Let’s explore stamps from Dahomey and current day Benin! In this episode, Exploring Stamps learns about the Kingdom of Dahomey (and where it is), the Dahomey Amazons that made it into Marvel comics, the Scramble for Africa, and the incredible Village of Ganvie that is also known as the ‘Venice of Africa’.
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I agree with you about the beauty of the French colonial issues specifically those once they went to engraved, intaligo printed designs. Beautiful artwork, transfered exceptionally well (as were similarly produced stamps from France.) Earlier colonial issues which while colorful, were printed via Typography and just didnt have the fineness of detail that the later engraved ones did. My personal favorite is the Cameroun 25 Fr. from 1946. The sculptural head of the man and the typescript used are extra-special to me.
Totally agree with your observations. My exhibition of the stamps of designer and engraver Georges Betemps highlighted that early Betemps effort for Cameroun and his St. Pierre airmails of the 1940’s – all among his earliest efforts. Vive la France et les timbres francais! French and French colonial engraved issues of the period 1930’s through to the mid-1960’s have got to be one of philately’s greatest moments of triumph. It’s actually hard to find anything one doesn’t admire!