Eritrea: Ethiopian (1952-1991) and Independent (1991-present)
Eritrea was federated with Ethiopia in 1950 under a United Nations resolution, and gained independence in 1991 after a long struggle.
Chapter overview
- Asmara Municipal (Ethiopian)
- Eritrea Inland Revenue (Ethiopian)
- Stamp paper (Ethiopian)
- Eritrea revenue (Independent)
Acknowledgments
Grateful thanks to Graham Scott for providing several scans used in this chapter.
Currency
(1950) 1 Ethiopian dollar ($ Et, Eth D, Eth $ or E$) = 100 cents
(1976) 1 Ethiopian birr (b) = 100 santim or cents
(1997) 1 nakfa = 100 cents
Asmara Municipal (Ethiopian)
1952 (according to Barefoot). Large-format revenue key types of Italian Colonies overprinted Municipio Asmara (=Asmara Municipality) in sans-serif letters, with horizontal bars cancelling original value and new value in Ethiopian dollars. The portrait shows the king facing left on #A32/a and A40, and facing right on all other stamps.
1952 (according to Barefoot). Large-format revenue key types of Italian Colonies overprinted Municipio Asmara (=Asmara Municipality) in sans-serif letters, with horizontal bars cancelling original value and new value in Ethiopian dollars. The portrait shows the king facing left on #A32/a and A40, and facing right on all other stamps.
A31/a, A32/a, A33
a) Four thick cancelling bars, with vertical spacing of 2mm (A31/2) or 1mm (A33) between Municipio and Asmara
A31. E$0.20 on 5l grey-black
a. Additional manuscript cancelling bar at top
A32. E$0.50 on 80c greenish grey (king facing left)
a. Additional manuscript cancelling bar at top
A33. E$0.50 on 5l grey-black
A31. E$0.20 on 5l grey-black
a. Additional manuscript cancelling bar at top
A32. E$0.50 on 80c greenish grey (king facing left)
a. Additional manuscript cancelling bar at top
A33. E$0.50 on 5l grey-black
A36/37
b) Nine thin cancelling bars, with overprint placed at top of stamp to cover original inscription and 3 mm vertically between Municipio and Asmara
A36. E$0.50 on 3l bistre
A37. E$1.00 on 3l bistre
A36. E$0.50 on 3l bistre
A37. E$1.00 on 3l bistre
A38/41 including A39a
c) Four thin cancelling bars through COLONIE ITALIANE and four thick bars through value, vertical spacing of 2mm (A38, A40) or 1mm (others) between Municipio and Asmara
A38. E$0.20 on 5l grey-black
A39. E$0.50 on 5c mauve
a. Cancelling bars doubled
A40. E$0.50 on 80c greenish grey (king facing left)
A41. E$1.00 on 5l grey-black
Note: both A31 and A39a are known with watermark sideways-inverted.
A38. E$0.20 on 5l grey-black
A39. E$0.50 on 5c mauve
a. Cancelling bars doubled
A40. E$0.50 on 80c greenish grey (king facing left)
A41. E$1.00 on 5l grey-black
Note: both A31 and A39a are known with watermark sideways-inverted.
A51/53
1959-64 (recorded usage). Municipal building, inscribed MUNICIPIO DI ASMARA SEGNATASSE.
A51. E$0.20 mauve
A52. E$0.50 scarlet
A53. E$1 bright blue
Note: Although these stamps are inscribed Segnatasse, which usually means Postage Due, they were used on revenue documents and no examples are known on postal covers.
Recorded usage: April 1959 - February 1960 (A52), September 1964 (A53).
A51. E$0.20 mauve
A52. E$0.50 scarlet
A53. E$1 bright blue
Note: Although these stamps are inscribed Segnatasse, which usually means Postage Due, they were used on revenue documents and no examples are known on postal covers.
Recorded usage: April 1959 - February 1960 (A52), September 1964 (A53).
A61
1964 (recorded usage). Pleading hands. Inscribed Asmara Municipality / Poverty Appeal (?) in Amharic.
A61. E$1 blue, yellow, black and brown
This stamp is known used in combination with A53 on a September 1964 document. Judging by the inscription it may be a charity label.
A61. E$1 blue, yellow, black and brown
This stamp is known used in combination with A53 on a September 1964 document. Judging by the inscription it may be a charity label.
Eritrea Inland Revenue (Ethiopian)
#80/a and #81/92
1952 (according to Barefoot). Key types of Eritrea (British Occupation) with values in cents or shillings, surcharged in Ethiopian dollars, with bars cancelling original value. 17½ x 29½ mm (E$0.02 to E$0.30) or 21½ x 37½mm (E$0.35 and above). Perf 14. No wmk (E$7.00) or wmk multiple OTA (others), sideways on larger type, normally reading upwards as seen from the back of the stamp.
a) Surcharged in red with four or twelve bars cancelling original value
80. E$0.02 on 5c deep orange (four cancelling bars)
a. Twelve cancelling bars
b) Surcharged in black with twelve bars cancelling original value
81. E$0.02 on 5c deep orange
82. E$0.04 on 10c olive
83. E$0.07 on 20c bright rose
84. E$0.14 on 40c violet
85. E$0.18 on 50c on 2c blue-green
a. Wide spacing between third and fourth cancelling bars
86. E$0.30 on 85c mauve
87. E$0.35 on 1s mauve
88. E$0.44 on 1s25c pale blue
89. E$0.70 on 2s bright rose
90. E$1.40 on 4s ultramarine
91. E$7.00 on 20s pale bluish grey
92. E$35.00 on 100s purple-brown
a) Surcharged in red with four or twelve bars cancelling original value
80. E$0.02 on 5c deep orange (four cancelling bars)
a. Twelve cancelling bars
b) Surcharged in black with twelve bars cancelling original value
81. E$0.02 on 5c deep orange
82. E$0.04 on 10c olive
83. E$0.07 on 20c bright rose
84. E$0.14 on 40c violet
85. E$0.18 on 50c on 2c blue-green
a. Wide spacing between third and fourth cancelling bars
86. E$0.30 on 85c mauve
87. E$0.35 on 1s mauve
88. E$0.44 on 1s25c pale blue
89. E$0.70 on 2s bright rose
90. E$1.40 on 4s ultramarine
91. E$7.00 on 20s pale bluish grey
92. E$35.00 on 100s purple-brown
#101-109
c1953 (according to Barefoot). As previous issue but value expressed in 'Eth D'. Perf 14. Wmk multiple OTA, sideways on larger type, normally reading upwards as seen from the back of the stamp.
101. E$0.02 deep orange
102. E$0.04 olive
103. E$0.07 bright rose
104. E$0.14 violet
105. E$0.30 mauve
106. E$0.35 mauve
107. E$0.44 pale blue
108. E$0.70 bright rose
109. E$1.40 ultramarine
101. E$0.02 deep orange
102. E$0.04 olive
103. E$0.07 bright rose
104. E$0.14 violet
105. E$0.30 mauve
106. E$0.35 mauve
107. E$0.44 pale blue
108. E$0.70 bright rose
109. E$1.40 ultramarine
#111-119
1955 (according to Barefoot). As previous issue but value shown trilingually in Amharic, English and Arabic. Perf 14. Wmk multiple OTA, sideways on larger type, normally reading upwards as seen from the back of the stamp.
111. E$0.02 deep orange
112. E$0.04 olive
113. E$0.07 bright rose
114. E$0.14 violet
115. E$0.30 mauve
116. E$0.35 mauve
117. E$0.44 pale blue
118. E$0.70 bright rose
119. E$1.40 ultramarine
111. E$0.02 deep orange
112. E$0.04 olive
113. E$0.07 bright rose
114. E$0.14 violet
115. E$0.30 mauve
116. E$0.35 mauve
117. E$0.44 pale blue
118. E$0.70 bright rose
119. E$1.40 ultramarine
#120 and 120a
1955. Previous issue surcharged trilingually in English, Amharic and Arabic, with twelve bars cancelling original value.
120. E$0.01 on E$0.02 deep orange
a. second bar omitted
120. E$0.01 on E$0.02 deep orange
a. second bar omitted
#121-132
1960 (earliest recorded usage). New key type featuring Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia. 17½ x 29½ mm (E$0.05 to E$0.70) or 21½ x 38 mm (E$1.00 and above). Perf 14. Wmk multiple OTA, sideways on larger type, normally reading upwards as seen from the back of the stamp.
Earliest usage: E$2 used in 1960
121. E$0.05 bright rose
122. E$0.10 deep ultramarine
123. E$0.15 pale blue
124. E$0.30 violet
125. E$0.45 brown
126. E$0.70 mauve
127. E$1.00 bright rose
128. E$2.00 violet
129. E$5.00 ultramarine
130. E$10.00 mauve
131. E$20.00 olive-brown
132. E$35.00 pale blue
122. E$0.10 deep ultramarine
123. E$0.15 pale blue
124. E$0.30 violet
125. E$0.45 brown
126. E$0.70 mauve
127. E$1.00 bright rose
128. E$2.00 violet
129. E$5.00 ultramarine
130. E$10.00 mauve
131. E$20.00 olive-brown
132. E$35.00 pale blue
Stamp paper (Ethiopian)
P1
1962 (earliest recorded usage). Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia.
P1. E$0.70 deep violet
The country name Eritrea is not included in the inscription of this design, though the typed heading in this example clearly refers to use in the territory. The stamp paper itself might conceivably be an issue for Ethiopia which was used in Eritrea.
P1. E$0.70 deep violet
The country name Eritrea is not included in the inscription of this design, though the typed heading in this example clearly refers to use in the territory. The stamp paper itself might conceivably be an issue for Ethiopia which was used in Eritrea.
Eritrea revenue (Independent)
Issues following the liberation of Eritrea by the Eritrean People's Liberation Front.
#151-152
1991 (according to Barefoot). Inscribed 'Provisional Government of Eritrea (EPLF)'. Coat of Arms showing tools. 30 x 26 mm. Perf 11. No wmk. Gum shiny (50c) or matt (5b).
151. 50c green and blue
152. 5b pale green and green
151. 50c green and blue
152. 5b pale green and green
#156-158
1993 (according to Barefoot). Inscribed 'The State of Eritrea'. New national Coat of Arms showing camel. 30 x 26 mm. Perf 11. No wmk. Matt gum.
156. 1b pale yellow and blue
157. 2b pale pink and blue
158. 10b pale red-orange and red
156. 1b pale yellow and blue
157. 2b pale pink and blue
158. 10b pale red-orange and red
#161-162
1997 (according to Barefoot). Fish. 38 x 27½ mm. Perf 11 x 10½ or roulette 9. No wmk. Matt gum.
161. 20c multicoloured (perf 11 x 10½)
162. 20c multicoloured (roulette 9)
The rouletted stamps are usually imperforate on two sides, suggesting that they may come in panes of 4 stamps imperforate all round.
161. 20c multicoloured (perf 11 x 10½)
162. 20c multicoloured (roulette 9)
The rouletted stamps are usually imperforate on two sides, suggesting that they may come in panes of 4 stamps imperforate all round.
