Eritrea
Until 1948, during the continued British occupation, the wartime MEF (Middle East Forces) stamps were used in Eritrea, and were sold in local currency equivalents (East Africa shillings). They were then replaced by issues overprinted with the country name and local currency. The first set was for the British Military Administration ("BMA"), but with the change to civilian government and wider public use of the posts the overprint was changed to "BA" - British Administration.
Some stamps can be found used with a penline across them: these are collectable in this state as the penline was used to indicate an authorised concessionary rate (see The Overprinter 2/03 p.31).
For overprinted stamps on telegraph forms, perforated "PAGATO" ("PAID"), see Eritrea Revenues.
For forerunners prepared in 1941 (but not issued) see under Somalia.
Note: this numbering system was drawn up by the Society for the website, and may not be used without permission.
King George VI
Definitive set
27 May 1948 (except 65c)
1 "5 CENTS" on ½d pale green
2 "10 CENTS" on 1d pale red
3 "20 CENTS" on 2d pale orange
4 "25 CENTS" on 2½d pale blue
5 "30 CENTS" on 3d pale violet
6 "40 CENTS" on 5d brown
7 "50 CENTS" on 6d purple
8 "65 CENTS" on 8d red (1 February 1949)
9 "75 CENTS" on 9d green
10 "1 SHILLING" on 1/- brown
11 "2 SH. 50 CENTS" on 2/6d green, Arms
12 "5 SHILLINGS" on 5/- red, Arms
13 "10 SHILLINGS" on 10/- blue, Arms
overprint varieties
(image courtesy of Philangles)
2 v1 10c overprint misplaced to the right
4 v1 25c overprint misplaced
11 v1 dot distorted and misplaced "2 SH .50 CENTS" (row 4/7)
note: this also occurs for Somalia, showing that the same basic plate was used for both; it was corrected for the "BA" issues.
Postage dues
watermark sideways
14 "5 CENTS" on ½d green
15 "10 CENTS" on 1d red
16 "20 CENTS" on 2d black
17 "30 CENTS" on 3d violet
18 "1 SHILLING" on 1/- blue
overprint varieties
15 v1 10c dot missing after "B"
16 v1 20c dot missing after "A"
16 v2 20c dot missing after "B"
note: the "missing dots" occur in several places on the sheet, and other stamps show them very faint.
Overprint changed to read "BA ERITREA"
for civilian British Administration
6 February 1950
Note: it is reported that the "M" was removed one by one from each position on the printing plate, resulting in occasional minor damage to neighbouring letters.
19 "5 CENTS" on ½d pale green
20 "10 CENTS" on 1d pale red
21 "20 CENTS" on 2d pale orange
22 "25 CENTS" on 2½d pale blue
23 "30 CENTS" on 3d pale violet
24 "40 CENTS" on 5d brown
25 "50 CENTS" on 6d purple
26 "65 CENTS" on 8d red
27 "75 CENTS" on 9d green
28 "1 SHILLING" on 1/- brown
29 "2 SH. 50 CENTS" on 2/6d green, Arms
30 "5 SHILLINGS" on 5/- red, Arms
31 "10 SHILLINGS" on 10/- blue, Arms
Postage dues
watermark sideways
32 "5 CENTS" on ½d green
33 "10 CENTS" on 1d red
34 "20 CENTS" on 2d black
35 "30 CENTS" on 3d violet
36 "1 SHILLING" on 1/- blue
overprint varieties
(illustration courtesy of Harmers)
33 v1 10c "C" omitted (row 7/17)
33 v2 10c vertical printers block instead of "C" (row 7/17: related to the above)
36 v1 1s missing dot after "A" (row 2/13)
watermark varieties
35 wi 30c watermark sideways inverted
Changed colours and designs
3 May 1951
The colour of the low values was changed to retain conformity with UPU requirements; the release date of these and the new high values was to coincide with the Festival of Britain.
37 "5 CENTS" on ½d orange
38 "10 CENTS" on 1d blue
39 "20 CENTS" on 2d brown
40 "25 CENTS" on 2½d red
41 "2 SH. 50 CENTS" on 2/6d green
42 "5 SHILLINGS" on 5/- red
43 "10 SHILLINGS" on 10/- blue
From 15 September 1952 Eritrea was incorporated into Ethiopia and therefore used Ethiopian stamps.
page last updated: 31 October 2008
gbos: GB Overprints Society