Zanzibar
Chapter overview
Revenue issues 1893 to 1968
- Revenue-only stamps
- Revenue usage of dual-purpose Postage and Revenue stamps (catalogue numbers prefixed R)
- Airport Departure Tax (catalogue numbers prefixed A)
- Seaport Departure Tax (catalogue numbers prefixed S)
Acknowledgments for Zanzibar can be found on the main East Africa page.
Currency:
(1893) 16 annas = 1 rupee
(1908) 100 cents = 1 rupee
(1936) 100 cents = 1 East African shilling
(1966) 100 cents = 1 Tanzanian shilling
Revenue issues 1893 to 1968: Revenue-only stamps
Indian 1r stamp with Zanzibar overprint in mixed case
Bogus opt on Foreign Bill
The stamp illustrated above was sold on eBay in June 2012. It is a Special Adhesive stamp of India overprinted Zanzibar in mixed case, similar to the postage stamp provisionals of 1895-96. I can find no prior record of this overprint being found on revenue stamps, but in my view it looks genuine and could be the earliest revenue stamp of Zanzibar. I would be grateful to anyone who can provide further information which might allow this stamp to be authenticated.
The stamp illustrated at right (which also appeared on eBay in summer 2012) shows a similar overprint on the Foreign Bill 12a stamp of India, but in this case the overprint is clearly bogus, having poorly-formed letters and an weak impression.
The stamp illustrated at right (which also appeared on eBay in summer 2012) shows a similar overprint on the Foreign Bill 12a stamp of India, but in this case the overprint is clearly bogus, having poorly-formed letters and an weak impression.
#1
1892-94. Stamps of India overprinted ZANZIBAR (19½ x 2½ mm) by De La Rue. Perf 14.
a) On Receipt Stamp (25 x 30 mm, wmk large crown)
1. 1a purple (May 1892)
a) On Receipt Stamp (25 x 30 mm, wmk large crown)
1. 1a purple (May 1892)
#2-14 including shades #5a and #9a
b) On Special Adhesive stamps (57½ x 21 mm, wmk large crown and 'INDIA' sideways)
2. 4a green (July 1893)
3. 8a blue (July 1893)
4. 12a carmine (July 1893)
5. 1r brick-red (May 1892)
a. lake
6. 2r lilac (May 1892)
7. 3r orange-brown (July 1893)
8. 4r chocolate (July 1893)
9. 5r reddish purple (May 1892)
a. violet
10. 10r carmine (May 1892)
11. 20r bistre (August 1894)
12. 30r orange (August 1894)
13. 40r pale blue (August 1894)
14. 50r grey (May 1892)
Notes:
1. All values are known with 'CANCELLED' overprint, emanating from the De La Rue archives.
2. The dates in brackets in the above listing are taken from a De La Rue archive sheet bearing a complete set (opt 'CANCELLED'), with a date written above each value in manuscript. It is not known whether the dates indicate when the stamps were printed or when they were dispatched from London, but in either case they were very probably issued in Zanzibar no more than a couple of months later.
3. Examples of the one-anna receipt stamp are known with a forged ZANZIBAR overprint on the common Indian stamp, produced presumably in an attempt to defraud philatelists. The letters of the forged overprint are too narrow and the top of the Z is raised above the line, as shown in the illustration above.
1904 (according to Barefoot). Provisional manuscript surcharges on the above issue.
2. 4a green (July 1893)
3. 8a blue (July 1893)
4. 12a carmine (July 1893)
5. 1r brick-red (May 1892)
a. lake
6. 2r lilac (May 1892)
7. 3r orange-brown (July 1893)
8. 4r chocolate (July 1893)
9. 5r reddish purple (May 1892)
a. violet
10. 10r carmine (May 1892)
11. 20r bistre (August 1894)
12. 30r orange (August 1894)
13. 40r pale blue (August 1894)
14. 50r grey (May 1892)
Notes:
1. All values are known with 'CANCELLED' overprint, emanating from the De La Rue archives.
2. The dates in brackets in the above listing are taken from a De La Rue archive sheet bearing a complete set (opt 'CANCELLED'), with a date written above each value in manuscript. It is not known whether the dates indicate when the stamps were printed or when they were dispatched from London, but in either case they were very probably issued in Zanzibar no more than a couple of months later.
3. Examples of the one-anna receipt stamp are known with a forged ZANZIBAR overprint on the common Indian stamp, produced presumably in an attempt to defraud philatelists. The letters of the forged overprint are too narrow and the top of the Z is raised above the line, as shown in the illustration above.
1904 (according to Barefoot). Provisional manuscript surcharges on the above issue.
#20-25
a) 4 annas surcharge produced by cancelling original value with 4, a or 4a
20. 4a on 8a blue (red surcharge)
22. 4a on 3r orange-brown
23. 4a on 4r chocolate
24. 4a on 5r violet
25. 4a on 40r pale blue
20. 4a on 8a blue (red surcharge)
22. 4a on 3r orange-brown
23. 4a on 4r chocolate
24. 4a on 5r violet
25. 4a on 40r pale blue
#26
b) Original figures of value crossed out and new figure written above
26. 1r on 40r pale blue (red)
26. 1r on 40r pale blue (red)
#31-35
c) As b) but '1' written across original figures of value to cancel them
31. 1r on 2r lilac
32. 1r on 3r orange-brown
33. 1r on 5r violet
34. 1r on 30r orange
35. 1r on 40r pale blue (red)
31. 1r on 2r lilac
32. 1r on 3r orange-brown
33. 1r on 5r violet
34. 1r on 30r orange
35. 1r on 40r pale blue (red)
#36
d) Surcharged with a cross cancelling the zeros
36. 2r on 20r bistre (red)
Notes:
1. Morley additionally lists the following values, which I have not seen:
1904 (according to Barefoot). Printed provisional surcharges on the 1893 issue, with three different types of surcharge.
36. 2r on 20r bistre (red)
Notes:
1. Morley additionally lists the following values, which I have not seen:
- 4a on 8a (surch in black or blue)
- 4a on 12a (surch in black)
- 1r on 2r (surch in red)
- 1r on 40r (surch in black)
1904 (according to Barefoot). Printed provisional surcharges on the 1893 issue, with three different types of surcharge.
#41-45
a) Seriffed font, with A (=annas) or R (=rupees) preceding the numeral
41. 4a on 2r lilac
42. 1r on 12a carmine
43. 3r on 2r lilac
44. 5r on 2r lilac
45. 10r on 8a blue
Note: Barefoot additionally lists the 1r on 8a with this type of surcharge in red, though I have not seen this and suspect it may be an error for the sans-serif surcharge (see #51 below).
41. 4a on 2r lilac
42. 1r on 12a carmine
43. 3r on 2r lilac
44. 5r on 2r lilac
45. 10r on 8a blue
Note: Barefoot additionally lists the 1r on 8a with this type of surcharge in red, though I have not seen this and suspect it may be an error for the sans-serif surcharge (see #51 below).
#51-54
b) Bold sans-serif font in black or violet, with the numeral preceding R
51. 1r on 8a blue (violet)
52. 1r on 12a carmine
53. 5r on 12a carmine
54. 10r on 50r grey
Notes:
1. The violet surcharge on #51 can sometimes appear either red or blue.
2. One example of #51 was reported (and subsequently listed in Barefoot) as being surcharged at left only. Close examination of the stamp revealed that it was a normal example of #51 but with the right-hand part of the surcharge hidden almost completely by the cancel.
3. Barefoot additionally lists the 3r on 2r with this type of surcharge, though I have not seen this.
51. 1r on 8a blue (violet)
52. 1r on 12a carmine
53. 5r on 12a carmine
54. 10r on 50r grey
Notes:
1. The violet surcharge on #51 can sometimes appear either red or blue.
2. One example of #51 was reported (and subsequently listed in Barefoot) as being surcharged at left only. Close examination of the stamp revealed that it was a normal example of #51 but with the right-hand part of the surcharge hidden almost completely by the cancel.
3. Barefoot additionally lists the 3r on 2r with this type of surcharge, though I have not seen this.
#66
c) Numeral only cancelling previous value
66. 3r on 2r lilac
66. 3r on 2r lilac
#71-75
1899-1901 (Gibbons date for issue of postage stamps). Postage stamps of Zanzibar (Sultan Seyyid Hamoud bin Mahommed bin Said) overprinted Revenue in mixed case (15½ x 3 mm), probably by a local printer. Stamps measure 25 x 30 mm. Perf 14. Wmk single rosette. Printed (recess) De La Rue. Flags and lines at edges of stamps in red.
71. 1r blue
72. 2r green
73. 3r dull purple
74. 4r lake
75. 5r sepia
71. 1r blue
72. 2r green
73. 3r dull purple
74. 4r lake
75. 5r sepia
#81-83
1905 (according to Barefoot). Issue of 1899-1901 surcharged '1' (4 mm high), cancelling original figure of value at left and right.
81. 1r on 3r dull purple
82. 1r on 4r lake
83. 1r on 5r sepia
81. 1r on 3r dull purple
82. 1r on 4r lake
83. 1r on 5r sepia
#91-98
1906 (earliest recorded example). Postage stamps of Zanzibar (monogram of Sultan Seyyid Ali bin Hamoud bin Naherud) overprinted Revenue in mixed case, probably by a local printer. Perf 14. Wmk multiple rosettes. Printed (typo) De La Rue.
#91a (image from Hoffman)
a) 13½ x 5 mm overprint on stamps measuring 18½ x 22½ mm
91. 1a rose-red
a. overprint inverted
92. 4a deep green (red)
93. 8a olive-green
b) 25 x 5 mm overprint on stamps measuring 25 x 29½ mm.
Flags and lines at edges of stamps in red.
94. 1r blue
a. watermark sideways
95. 2r green
96. 3r violet
97. 4r claret
98. 5r olive-brown
Note: Morley lists a 1r on 2r surcharge, which I have not seen. Barefoot also lists a 1r on 12c, but I believe this may be erroneously copied from Morley, who lists this stamp with 'REVENUE' in black block type (see footnote below #104).
91. 1a rose-red
a. overprint inverted
92. 4a deep green (red)
93. 8a olive-green
b) 25 x 5 mm overprint on stamps measuring 25 x 29½ mm.
Flags and lines at edges of stamps in red.
94. 1r blue
a. watermark sideways
95. 2r green
96. 3r violet
97. 4r claret
98. 5r olive-brown
Note: Morley lists a 1r on 2r surcharge, which I have not seen. Barefoot also lists a 1r on 12c, but I believe this may be erroneously copied from Morley, who lists this stamp with 'REVENUE' in black block type (see footnote below #104).
1907 (based on printer's archive material dated late 1906). Similar to previous issue but overprinted REVENUE in bold capitals (15 x 3 mm on 1a, 19½ x 4 mm on others) by De La Rue, or surcharged also. Flags and lines at edges of stamps in red on rupee values.
101. 1a rose-red
102. 1r blue (wmk sideways)
103. 1r on 2r green (wmk sideways)
104. 2r green
Notes: Morley also lists a 1r on 12c (possibly an error for the 12c of 1908-09?) in this series, and Gibson lists a 2a and 4a in this series, but I have not seen any of these.
From 1908 onwards, dual-purpose postage and revenue stamps were used (see section below). High values inscribed Revenue (see #121/2) were issued to accompany the 1936 definitives.
101. 1a rose-red
102. 1r blue (wmk sideways)
103. 1r on 2r green (wmk sideways)
104. 2r green
Notes: Morley also lists a 1r on 12c (possibly an error for the 12c of 1908-09?) in this series, and Gibson lists a 2a and 4a in this series, but I have not seen any of these.
From 1908 onwards, dual-purpose postage and revenue stamps were used (see section below). High values inscribed Revenue (see #121/2) were issued to accompany the 1936 definitives.
#111
1930? As 1926-27 postage and revenue issue but overprinted GOVT SAVINGS BANK in seriffed letters 2½ mm high. It is unclear whether this was a savings stamp or simply a company chop.
111. 6c violet
111. 6c violet
#121-2
1936 (according to Crown Agents archive). Similar type to R322 (see below) but inscribed REVENUE at foot. 30 x 25 mm. Perf 14. Wmk Multiple Script CA. Printed (recess) by De La Rue. Sheets of 100 (10 rows of 10).
121. 20s black and green
122. 50s brown-orange
Note: the 50r was originally proofed in black and brown-orange, but this was rejected in favour of using the same colour for both head and duty plates.
Printings:
121. 20s black and green
122. 50s brown-orange
Note: the 50r was originally proofed in black and brown-orange, but this was rejected in favour of using the same colour for both head and duty plates.
Printings:
- Req 7692 (sent to Zanzibar 15th October 1935): 20s, 50s
- Req 8754/1 (sent to Zanzibar 1st April to 11th May 1938): 20s, 50s
- Req 5063/1 (sent to Zanzibar 18th November 1955): 20s, 50s
- Req 6484/1 (sent to Zanzibar 4th November 1957): 20s
#131
1964. Revenue stamp of 1936 locally handstamped 'JAMHURI (=Republic) 1964' (diagonally, horizontally or vertically).
131. 20s black and green
#141-3 (images of #142 from Hoffman, #143 from Barefoot)
1966. As R461 etc (see below) but locally handstamped REVENUE (15 x 2 mm) in violet.
141. 10c brown-purple and light emerald
142. 20c ultramarine and light orange
143. 25c maroon and orange-yellow
Note: Barefoot also lists the following values of this series, none of which I have ever seen:
5c, 15c, 50c, 1s, 2s, 5s, 10s, 20s.
141. 10c brown-purple and light emerald
142. 20c ultramarine and light orange
143. 25c maroon and orange-yellow
Note: Barefoot also lists the following values of this series, none of which I have ever seen:
5c, 15c, 50c, 1s, 2s, 5s, 10s, 20s.
#152 and #156
1970. New small pictorial types inscribed Pato (=Revenue). 21 x 17½ mm. Perf 14 x 15. No wmk. Printed (offset-litho) by Harrison. Sheets of 100.
[151. 10c dull mauve]
152. 20c dull blue
[153. 25c dull brown]
[154. 30c dull green]
[155. 50c purple]
156. 1s drab
[157. 2s greyish green]
[158. 3s ultramarine]
[159. 5s black]
[160. 10s black-brown]
Notes:
1. Details of the above issue, derived from the Crown Agents archive in the British Library, were first published in Michael Vesey-Fitzgerald's 'Zanzibar Revenues: A Revision', B.E.A. (The Bulletin of the East Africa Study Circle), Vol 15 No 98 (May 2011). He notes that the stamps were dispatched to Zanzibar on 12th January 1970.
2. The values in brackets are known from the printer's archive in the British Library but have not been recorded hitherto as issued stamps.
3 Only one printing of each stamp is recorded in the Crown Agents archive. Print quantities for each value were as follows:
[151. 10c dull mauve]
152. 20c dull blue
[153. 25c dull brown]
[154. 30c dull green]
[155. 50c purple]
156. 1s drab
[157. 2s greyish green]
[158. 3s ultramarine]
[159. 5s black]
[160. 10s black-brown]
Notes:
1. Details of the above issue, derived from the Crown Agents archive in the British Library, were first published in Michael Vesey-Fitzgerald's 'Zanzibar Revenues: A Revision', B.E.A. (The Bulletin of the East Africa Study Circle), Vol 15 No 98 (May 2011). He notes that the stamps were dispatched to Zanzibar on 12th January 1970.
2. The values in brackets are known from the printer's archive in the British Library but have not been recorded hitherto as issued stamps.
3 Only one printing of each stamp is recorded in the Crown Agents archive. Print quantities for each value were as follows:
- 10c - 20,000
- 20c - 1,000,000
- 25c, 30c, 2s, 5s, 10s - 5,000 each
- 50c, 1s, 3s - 10,000 each
Revenue issues 1893 to 1968: Revenue usage of dual-purpose Postage and Revenue stamps
Note: for ease of reference, numbering follows the Stanley Gibbons Part 1 catalogue throughout this section. Values listed here are those recorded as having been used for revenue purposes. Dates of issue are as given in Gibbons.
Printers: all the following stamps were printed (recess) by De La Rue unless otherwise stated.
Note: for ease of reference, numbering follows the Stanley Gibbons Part 1 catalogue throughout this section. Values listed here are those recorded as having been used for revenue purposes. Dates of issue are as given in Gibbons.
Printers: all the following stamps were printed (recess) by De La Rue unless otherwise stated.
R224
1904. Monogram of Sultan Seyyid Ali bin Hamoud bin Naherud. 25 x 30 mm. Perf 14. Wmk Multiple Rosettes. Printed (typo) by De La Rue.
R224. 5r olive-brown and red
R234-245
1908-09. Sultan Ali bin Hamoud (1r to 5r) or view of Zanzibar Port (10r to 200r) in horiz format. 25 x 30 mm (vert) or 30 x 25 mm (horiz). Perf 14. Wmk Multiple Rosettes (sideways on 10r and 30r).
R234a
R234. 1r yellow-green
a. watermark sideways
R235. 2r violet
R236. 3r orange-bistre
R237. 4r vermilion
R238. 5r steel-blue
R239. 10r blue-green and brown
R240. 20r black and yellow-green
R241. 30r black and sepia
R242. 40r black and orange-brown
R243. 50r black and mauve
R244. 100r black and steel-blue
R245. 200r brown and greenish black
a. watermark sideways
R235. 2r violet
R236. 3r orange-bistre
R237. 4r vermilion
R238. 5r steel-blue
R239. 10r blue-green and brown
R240. 20r black and yellow-green
R241. 30r black and sepia
R242. 40r black and orange-brown
R243. 50r black and mauve
R244. 100r black and steel-blue
R245. 200r brown and greenish black
R248-260g (R248 image from Hoffman)
1913. Sultan Kalif bin Harub (cents values), Native Craft (1r to 5r) or Dhow (10r to 200r) in horiz format. 18 x 22 mm (cents), 25 x 30 mm (1r to 5r) or 30 x 25 mm. Perf 14. Wmk Multiple Rosettes (sideways on 10r to 200r).
R248. 6c rose-carmine
R255. 1r yellow-green
R256. 2r violet
R257. 3r orange-bistre
R259. 5r steel-blue
R260. 10r green and brown
R260d. 40r black and vermilion
R260e. 50r black and purple
R260f. 100r black and blue
R260g. 200r brown and black
R248. 6c rose-carmine
R255. 1r yellow-green
R256. 2r violet
R257. 3r orange-bistre
R259. 5r steel-blue
R260. 10r green and brown
R260d. 40r black and vermilion
R260e. 50r black and purple
R260f. 100r black and blue
R260g. 200r brown and black
R273-4
1914-22. As previous issue but wmk Multiple Crown CA.
R273. 4r scarlet
R274. 5r steel-blue
R294-5
1921-29. As previous issue but wmk Multiple Script CA (sideways on 10r).
R294. 5r Prussian blue
R295. 10r green and brown
R294. 5r Prussian blue
R295. 10r green and brown
R302
1926-27. New cents values with changed portrait of Sultan Kalif bin Harub, 'CENTS' in seriffed capitals. 18 x 22 mm. Perf 14. Wmk Multiple Script CA.
R302. 6c violet
R302. 6c violet
R311, R321-2
1936. Similar type but 'CENTS' in sans-serif capitals on low values, high values with currency in shillings instead of rupees. 19 x 22½ mm (cents values), 25 x 30 mm (1s to 7s50) or 30 x 25 mm (10s). Perf 14 x 13½-14. Wmk Multiple Script CA.
R311. 10c black
R321. 7s50c light blue
R322. 10s green and brown
R311. 10c black
R321. 7s50c light blue
R322. 10s green and brown
R331
1946. As R311 but overprinted VICTORY ISSUE 6TH JUNE 1946 in red.
R331. 10c black
R331. 10c black
R334
1949. Royal Silver Wedding commemorative issue.
28½ x 37 mm. Perf 11½ x 11. Wmk Multiple Script CA.
R334. 10s brown
R340
1952. New portrait of Sultan Kalif bin Harub (cents values) or Seyyid Khalifa Schools (shillings values). 18 x 22 mm. Perf 12½ (cents values) or 13. Wmk Multiple Script CA.
R340. 10c red-orange
R340. 10c red-orange
R364 and R372
1957. Pictorial issue. Map (35c), 28 x 22 mm, perf 14 x 13½. Kibweni Palace (10s), 21 x 36½ mm, perf 13 x 13½. Wmk Multiple Script CA. Printed (recess) by Bradbury Wilkinson.
R364. 35c slate and emerald
R372. 10s carmine
R364. 35c slate and emerald
R372. 10s carmine
R461 and R463
1966. New pictorial designs, 39 x 21½ mm, perf 13 x 12½. No wmk. Printed (litho) by German Bank Note Printing Co, Leipzig.
R461. 10c brown-purple and light emerald
R463. 20c ultramarine and light orange
R461. 10c brown-purple and light emerald
R463. 20c ultramarine and light orange
Revenue issues as part of Tanzania, inscribed 'Zanzibar Revolutionary Government'
Airport Departure Tax
A3 and A6
c1990s. Arms of Zanzibar with aeroplane. 37 x 26½ mm. Perf 15 x 14. No watermark.
a) Denominated in T SH (Tanzanian shillings)
[A1. 800s ultramarine]
A3. 1000s on 800s ultramarine
b) Denominated in US dollars, probably for payment by foreign nationals
A6. $10 dark green
Note: A1 is not recorded without the 'T SH 1000' handstamp (as A3) but is presumed to exist.
a) Denominated in T SH (Tanzanian shillings)
[A1. 800s ultramarine]
A3. 1000s on 800s ultramarine
b) Denominated in US dollars, probably for payment by foreign nationals
A6. $10 dark green
Note: A1 is not recorded without the 'T SH 1000' handstamp (as A3) but is presumed to exist.
A11
2005 (recorded usage). Label inscribed ZANZIBAR REVENUE BOARD airport service charge. Imperf. Security background of text in wavy lines. Denominated USD with blank space to allow the value to be inserted by handstamp. Security number in black at right.
A11. USD [blank] blue-green and slate
A11. USD [blank] blue-green and slate
Seaport Departure Tax
S1 and S6
1993 (earliest known usage). Seaport Departure Service Charge. Arms of Zanzibar with ferry. 37 x 26½ mm. Perf 15 x 14. No watermark.
a) Denominated in T SH (Tanzanian shillings)
S1. 300s red-brown
b) Denominated in US dollars, probably for payment by foreign nationals
S6. $5 rose-red
a) Denominated in T SH (Tanzanian shillings)
S1. 300s red-brown
b) Denominated in US dollars, probably for payment by foreign nationals
S6. $5 rose-red
