Benin

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.

Many stamps of Benin were overprinted with new values. These stamps are listed with the 'original' stamps. Overprinted Dahomey stamps with a new value and the new country name are listed on the Dahomey page.

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

World Rheumatism Year

date: 2 August 1977

designer: Luc Tchibozo

printer: Cartor

perforated: 12½:12¾

remark: nr. 1 overprinted as air mail parcel stamp ('Colis Postaux') in 1998 (cat. Michel Pak 25)

1 100 F health assistance bureau, patients, text "ANNEE MONDIALE CONTRE LE RHUMATISME"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 99/SG 660/Yvert 393)

World Telecommunication Day

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)

Martin Luther King

date: 30 July 1978

designer: -

printer: -

perforated: 12½

remark: nr. 3 overprinted '75 f' in March 1985 (cat. Michel 385)

3 300 F portrait, text "10e Anniversaire de l'Assassination de / MARTIN LUTHER KING (1929-1968)"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 150/SG 707/Yvert 418)

Save Acropolis

date: 22 September 1978

designer: Ngoc-Tuyët (3 and 4), A. Assouto (5)

printer: Cartor

perforated: 12½

remarks: air mail; nr. 6 overprinted '90 F' in March 1985 (cat. Michel 393/SG 966/Yvert PA 338) and '150 F.'

in 1995 (cat. Michel 665)

4 70 F Acropolis overview, part of a frieze (women and cows), UNESCO emblem, text "POUR LA SAUVEGARDE

DE L'ACROPOLE D'ATHENES (GRECE)"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 156/SG 713/Yvert PA 286)

5 250 F Parthenon, part of a frieze (horsemen), UNESCO emblem, text "POUR LA SAUVEGARDE DE L'ACROPOLE

D'ATHENES (GRECE)"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 157/SG 714/Yvert PA 287)

6 500 F Parthenon, UNESCO emblem, text "SAUVEGARDE DE L'ACROPOLE (le temple du Parthénon)"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 158/SG 715/Yvert PA 288)

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. 9 overprinted '10 F' in 1995 (cat. Michel 883)

7 50 F royal mail runner, houses, UPU emblem, text "ACHEMINEMENT DU COURRIER / MESSAGER DU ROI"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 163/SG 726/Yvert 434)

8 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)

9 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: 9 and 11: A. Assouto

10: J. Kpobly

printer: Edila

perforated: 12½:13, stamps also exist imperforated

10 10 F IYC emblem in circle, arrows, banner with text "ANNEE INTERNATIONALE DE L'ENFANT"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 170/SG 733/Yvert 441)

11 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)

12 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)

World Telecommunication Day

date: 17 May 1979

designer: A. Assouto

printer: Cartor

perforated: 12½:12¼

13 50 F ITU emblem, antenna, people, satellite, text "JOURNEE MONDIALE DES / TELECOMMUNICATIONS

/ 17 MAI 1979"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 180/SG 748/Yvert 454)

Philexafrique 2

date: 8 June 1979

designer: Pierre Forget

printer: -

perforated: 13:12½

remarks: issued in a series of two stamps; printed in small sheets with vignettes with the exposition emblem;

nr. 14 overprinted after 1997 with name 'République du Benin' and '35 F' (cat. Michel 1110) and with

'République du Benin' (cat. Michel 1111)

14 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)

ASECNA 20th anniversary

date: 12 December 1979

designer: Dorothe Adokou (14), Dine Alougbin Mouhinou (15)

printer: Cartor

perforated: 12½

15 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)

16 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

17 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)

18 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)

19 150 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)

World Telecommunication Day

date: 17 May 1980

designer: Ngoc Tuvet (19), K. Marcellin (20)

printer: Cartor

perforated: 12¾

20 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)

21 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. 22 overprinted '5 F' in November 1983 (cat. Michel 327/SG 887/Yvert 571)

22 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)

23 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. 24 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 with '75 F' and 'COLIS POSTAUX' in 1990 (cat. Michel Pak 18)

24 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: Agbogba

printer: Delrieu

perforated: 12½

remark: nr. 25 overprinted '75 F' in September 1984 (Michel 364/SG 931/Yvert 600); reprinted on stamp for the

Italia '85 stamp exhibition (see nr. 41)

25 115 F man in wheelchair, WHO emblem, text "ANNEE INTERNATIONALE / DES PERSONNES HANDICAPEES"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 259/SG 827/Yvert 522)

World Telecommunication Day

date: 30 May 1981

designer: Yahouedeou Leonard

printer: Cartor

perforated: 12½

remark: nr. 26 overprinted '75 F' in September 1984 (Michel 365/SG 932/Yvert 601)

26 115 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)

UPU Day / Heinrich von Stephan 150th anniversary

date: 9 October 1981

designer: Cécile Guillame

printer: -

perforated: 13

27 100 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. 28 overprinted '10 f' in November 1983 (Michel 328/SG 888/Yvert 572)

28 100 F faces, paper air planes, UPU emblem, text "Semaine Internationale de la Lettre écrite"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 271/SG 841/Yvert 534)

Pablo Picasso

date: 2 November 1981

designer: -

printer: Edila

perforated: 12½:13 (28), 13:12½ (29)

remark: air mail; stamps depict paintings by Picasso; nr. 29 overprinted '15 F' in September 1984

(cat. Michel 369/SG 936/Yvert PA 323); nr. 30 overprinted '90 F' in March 1985 (cat. Michel

395/SG 967/Yvert PA 340)

29 300 f The dance, text "LA DANSE / PICASSO (1881-1973)"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 272/SG 842/Yvert PA 298)

30 500 f Three musicians, text "LES TROIS MUSICIENS / PICASSO (1881-1973)"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 273/SG 843/Yvert Av 299)

ITU Plenipotentiary Conference, Nairobi

date: 26 September 1982

designer: -

printer: Edila

perforated: 13

remark: nr. 31 overprinted '15 F' in September 1984 (cat. Michel 367/SG 934/Yvert 604)

31 200 F world map, antenna on Nairobi, ITU emblem, text

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 296/SG 869/Yvert 543)

UPU Day

date: 9 October 1982

designer: Claude Andreotto

printer: -

perforated: 13

32 100 F UPU emblem, faces, text "13e JOURNEE DE L'U.P.U"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 297/SG 870/Yvert 533)

World Communications Year

date: 17 May 1983

designer: -

printer: Edila

perforated: 13:12¾

remark: nr. 33 overprinted '75 F' on 18 June 1984 (cat. Michel A351/SG 933) and overprinted '15 F' in 1995

(cat. Michel 886/SG 1469)

33 185 F WCY, ITU and UNO emblems, text "1983 / ANNEE MONDIALE / DES / COMMUNICATIONS"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 314/SG 907/Yvert 563)

World Communications Year

date: 27 August 1983

designer: L. Agbogba

printer: Edila

perforated: 12½:13:12½

remark: issued for the Riccione 83 stamp exhibition; nr. 34 overprinted '100 F' in 1995 (cat. Michel 889)

34 500 F hand with tweezers holding stamp, stamp with WCY emblem, map of Italy, exhibition emblem,

text "35e FOIRE INTERNATIONALE DU TIMBRE"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 316/SG 909/Yvert 565)

UPU Day

date: 9 October 1983

designer: Claude Haley

printer: -

perforated: 13; also known 11¼

remark: nr. 34 overprinted '5 f' in September 1984 (cat. Michel 357/SG 923/Yvert 595)

35 125 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

36 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)

World Food Day

date: 16 October 1984

designer: L. Agbogba

printer: Cartor

perforated: 12¾

37 100 F undernourished child, hand planting seedling with leaves with FAO emblems, FAO emblem,

text "JOURNEE MONDIALE DE L'ALIMENTATION"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 376/SG 950/Yvert 605)

International Youth Year

date: 16 July 1985

designer: V. Philippe Abayi

printer: Cartor

perforated: 13¼:13½

38 150 F youth of different races holding torch, embroidery, text "ANNEE INTERNATIONALE / DE LA

JEUNESSE"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 403/SG 989/Yvert 618)

ASECNA 25th anniversary

date: 16 September 1985

designer: Christian Attignon

printer: Edila

perforated: 12¾

39 150 F airplane, world map, ASECNA emblem, text "ASECNA - Jumelé avec la / Journée Internationale

de l'Aviation"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 416/SG 991/Yvert 621)

UNO 40th anniversary / UNO Membership 25th anniversary

date: 24 October 1985

designer: -

printer: -

perforated: 12½

40 250 F UN emblem, peace dove carrying text, hands

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 422/SG 997/Yvert 622)

International Year of Disabled Persons - reprint

date: 25 October 1985

designer: -

printer: -

perforated: 13½:13¼; also known 11¼

remark: issued for the Italia '85 stamp exhibition in Rome

41 200 F globe with Italian flag, magnifying glass, hand with tweezers, stamps for the International Year of

Disabled Persons of Italy and Benin, Italian buildings, map of Italy, text "Exposition Mondiale

Philatélique Rome - ITALIE 85"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 423/SG 998/Yvert 623)

IFAD 10th anniversary

date: 14 December 1987

designer: Sylvain A.C. Gansou

printer: Cartor

perforated: 13½

remark: air mail

42 500 F agricultural scene, fisheries, IFAD emblem, text "10ème ANIVERSAIRE DU FONDS INTERNATIONAL

/ DE DEVELOPPEMENT AGRICOLE"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 461/SG 1065/Yvert PA 364)

Martin Luther King

date: 11 July 1988

designer: -

printer: -

perforated: 12¾

43 200 F portrait, text "1929 1968 / 20e Anniversaire de l'a Mort / de MARTIN LUTHER KING"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 465/SG 1096/Yvert 660)

WHO 40th anniversary

date: 1 September 1988

designer: Sylvain A.C. Gansou

printer: Edila

perforated: 13:12½

remark: nr. 42 overprinted '25 F' in 1995 (Michel 649/SG -)

44 175 F doctor and patient, healthy people, patient taking herbal medicine, 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)

African Year of Tourism

date: 1991

designer: -

printer: -

perforated: 13½

45 190 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: V. Philippe Abayi

printer: Cartor

perforated: 13

remark: nr. 44 overprinted '150 F' in 1995 (Michel 653/SG -)

46 190 F child with food dish, acre, scientist, FAO, WHO and ICN emblems, text "Conférence Internationale

sur la Nutrition"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 535/SG 1161/Yvert 702)

Martin Luther King

date: 24 June 1993

designer: -

printer: -

perforated: 12¾:13

remark: part of a series of two stamps

47 190 F portrait, text "15e Anniversaire de l'Assassinati de / MARTIN LUTHER KING"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 548/SG 1167/Yvert 708)

The Slave Route - International Scientific Committee session, Ouidah

date: 1994

designer: -

printer: -

perforated: 13:13½

remark: the status of these stamps is not clear

48 135 F Slave Route and UNESCO emblems, text

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 618/SG -)

49 200 F Slave Route and UNESCO emblems, text

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 619/SG -)

50 300 F Slave Route and UNESCO emblems, text

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 620/SG 1275)

International Year of the Family

date: 1994

designer: -

printer: -

perforated: 12½:12¾

51 200 F world map in number 94, IYF emblem, text "Année Internationale de la Famille"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 618/SG -)

22nd UPU Congress, Beijing/China 1999, Beijing

date: 22 August 1999

designer: -

printer: -

perforated: 12½

remark: printed together in small sheets of eight stamps, background planet Earth and satellites, exhibition emblem,

text on the margin: "EXPOSITION MONDIALE DE PHILATÉLIE CHINA '99 / Réalisations spatiales de Chine"

52 50 f Chinese experiment with rockets in the 14th century, text "Essai d'une fusée chinoise au XIV ème siècle"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 1184/SG 1837/Yvert 920)

53 100 f Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, text "Centre de lancement de satellites de Jiuquan"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 1185/SG 1838/Yvert 921)

54 135 f communication satellite DFH-3, text "Satellite de communication DFH-3"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 1186/SG 1839/Yvert 922)

55 150 f satellite transport, text "Lancement d'un satellite étranger"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 1187/SG 1840/Yvert 923)

56 200 f Long March rocket taking off, text "Fusée "Longue Marche" CZ-2C"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 1188/SG 1841/Yvert 924)

57 300 f Yuan Wang transport ship, text "Navire de mesure "Yuan Wang" en mer"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 1189/SG 1842/Yvert 925)

58 400 f radio telescope, text "Test et contrôle par micro-ondes"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 1190/SG 1843/Yvert 926)

59 500 f space letters, text "Lettres ayant voyagé dans l'espace"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 1191/SG 1844/Yvert 927)

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last revised: 10 August 2009