB “Automax” (MV).

As Type BD7 but with revised inscription.

TM: DC

A. M# with “A” prefix [$10]

B. M with “PB” prefix

V/F: =0.oo

DB7. Roneo Neopost “405/505” (MV). [$20]

Wide frank with M# prefix “RV” boxed at lower left, M# unboxed at lower right.

TM: BIC

V/F: 00.00

DB8. Pitney Bowes-GB “5000” (MV). [$15]

Wide frank with “POSTAGE” and “PAID” vertical in panels at sides.

Date figures raised in relation to value figures.

M# with “P.B.” prefix low between TM and frank.

TM: DC

V/F: ≋0.00

DB9. Pitney Bowes “6300” (MV). [$20]

Similar to Type DB8 but with three vertical lines at sides.

Date and value figures at same level.

M# with “PB” prefix in lower corners.

Frank straight along bottom.

TM: DC

V/F: ≋0.00

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