Federation of South Arabia

Before 1959 the British interests in South Arabia consisted of the colony of Aden and the protectorate of Aden. This protectorate was divided into the Western Protectorate (consisting of many small emirates and sultanates) and the Eastern Protectorate.

On 11 February 1959 the Federation of South Arabian Emirates was created. It consisted of six states, later joined by three others.

On 4 April 1962 the Federation of South Arabian Emirates was enlarged with eight members and renamed Federation of South Arabia. On 18 January 1963 the colony of Aden entered the Federation as State of Aden, bringing the total number of members to seventeen.

The Protectorate of South Arabia (the former Eastern Protectorate of Aden) remained.

In 1964 the British announced independence for the Federation, foreseen in 1968. This gave rise to several nationalist opposition groups. Two rival nationalist groups emerged: the National Liberation Front (NLF) and the Front for the Liberation of Occupied South Yemen, both based in Aden. By late 1967 the NLF had become the dominant group and forced the collapse of the federal government. British forces were withdrawn in November 1967 and South Arabia, both Federation and Protectorate, became the independent state of South Yemen, later renamed Democratic Yemen, on 30 November 1967.

Democratic Yemen en (northern) Yemen united as a single nation in 1990.

Capital: Al-Ittihad (now Madinat ash-Sha'b) / Aden

Government: Protectorate of the United Kingdom

Area: 155.400 km²

Population: 750.000 (1965)

Currency: South Arabian Dinar (100 fils)

For more stamps see:

Aden

Democratic Yemen

Links

Federation of South Arabia in Wikipedia.

Flag of the Federation of South Arabia in Flags of the World.

Article "South Arabia: from breakup to unification" by Marc Van Daele on the Collector Network.

Book review "Aden insurgency: The Savage War in South Arabia 1962-1967" from The British Yemeni Society.

Stamp catalogue

International Co-operation Year

date: 24 October 1965

designer: Victor Whiteley

printer: Harrison & Sons, London

perforated: 14½

1 5 fils ICY emblem, text "1965 / INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION YEAR"

reddish purple, turquoise-green

(cat. Michel 17/SG 17/Yvert 17)

2 65 fils ICY emblem, text "1965 / INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION YEAR"

deep bluish green, lavender

(cat. Michel 18/SG 18/Yvert 18)

Inauguration of WHO Headquarters, Geneva

date: 20 September 1966

designer: Michael Goaman

printer: Harrison & Sons, London

perforated: 14

3 10 fils WHO emblem, building, text "New Headquarters Building / 1966 / WHO"

black, yellow-green, light blue

(cat. Michel 25/SG 25/Yvert 25)

4 75 fils WHO emblem, building, text "New Headquarters Building / 1966 / WHO"

black, light purple, yellow-brown

(cat. Michel 26/SG 26/Yvert 26)

UNESCO 20th anniversary

date: 15 December 1966

designer: Jennifer Toombs

printer: Harrison & Sons, London

perforated: 14

5 10 fils UNESCO emblem, pen and blocks, text "20TH ANNIVERSARY OF UNESCO / EDUCATION"

state-violet, red, yellow, orange

(cat. Michel 27/SG 27/Yvert 27)

6 65 fils UNESCO emblem, retort and ears of wheat, text "20TH ANNIVERSARY OF UNESCO / SCIENCE"

orange-yellow, violet, deep olive

(cat. Michel 28/SG 28/Yvert 28)

7 125 fils UNESCO emblem, harp and temple, text "20TH ANNIVERSARY OF UNESCO / CULTURE"

black, bright purple, orange

(cat. Michel 29/SG 29/Yvert 29)

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last revised: 26 October 2008