2019-05-18 Sat

The first Postage Stamps of Liberia were issued in October 1860.

Situated at the west coast of Africa, Liberia is the oldest republic of Africa and besides Ethiopia the only state on this continent with an uninterrupted history of independence. It was officially proclaimed as Republic of Liberia on July 26, 1847, as a settlement project for freed American slaves.

On January 20, 1850, Liberia signed a postal convention with Great Britain and the first post offices were opened at Monrovia, Buchanan and Greenville. The First stamps of Liberia were issued in 1960 in the month of October. The stamps were issued in the set of three.

Lithographed by Dando, Todhunter and Smith, London, this set consisted of three stamps, one each of 6c, 12c and 24c in red, blue and green, respectively. The stamp depicts allegorical design of Liberty: a white woman with shield and lance sitting on a rock, safeguarding a ship with freed slaves approaching the coast.

The Liberty is shown sitting in an oval vignette in the center with the name of the country inscribed below. The vignette is inscribed with the denomination value at the top and the bottom. This issue was reprinted several times which remained unchanged until, in 1880 when new colors were introduced.

Image Courtesy: https://colnect.com

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