Check out Issue #7 of the DCStamps Investigator – Overprint Madness #4 – Surcharges.
Welcome to DCStamps, a website designed as a resource for stamp and banknote collectors of countries which no longer exist — often defined as a “dead country”. According to Linn’s Stamp News, the definition of a dead country is “any area that has ceased existence and no longer produces postage stamps”.
My definition of a Dead Country is somewhat different, see my Definitions page, the spirit remains the same, a focus on countries, colonies, revolutionary entities or occupational forces which no longer exist. Also, for this site at the moment, I have limited countries covered to those that ceased to exist by the end of 1959. This has been extended from 1955. Read more on my Dead Country List Page.
This site will continue to grow as new “dead countries” are added monthly. The goal is to eventually become an indispensable resource for collectors (or those just interested in understanding the history of the transition of nations).
If you want to contact me directly, drop me an email at: ILikeMaps@msn.com
WHAT’S NEW AT DCSTAMPS
- 19 Apr, 2018 – Added new Album for the Austrian Occupation of Montenegro in WWI
- 19 Apr, 2018 – Published History for the International Zone of Tangier, British Offices
- 19 Apr, 2018 – Added new Album for the International Zone of Tangier, British Offices
- 17 Apr, 2018 – Added New stamps to the Austrian Province of Bosnia and Herzegovina Album
- 17 Apr, 2018 – Added new stamps to the Mozambique Company Album
- 17 Apr, 2018 – Added new stamps to the Ubangi Shari Chad Album
- 17 Apr, 2018 – Added new stamps to the Trans-Baikal Region under General Semyonov Album
- 11 Apr, 2018 – Published Issue #7 of the DCStamps Investigator “Overprint Madness #4 – Surcharges”
WHAT YOU CAN FIND ON DCSTAMPS
DEAD COUNTRY HISTORIES (below) – A brief history of each “Dead Country” including the stamps and/or banknotes it issued. New country histories are added routinely.
DEFINITION OF A DEAD COUNTRY – A detailed working definition of a “Dead Country”. Essentially it includes kingdoms, nations, colonies, occupational forces or revolutionary entities which ceased to exist. (I limit my collection to countries who “died” by the end of 1955.)
LIST OF DEAD COUNTRIES – A full list of “Dead Countries” which ceased to exist before the end of 1959. This list is frequently updated as new information is discovered.
REGIONAL TRANSITION CHARTS – A useful resource to understand the changes and transitions of nations with a designated region. Very useful for collectors – check them out!!
STAMP ALBUMS – My personal stamp/banknote albums for each of the “dead countries” which have been posted to date. I will continually add to this as I develop additional albums from my collection.
BANKNOTES – I am fairly new to collecting Banknotes, and this is a relatively sparse area at this time.
NORTH AMERICA AND HAWAII
Hawai’i, Kingdom (1810 – 1893)
Hawaii, Provisional Government (1893 – 1894)
Hawaii, Republic (1894 – 1897)
New Brunswick (1784 – 1867) album only
Newfoundland (1548 – 1949) album only
Nova Scotia (1713 – 1867)
Prince Edward Island (1769 – 1873)
CARIBBEAN ISLANDS
Danish West Indies (1754 – 1917)
SOUTH / CENTRAL AMERICA
Buenos Aires, Argentine State (1852 – 1861) album only
Peru, Chilean Occupation (1881 – 1884)
Arequipa, Chilean Occupation of Peru (1881-1885)
Chala, Chilean Occupation of Peru (1884)
Chiclayo, Chilean Occupation of Peru (1884)
Huacho, Chilean Occupation of Peru (1884)
WESTERN EUROPE
Alsace & Lorraine, German Occupation – Franco Prussian war (1870 – 1872)
Alsace, German Occupation – WW2 (1940 – 1944)
Belgium, German Occupation – WW1 (1914 – 1918)
Eupen, Belgian Occupation – post WW1 (1920 – 1925)
Eupen & Malmedy, Belgian Occupation – post WW1 (1919 – 1920)
France, German Occupation – WW1 (1915 – 1918) album only
Lorraine, German Occupation – WW2 (1940 – 1944)
Luxembourg, German Occupation – WW2 (1940 – 1944)
Malmedy, Belgian Occupation – post WW1 (1920 – 1925)
GERMANY / POLAND AREA
Allenstein, plebiscite (1920)
Baden, Grand Duchy (1806 – 1871)
Bavaria, Kingdom (1806 – 1918) album only
Bavaria, Revolution and Socialist Republic (1918 – 1919) album only
Bavaria, Free State (1919 – 1920) album only
Bavaria, Weimer State (1920 – 1921) album only
Berlin-Brandenburg, Russian Occupation – post WW2 (1945-1949)
Danzig Free State (1920 – 1939)
Danzig, German Administration – WW2 (1939 – 1945)
Polish Offices in Danzig Free State (1920 – 1939)
Germany, Empire (1871 – 1920) album only
Germany, AMG Occupation – post WW2 (1945 – 1946) album only
Marienwerder, plebiscite (1920)
North German Confederation (1866 – 1871)
Poland, German Occupation – WW1 (1914 – 1918)
Saxony, Kingdom (1806 – 1871)
Schleswig, plebiscite (1920)
Upper Silesia, Plebiscite (1920 – 1921)
ITALY AREA
Fiume (1919 – 1924) album only
Italian Social Republic (1943 – 1945)
Naples, AMG Occupation of Italy – WW2 (1943 – 1944)
Sardinia, Kingdom (1720 – 1861) album only
Sicily, AMG Occupation – WW2 (1943 – 1944)
Trento and Trieste, Italian Occupation post WW1 (1919) album only
Tuscany, Grand Duchy (1569 – 1860)
BALTICS
Baltic Area (Ob Ost), German Occupation – WW1 (1916 – 1917) album only
Central Lithuania (1920- 1922)
Klaipeda (Memel), Lithuanian Occupation (1923 – 1925)
Latvia, West Russian Army Occupation under Col. Bermondt-Avalov (1919) album only
Memel, French Administration (1920 – 1923)
CENTRAL / EASTERN EUROPE
Austria, Allied Occupation post WW2 (1945 – 1955) album only
Eastern Silesia, plebiscite (1919 – 1920) album only
Romania, Austrian Occupation – WW1 (1916 – 1918)
Temesvár, Serbian Occupation – post WW1 (1918 – 1919)
BALKANS
Bosnia & Herzegovina, Austro Hungarian Empire Occupation (1878 – 1908)
Bosnia & Herzegovina, Province of Austro Hungarian Empire (1908 – 1918) album only
Dalmatia, Italian Occupation (1918 – 1922)
Janina, Italian Offices in the Ottoman Empire (1902 – 1914) album only
Montenegro, Principality / Kingdom (1878 – 1916)
Montenegro, Austrian Occupation in WW1 (1916 – 1918) album only
Epirus, Autonomous Republic (1914)
North Epirus, Greek Occupation in WW1 (1914 – 1916)
North Epirus, Greek Occupation in WW2 (1940 – 1941)
Saseno, Italian Occupation (1914 – 1947) album only
Serbia, Austro Hungarian Occupation – WW1 (1916) album only
GREECE AND ISLANDS
Castelrosso, Italian Dominion (1921 – 1943)
Cephalonia and Ithaca, Italian Occupation – WW2 (1941)
Corfu, Italian Occupation (1923)
Crete, Autonomous Government (1898 – 1913)
Crete, Austrian Offices (1903 – 1914) album only
Crete, British Occupation (1897 – 1909)
Crete, French Occupation (1897 – 1909)
Crete, Italian Occupation (1897 – 1909)
Crete, Russian Occupation (1897 – 1909)
Crete, Theriso Revolution (1905)
Dodecanese Islands, Italian Occupation (1912 – 1923)
Ionian Islands, British Protectorate (1810 – 1864)
Ionian Islands, Italian Occupation in WW2 (1941 – 1943)
Kavala / Cavalla, Greek Occupation – Balkan wars (1913)
Lemnos, Greek Occupation (1912 – 1923)
Salonika, Italian Offices in the Ottoman Empire (1908 – 1914) album only
Thessaly, Ottoman Occupation (1897 – 1898)
Thrace, Greek Occupation (1920 – 1922)
Western Thrace, Autonomous Government (1913)
Western Thrace, Inter-Allied Occupation (1919 – 1920)
Zakynthos (Zante), German Occupation – WW2 (1943 – 1944)
RUSSIA AREA
Armenia, Republic (1918 – 1920)
Aunus, Finnish Occupation (1919)
Azerbaijan, Republic – pre USSR (1918 – 1920)
Crimea, German Occupation – WW1 (1918)
Crimean Border Government (1918 – 1919)
Crimea, White Army Control (1919 – 1920)
Czech Legion Army in Russia (1918 – 1920) album only
Don Republic / Don Cossack Government (1918 – 1920) album only
East Karelia, Finnish Military Administration (1941 – 1944)
Far Eastern Republic (1920 – 1922)
Georgia, Republic – pre USSR (1918 – 1921)
Georgia SSR (1921 – 1923) album only
Kuban Cossack Government (1918 – 1920)
North Ingria (1920)
Priamur Provisional Government, Merkulov (1921 – 1922)
Priamur Rural Province, Gen. Diterikhs (1922)
Russian Armed Forces of the South, Gen. Denikin (1919 – 1920)
album only
Russian Army of the North, Gen. Rodzianko (1919) album only
Russian Army of the Northwest, Gen. Yudenich (1919)
Provisional Government in Siberia, Adm Kolchak (1918 – 1919)
Trans-Baikal Region under General Semyonov (1920) album only
Transcaucasian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic (1922 – 1936)
Ukraine Republic – pre-USSR (1918 – 1920) album only
Wrangel’s Army (1920 – 1921)
Turkey Area
Cilicia, French Occupation (1918 – 1921)
Constantinople, Italian Offices in the Ottoman Empire (1908 – 1923) album only
Dardanelles, Russian Offices in the Ottoman Empire (1774 – 1914) album only
Hatay State (1938 – 1939)
Kerassunde, Russian Offices in the Ottoman Empire (1774 – 1914) album only
Ottoman Empire, Greek Occupations – Balkan/Greco-Turkish wars (1912 – 1923) album only
Ottoman Empire, Polish Offices (1919 – 1922) album only
Rizeh, Russian Office in the Ottoman Empire (1774 – 1914)
Scutari, Italian Offices in the Ottoman Empire (1909 – 1916) album only
Smyrna, Italian Offices in the Ottoman Empire (1908 – 1923) album only
Trebizonde, Russian Offices in the Ottoman Empire (1774 – 1914) album only
MIDDLE EAST
Alaouites (Alawite State), French Mandate (1924 – 1930)
Hejaz, Kingdom (1916 – 1925)
Jerusalem, Italian Offices in the Ottoman Empire (1908 – 1914) album only
Latakia, French Mandate (1930 – 1936)
Palestine, British Occupation (1918 – 1920)
Palestine, British Mandate (1920 – 1948) album only
Rouad, Ile (1916 – 1920)
NORTH AFRICA
Cyrenaica, Italian Colony (1919 – 1934)
Cyrenaica, Emirate (1949 – 1951)
Fezzan-Ghadames, French Occupation (1943 – 1949)
Fezzan, French Occupation (1949 – 1951)
Ghadames, French Occupation (1949 – 1951)
International Zone of Tangier, British Offices (1924-1956)
Tripolitania, Italian Colony (1922 – 1934)
WEST AFRICA
Lagos, British Colony (1862 – 1906) album only
Niger Coast Protectorate (1893 – 1900)
Northern Nigeria Protectorate (1900 – 1914)
Oil Rivers Protectorate (1885 – 1893)
Southern Nigeria Protectorate (1900 – 1914)
CENTRAL AFRICA
Kamerun, British Occupation (1915 – 1920) album only
Ubangi-Shari-Chad (1910 – 1920) album only
Ubangi-Shari (1920 – 1934) album only
EAST AFRICA / MADAGASCAR
Sultanate of Anjouan (1886 – 1912)
German East Africa (1885 – 1919)
Ethiopia, Italian Occupation (1935 – 1936)
Obock, French Colony (1884 – 1896)
Oltre Giuba (Trans-Juba), Italian Colony (1924-25)
SOUTHERN AFRICA
Cape of Good Hope (1815 – 1910)
Kionga Triangle, Portuguese Occupation – WW1 (1916 – 1919)
Mozambique Company (1891 – 1949)
Natal (1843 – 1910) album only
Nyassa Company (1891 – 1929)
Orange Free State (1854 – 1902)
Orange Free State, British Occupation (1900 – 1902)
Orange River Colony (1902 – 1910)
Quelimane, Portuguese Colonial Province (1913 – 1920)
Tete, Portuguese Colonial Province (1913 – 1920)
Zambezia, Portuguese Colonial Province (1894 – 1920)
Zululand, British Colony (1887 – 1897)
INDIA AREA
Alwar, Princely State of India (1803 – 1948)
Bahawalpur, Princely State of India (1833 – 1947)
Bahawalpur, Princely State of Pakistan (1947 – 1955)
Cochin, Princely State of India (1835 – 1949) album only
Faridkot, Princely State of India (1763 – 1886) album only
Gwalior, India Convention State (1787 – 1947) album only
Jaipur, Princely State of India (1818 – 1949) album only
Hyderabad, Indian Princely State (1798 – 1948)
Jhalawar, Princely State of India (1838 – 1949) album only
Sirmoor, Princely State of India (1815 – 1948)
Wadhwan, Princely State of India (1740 – 1947) album only
CHINA AREA
China, Russian Offices in Imperial China (1886 – 1920) album only
Foochow, China Treaty Port (1895 – 1896) album only
Kiautschou, German Colony (1897 – 1914)
Kwangtung, Japanese Occupation (1942 – 1945) album only
Manchukuo (1932 – 1945)
Mengjiang (Inner Mongolia), Japanese Occupation (1936 – 1945)
North China, Japanese Occupation (1942 – 1945) album only
North China – Honan, Japanese Occupation (1941 – 1942) album only
North China – Hopei, Japanese Occupation (1941 – 1942) album only
North China – Shansi, Japanese Occupation (1941 – 1942) album only
North China – Shantung, Japanese Occupation (1941 – 1942) album only
Shanghai and Nanjing, Japanese Occupation (1942 – 1945) album only
FAR EAST
Annam & Tonkin (1883 – 1887)
Borneo and the Great East, Japanese Occupation (1942 – 1945)
Cochin China, French Colony (1864 – 1887)
Java, Japanese Occupation (1942 – 1945)
Korea, Japanese Offices (1876 – 1905)
Labuan, British Colony (1846 – 1906)
Netherlands Indies / Dutch East Indies (1801 – 1948) album only
Philippines, Japanese Occupation in WW2 (1942 – 45)
Straits Settlements (1867 – 1946)
Sumatra, Japanese Occupation (1942 – 1945)
AUSTRALIA / SOUTH PACIFIC
British New Guinea (1884 – 1906)
German New Guinea (1884 – 1914)
Papua, Australian Administration (1906 – 1949) album only
Western Australia (1832 – 1901) (album only
Please do not sell me anymore stamps unless I order them. I was just charged $15.00 . I did not want any new at this time
Thank you
Hi Donna
I am not sure what you are talking about. I don’t sell stamps, nor to I have any way to charge someone.
You might recheck the charge origination.
Michael
Dear Michael: I want to make a small contribution to your website, about correcting an error that appears in the Kingdom of Sardinia, that is, the emissions of the years 1851, 1853 and 1854 correspond to the facial values 5c, 20c and 40c, , and its website says: 5c, 20c and 50c. My comment was taken from a catalog Yvert 1960 and Scott 2009. I appreciate the attention you can give this comment. Greetings and thanks. Juan
Hello Juan
Welcome to DCStamps. Thank you for pointing out the typo in my Sardinia album. I have made the changes. I suspect that these are stamps that I will never own, as they are very high priced.
Hope you enjoy the site.
Kind Regards
Michael
Welcome back Mike!
You were missed -I’m looking forward to your new investigations.
Jim Jackson
Thank you Jim
Its good to be back.
Michael
This is not a reply but an inquiry. I have acquired a few stamps with the country name ‘Azad Hind’. The only information I have been able to dig up is from Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azad_Hind.
I have 4 of the stamps that the article says were not issued. I was wondering if you could shed light on this.
Another set of stamps I have seems to be from Spain, I am willing to send a photo-copy of these stamps (as well as the Azad Hind) to you for possible identification, if you would be so kind as to send me an e-mail address with ‘STAMP ID’ in the subject line. Thank you.
Hi Charles
Azad Hind was a group formed as a provisional government in Japanese occupied Burma and Singapore during WW2. Supported by Axis during the war, their goal was to overthrow the British government in India. The stamps you have were primarily printed and used as propaganda pieces. I also have stamps from Azad Hind, and they have an interesting place in history.
Hope this helps.
Michael
Great Idea, great website. I would love to help you with what I can, as I am an avid collector of dead countries. Right now, I am just starting http://www.trsg-usa.com , which is the study of Third Reich stamps in conjunction with the Germany Philatelic Society.
Personally I have stamps from many of these places, although I am sure that forgeries populate my collection. Oh well, I love them anyway.
Chris Kolker
Editor of Thrid Reich Study Group Journal
Hi Chris
Welcome to DCStamps, and it is great to communicate with an avid collector of Dead Countries. I too know that there are lots of forgeries and reprints in my collection, as well but as I organize my albums, I try and learn about them to see what I have.
Regards
Michael
If you are still interested in forming a group or club or society of dead country collectors, I would be interested.
K\ind regards,
Sheryll
Hi Sheryll
Hopefully you saw the first edition of the DCStamps Investigator. I mentioned that I will be using the feature as a way of setting the foundation for the group.
Stay Tuned
Michael
A Dead Country specialist group would be very helpful. Broadening the awareness of helpful publications and resources, library holdings, (APRL, etc) would help everyone. I have picked up a ot ust scrolling through the home page and the comments.
Look forward to further development of the website, etc.
Hi Roy, Welcome to DCStamps. Hopefully you will read the first issue of the new DCStamps Investigator “blog”. I will be using that to help build the foundation for a Dead Countries group. I will definitely add you to the list of names.
Stat tuned and don’t be a stranger at DCStamps.
I have a ton of stamps from dead countries if you’d be intrested in buying or know anyone who would
The history on this site is really neat to learn, there is so much to learn
Hi Nikki
Welcome to DCStamps. Glad you enjoy the site. I don’t buy stamps from my site, sorry.
Michael
Still a possibility?
Hi Bill, Welcome to DCStamps. I apologize for the late reply, as I was out of stamps to finish a Masters degree for about a year. Hopefully you will read the first issue of the new DCStamps Investigator “blog”. I will be using that to help build the foundation for a Dead Countries group. You are definitely on the list of names.
Don’t be a stranger at DCStamps.
Dear Michael,
I found this site purely by accident yesterday having called up a map of Imperial Germany from google images. Only today did I realise what a Gem I had found. Some forty five years ago I was given a world Stamp collection in two large albums that I have never been quiet able to decide what to do with. Now I realise I have the basis for a collection of “Dead Countries” and this will take me onto a new and interesting aspect of stamp collecting and history.
I shall most certainly be a regular visitor to the site and should your “Society of Dead Counties” get formed I would be most interested in joining.
Dave Broom
N.Z.
Hi David
Welcome to DCStamps. Welcome to the Dead Countries Collectors Club. I have added you to the list, and will be communicating more in a few months.
Michael
Hi Michael – stumbled on your site whilst delving into a search for Flags of the Indian Princely States and there is another avenue for me to tread at the despair of wife! As a starter do you know of any published works on Dead Countries (or States) per se especially their flags/stamps?
Hi Alun
Welcome to DCStamps. The only published work I am aware of on Dead Countries is:
Dead Countries of the Nineteenth and the Twentieth Centuries: Aden to Zululand by Les Harding.
Michael
I love your idea of a Dead Country Specialist Society. Your very creative DC Stamps site has expanded my views on collecting. Look forward to your plans becoming a reality.
Hello,
I am interested about a society of collectors of dead countries and history and stamps. I collect a stamp from every country and I am a big fan of history and geography.
Valter Varga
Hi Michael:
It is a nice and very good idea to promote the possibility to create a society specialized in dead countries.
You can count on me for it.
Thanks and hope to have news about this from you soon.
Hola Daniel, sorry for the extremely late reply. I took a while away from stamps, but am back now. If you get a change, take a look at the new feature called the DCStamps Investigator. I will be using that to begin building the foundation of a Specialty Group. I also have your email on my list of those interested.
Regards
Michael
Hello friends ,
I am from India just now thinking to collect stamps of dead country
Thanks for any help
Surendran
Hi Surendran
Welcome to DCStamps. I am glad that you are considering the hobby. It is quite interesting and there is much to be learned.
Good luck with your collection
Michael
I would be very interested in a Stamp Society on Dead Countries. I have been following your blog for a few years now and find it very interesting and motivating. You are an amazing source of information.
Hi Robert, I have added you to the list. Stay tuned, I will begin communicating to folks in a few months.
Michael
Dear Micheal
I have recently retired and opened up the 4 boxes of stamps I have moved around with for the last 30 years.
I was under orders to use them or lose them
thankfully find your site has helped me organize this school boy collection into something looking 1/2 reasonable. I have even ventured out to my first ever auction next time I go, might even buy something.
thank you for very much for taking the time to publish, you have saved my collection and reintroduced me to both collecting stamps and history
yours Garry Southon
Hi Gary, welcome to DCStamps
I am glad that you find the site useful. I would encourage you to continue in your collecting, as the hobby can be extremely rewarding and educational.
As you are still new, I would recommend that you find a local stamp club and become a member, most people are very helpful and friendly. There are also some great online resources and boards (Stamp Bears and Stamp Community Forum are two, but there are others as well), and follow along and contribute to the discussions.
Good Luck with your collecting, and don’t be a stranger at DCStamps.
Michael
I, too, would love to be a member of a Dead Countries Society. Your site has helped me in a lot of research over the past few years; I am constantly learning new things about the stamps I already own and finding new areas that I want to collect as a result.
I would be interested in a Dead Country group.
Hi Martin, welcome to DCStamps, I will add you to our list. As the summer winds down, I will be working on this so stay tuned.
Michael
I would definitely be interested in a dead countries specialty society
I like very much your idea. I try to investigate history throuh the collection of stamps and I discover that the dead countries are a very rich resource for this. Thanks for your work.
I discovered your excellent website with a one-word Google search: Kionga. Years ago I began a world-wide collection which never developed into very much – there are many empty pages in a set of Minkus Supreme Global albums. I have decided that it will be interesting to do a collection of one to three stamps from every country or area, for each of four time periods 1840-1890, 1890-1914, 1914-1940, and 1940-1960.
We have some differences in definitions, but it is normal for collectors to decide what they want to collect. I consider it a new country if the name changed, especially if it shown on the stamp, for instance Siam/Thailand. On the other hand, I do not consider a change in government (end of monarchy) to be a change of country unless it is a change from colony to independent, or a foreign occupation.
Hi Jim
Welcome to DCStamps. Good luck in your collecting three stamps from every country, because some of them can be quite illusive and hard to find.
Regarding your dead country definition, I understand your thinking, as you are looking more from a philatelic standpoint. I more try to approach it from a historical / political standpoint (and there are a lot of dead countries which never issued stamps but did issue banknotes). However, how one defines it is not so important as that you have a good working definition for your collecting interests.
Good Luck and let me know how your collection is going.
Cheers
Michael
Hi Michael – it was good to meet with you in New York – I assume all those new album posts are the results of your acquisitions!
I’m still working on my list of dead countries, and like Jim above, I’m struggling with the concept of monarchies. I have no problem with including Tsarist Russia and Imperial China. Russia and China may still exist, but don’t resemble those entities in any way. But how about Iceland, which was not independent from the Danish king until 1944? Portugal went from a monarchy to a republic with a revolution in 1910. Thailand went from absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy in 1932 – does that count? And Greece was a monarchy until 1924, a republic from 1924-1935, a monarchy again from 1935 to 1973, and then a republic again – is that 3 previous dead countries? I wonder if I’m starting a dead government collection rather than a dead country collection.
I like using a broad definition, because it’s helping me learn the flow of world history, which is one of my main goals (I didn’t know any of the above info until I started collecting stamps), but somehow I have a hard time thinking of Iceland, Thailand, Portugal and Greece as dead countries. There are plenty of other examples.
I’m coming to the conclusion that some countries are “more dead” than others, and I’ll probably focus my activities on dead countries that the average person in the street has never heard of. I’m curious though, how do you sort out which monarchies you include in your list?
Excuse my rambling,
Bob Brew
Hi Bob
Great to hear from you, hope you have recovered from NY.
You ask an excellent question which I don’t really have a hard and fast rule. Monarchies are complicated and I normally take them on a case by case basis. Sometimes I even change my mind, and for the real complicated ones I decided based on whether I want to collect them. The key word in my definitions is “overthrow”, because if it is a peaceful, gradual change I consider it an evolution of the country. I know this is a fuzzy answer, but it at least lets you know my general thinking. Here is a more long winded answer, and some of the principles I use. Maybe I might try include this on the web site at some time. Also, I welcome your (or anyone’s) help in developing a good definition.
1. The great Empires are easy (Russia, Austra-Hungary, German/Prussian, Ottoman, etc) are Dead Countries.
2. In general, if it is a forced or revolutionary overthrow, I would include them (e.g. China, Maximilian’s Mexican Empire, Pedro’s Brazilian Empire). I am still thinking about the Empire of Japan and the Kingdom of Italy.
3. If a country peacefully moves from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy, I consider it an evolution of the country, so I would not include them in my Dead Country List.
4. Those countries that went back and forth are really complicated – Greece, Spain, and France changed several times during their history and I don’t know how to handle them. For today, I am planning on collecting Greece, primarily because I have a very good Greek collection (which I have yet to catalog).
You mention several examples:
– Iceland – Honestly I really hadn’t thought about Iceland, I will take a look.
– Portugal – This is one of the areas I have been thinking about, but I think since the overthrow was fairly revolutionary I would include them.
– Greece – As mentioned above, I don’t know how to handle it, but am collecting it primarily because I have a good collection already.
Last word – Your comment about focusing your activities on the clear cut dead countries are a good one. There is a huge amount of interesting places to collect in the clear cut ones.
I will be organizing a first effort on a Dead Countries Group over the next few weeks, and I will contact you then.
Cheers
Michael
I think it’s a very good and interesting idea, and I see myself learning and sharing with others a lot of philatelic things about the years when in my country (Romania) were various foreign occupations. I like very much your blog, and I must admit that it always guides me to collect the stamps from DC country. Warm regards, Catalin
Catalin, Welcome to DCStamps.
Glad this is interesting to you and helps you with your collection. We will soon be starting to launch a Dead Country Stamps interest group, and I will keep you informed.
Cheers
Michael
I collect worldwide stamps from 1840-1900 in used, mint and on cover.
I think your idea of forming a society is great idea and would be pleased to know your latest developments on the same.
Your site is wonderful and a pleasure to check out each time and so well maintained and planned and very informative and interesting.
Well done and keep up the good work.
Hi Riasat – I have added you to my list. Will be getting back to everyone after the summer holidays.
Michael
Hi Michael,
following your site from a long time. Nice and interesting for all the news.
I think that is a wonderful idea to create a study group on DC.
As italian philatelist I am interested in Italian Old States, particularly Naples 1858-1861.
Regards
sergio
Salve Sergio, welcome to DCStamps
I will certainly add you to the growing list of the Dead Country group. We will be looking for experts in varies areas, so will definitely tap into your knowledge. Stay tuned, more to come soon.
Michael
Very interesting site. i would be interested in joining a society such as you are proposing. One of my interests is the homelands of South Africa which existed under the white government until the election of Nelson Mandela and the reincorporation back into RSA proper.
With all these dead countries the fact that there will not be any new material churned out to catch unwary collectors as well as the historic interest are plus factors to me
Hi Rod
Welcome to DCStamps.
I was away for a few weeks but am back now and will be working on the idea of a Dead Country Group. You are on my list — stay tuned.
Michael
I am definitely interested in a group that collects dead country stamps. I have just started doing so and have found your website to be tremendously helpful.
Hi Robert, welcome to DCStamps. I just returned from a trip to Bhutan and India, and now have time to begin seriously begin putting this together. Will get back to you soon.
Michael
Michael – by any chance are you going to the International Stamp Show in NY at the end of this month? – perhaps dead country enthusiasts could meet up there / Bob Brew
Hi Robert
Welcome to DCStamps.
Actually I am going to NY2016 and will be speaking with a few people about the potential for a Dead Country group. This exploration is rather new, so it was far too late (and far too premature) to do anything official. I will be in New York from Sat May 28 – Tues May 31 and will be meeting with a couple of people to discuss the potential of the group. If you (or anyone) would like to join us, please let me know.
Michael
I will be there those days and would be interested in meeting up with you and anyone else – just let me know when and where
OK Robert – stay tuned, I will send you an email when I have finalized something.
Michael
Amazing blog posted. It’s really very informative.
Most interested in your endeavor. Please keep me apprised of your progress and how I may assist.
Richard, I have added you too our growing list of people interested. When I return from holiday, I will begin to reaching out in earnest to those interested.
Michael
Hi Michael
I strongly support your initiative, and considering my expertise, i collect Chile stamps (my country) and german empire and related areas (occupation, old states, etc.), please consider my participation in the initiative and have in mind all my potential support providing information mainly from my country history (one of the dead territories is the occupation of Peru in the Chile Peru and Bolivia war). Finally as a collector i also have a good number of dead countries stamps.
Jaime
Hola Jaime, welcome to DCStamps. Thank you for your interest in being a part of a Dead Country Specialists organization, your passion and expertise is most welcome. I have just begun to reach out to people who might be interested, and I will add your name to that list.
Regards
Michael
I don’t really disagree Michael, I was just being a little ticklish. I will drop you the chart by email in the next day.
Roger is also correct they were never part of the various Acts of Union and are therefore not also in the European Union.
John
Thanks John, will take a look when I get it.
Cheers
Michael
Hi Michael,
I love your site; it mirrors my own approach to stamps in wanting to understand the historical relevance. By my reading of your definition I would propose (I guess to the surprise of many) that you should also add the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. From the independence of Ireland in 1922, it lost a chunk of its territory and by necessity had to rename as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. In addition, part of its territory was occupied by the Germans in WWII, i.e. the Channel Islands (which also merits recognition for that reason). I have taken the liberty of drawing up a Regional Transitions Chart, which I will share with you by e-mail for review and if you think this is of merit to also share with your readers, as you have shared your fine work with all of us. I’m probably blind but I can’t see your e-mail address, so drop me a note and I will forward to you. Best regards and keep on rocking. John
John, I was interested to read your submission as your experience mirrors my own. In the 1950s my parents received letters from British Colonies in the Far East. They gave the envelopes to me and I removed them by soaking in hot water. I used to go to the world atlas to find out where they were in the world, and I am sure this started by interest in history and politics. Relating the stamp to a specific era and what was happening at the time makes it all the more interesting. One minor point on the C.I. Along with the IOM they never were part of the UK.
Hi Roger, welcome to DCStamps. I appreciate the discussion and comments.
I too love the history, which often is as important (or even more so) than the stamps. I am in the process of developing Historical Oriented Stamp Albums, so stay tuned.
Michael
Hi John, Welcome to DCStamps and thank you for your thoughts.
First of all, my email is ILikeMaps@msn.com. I will make it more clear in the site.
In general, for a country to become a “dead country”, territory change or name change is not a criteria. Minimally, there needed to be a fundamental change in the government and regime. The UK did not fundamentally change when it lost Ireland, it just became smaller. Ireland, however did become a new country (although it isn’t dead). Military occupations are another matter (e.g. German or Japanese occupations in WW2). If you look on my list I do have the German Occupations of Guernsey and Jersey as separate “dead countries”. I am always open for more discussions.
Cheers
Michael
Good day,
I am replacing the medals/decorations that my grandfather won while in service to the Crown. He was in the Scottish Guards. Two medals/decorations that he won that I can’t find out what they look like are;
Occupation of Crete 1898
Flask of Khartoum 1898
Have you seen these awards? Where could I find photographs of them?
Thank you.
Pete
Hi Peter
Welcome to DC Stamps. I am sorry, but I don’t know anything about medals and decorations. If you can’t find information using google (or any other search engine), there is nothing more that I can add.
Good Luck
Michael
Dear Michael,
I wonder if you have any information about the former German (leased) Colony of Tsing-Tao. Did they have issues of stamps and banknotes and coins? It was occupied by the Ozzies during 1914, so what arrangements were made during that period? It was then administered by the Japanese but again I have no knowledge of stamps/banknotes/coins. I think that in the early part of the 1920s the League of Nations ordered Japan to return the territory to China. They only legacy of Tsing-Tao now is the beer, the Germans set up a brewery there in 1903 and it is still brewed in China.
Hi Roger, welcome to DCStamps.
I do in fact have information on TsingTao and it can be found under Kiautschou which can be found HERE. They issued both stamps and banknotes, was known as the Kiautschou Bay Concession, and it was administered under the authority of the Imperial Navy rather than a colonial administration.
With the outbreak of World War I, the Republic of China cancelled the Kiautschou lease and Japan issued an ultimatum to the Germans to unconditionally evacuate the colony. Germany rejected the demand, and on 23 Aug, 1914, Japan declared war on Germany and within three months the Japanese were in control of the region. After the war, the Treaty of Versailles agreed to Japanese claims at the Paris Peace Conference and assigned all German territories north of the equator in the Pacific territories to Japan, which included Kiautschou. The Chinese government refused to sign the treaty, and eventually, through negotiation led by the US Government, it was agreed that the region would be returned to China, which was realized in February 1922.
I was unaware that the Australians ever occupied Kiautschou, but will have to look into it.
Hope this helps.
Cheers
Michael
Compliment for your site, it’s great !
My target is to have one stamp for each country, colony, occupied territories, etc. etc.
I have a question : the countries list is definitive or the most complete ? Can i use tour list like a ” holy bible ” or it must be integrated with other lists ?
Hi Enrico
Welcome to DCStamps, I am glad you enjoyed the site. I am not sure I would use my list as the final definitive list for several reasons. First of all, I continue to do research in the history of areas, and from time to time I learn enough to modify the list based on the the history, so it will change as I learn things. Another reason is that this is only a list of countries which ceased to exist before the end of 1956 (although i am thinking about bringing up the date to 1960). So my list does not include countries that continue to exist, nor those that ceased to exist after 1956.
If you want an exhaustive list of stamp issuing entities, you might check out the one at Linn’s. Their list includes all of the current countries as well. However, please note that I define countries quite differently from Linn’s so in many ways our list could be quite different. As an example, I would consider the German Occupation of Belgium, as a separate “country” from the Kingdom of Belgium, while they do not.
http://www.linns.com/en/insights/stamp-issuing-entities-of-the-world.html
Good luck with you collection.
Michael
Micheal
Thank you for putting StampWorldHistory on your links list. Much appreciated!!!
Thanks again
Gerben van Gelder
No problem. I haven’t had time to do much as we have family visiting, but will get by your site eventually.
Michael
Nice to meet you.I am japanese.I can not write English well
I have enough six years by collecting stamps.It’s getting to the study at this site.
I hope that even Indian Princely State and Yugoslavia stamp increase
Thank you in the future
Dear Matsumoto-san
ようこそ DCStamps. I used to live in Japan, but my Japanese is very basic, よろしくお願いします, 日本語を だんだん に 忘れて いきます.
Since your English seems to be far better than my Japanese, Thank you for visiting the site. I will be slowly adding India State stamps, but for the moment I do not have much on Yugoslavia, すみません. Are there other areas you collect?
Michael
Hi Michael,
Great site , I am enjoying it immensely. Do the stamps of the Confederated States of America qualify as a dead country? I cannot locate them here.
Hi Brian
The Confederate States do indeed qualify as a dead country. You can find it in my Dead Country List under North America & Hawaii, listed under the United States of America Area. I do two or three write ups per month, and have many years to go to finish them all. Since I don’t have really have very many stamps or banknotes from the CSA, I haven’t prioritized the write up.
Thanks for asking
Michael
Dear Sir:
I suggest you a links’ exchange.
I just add a link to your website in mine.
Our website’s basic facts:
Title: Encyclopaedia Philatelica
URL: http://www.encyclopaediaphilatelica.net
Logo: http://www.encyclopaediaphilatelica.net/images/logo.gif
Description: Multilingual encyclopaedia composed around four sections: personages, fauna, flora & geography. Picture gallery about iconography, genealogy, history, art & taxonomy.
Thank you in advance and greetings
Jaume Gorriz
Jaume
Thank you for visiting and putting a link to DCStamps on your site. I have added a link to Encyclopaedia Philatelica on my list of references.
Cheers
Michael
Fantastic site. Dead countries and bygone colonies are of great interest to me. Your website has become a fount of information and inspiration [thank you].
I have been slowly building a collection of Tanna Tuva stamps and don’t see this republic [1921 – 1944] on your list — perhaps I missed it?
The region went through a dynamic political [and postal] history during this era; Outer Mongolia and Manchukuo are of particular interest [the former has more interest to me than the latter]. Did I miss Outer Mongolia on your list as well? Or perhaps you have your reasons for not listing these countries. I would relish your thoughts on this topic.
Thank you for visiting DCStamps and your nice words.
First of all, if you go to the section called “Dead Country List”, you will find Tannu Tuva under RUSSIA AREA, and listed in the section “Siberia and Russian Far East (including Mongolia)”. Tannu Tuva is an interesting era to collect and can be somewhat controversial to stamp collectors. Many question whether the beautiful stamps issued by this “country” were ever really used for postage, and were mostly designed for philatelic purposes. I also have many of the Tuva stamps in my collection and am working on developing an album for this area. Probably won’t be up for a few months, but stay tuned.
Regarding Outer Mongolia. In reality, the term refers to the country of Mongolia. Since Mongolia is not a “dead country” I don’t collect stamps from there. However, if you understand anything different, please comment back, because I am always happy to be proven wrong, which only betters the quality of this site. Inner Mongolia is a region of China which borders Mongolia. The region issued stamps when it was a Japanese Puppet Government called Mengjiang during much of World War 2.
Interesting blog, by the way.
I wish you well on your collection.
Michael
The League of Nations issued stamps?? While it is not a dead country. Should have issued because I have two which I think is the League. I am Brazilian.
Hi Julio
Thank you for visiting DCStamps. Various Swiss stamps were overprinted for use by the League of Nations. You can read more about those stamps which can usually be found under Switzerland in a stamp catalogue. I guess that they are similar to the United Nations stamps that are issued today. It is not considered a country, rather an international agency.
Nice to hear from folks from Brazil. Good Luck in the upcoming World Cup, hope the games go well (even though I am rooting for the U.S.A.)
Um abraço
Michael
I would like to have Hungary’s album. Do you have ? Thank you very much. I loved your site. Rosa
Rosa, thank you for visiting DCStamps. I an sorry, but Hungary is not considered a dead country so I don’t have any stamps from there. There are some early occupational issues after world war 1, but I have yet to create albums for them yet.
Glad you loved my site.
Michael
This is a great site, Michael. Full of very useful information, lovely pages and so easy to navigate.
And i really like the idea of virtual albums, saving paper and ink and keeping the stamps safe elsewhere.
Well done, mate!
🙂
Thank you Alex for visiting DCStamps and your encouragement. In case you haven’t seen, I am doing a Tutorial on making these albums at Stamp Bears. The thread can be found HERE
Cheers
Michael
This refers to the album of Indian feudatory state Faridkot (1879-1886). First, both of the first two stamps (1879 1 Folus ultramarine imperforate handstamped stamp on unwatermarked thick laid paper without gum) have been depicted inversely. Considering the very fine mint condition of the 1F stamps shown, there is high possibility that these were part of the remaining stock of stamps sold by the Faridkot State Post to the public at face values for additional revenue after the enactment of the postal convention on January 1,1887 which resulted all previous postage stamps of Faridkot to cease to be valid for postage within the state.
The stamps of type N1 partially show gutter margin which also suggests that these could be another variant of 1F stamp, which was originally prepared in 1877 and handstamped in ultramarine color among others (sold at market as color trials), which are always found in mint state. The 1F reprint from original die and reengraved die are distinguishable by the intensity of color impressions.
When the Scotts/Michel Faridkot 2 or SG Faridkot N2 1P ultramarine (type N2) stock was exhausted in 1887, it was replaced by type N3 having no postal validity at all.
The 1 Paisa and 1/2 Ana lithograph reprints of 1887 on wove paper, have totally different design and are easily identifiable. These were printed from 3 different stones having both perforate and imperforate variants in 4 shades of blue, 4 shades of red, 3 shades of yellow and orange and 2 shades of green colors.
This is why Faridkot feudatory stamps are among few Indian states which command greater price in used condition (more so on postally used covers) except the type N1 1F so-called color trial reprints in various shades of blue,green,orange,red and black, many of which are sold with false postmarks (mostly F in circle of bars in black) on them.
If the Faridkot feudatory stamps have been procured from eBay, the it is almost certain that these stamps are forgeries.
Hi Joy
Thank you for taking time to make comments on DCStamps. I appreciate your expertise on Indian States. This is an area that is extremely complex and full of new areas for me to learn. For the next couple of months, I will have minimal time to spend any time on my stamps, but will try and work through my States stamps come the fall.
Thank you again
Michael
This refers to the Jhalawar album. Jhalawar issued only 2 stamps. The 1 Paisa stamp was released in 1886 (not 1887-1890). The second and last issue (1890) was of 1/4 Ana value (not 1/2A). Both stamps having same vignette of Rambha, a mythological character of nymph of heaven, were printed on laid paper in typography in sheets having irregular settings of of horizontal strips of 12 stamps.
You can add Cilicia to your French Occupations.
Bob
Hi Bob
Thank you for your note, I am always interested in comments and “requests” from those who find this site useful. I have updated my overall dead country list to make it clearer. Instead of merely listing the country as “Cilicia” it is now Cilicia, French Occupation of Turkey (under the Ottoman Area). At the moment, I don’t have very many stamps from Cilicia, but will look at putting up an album and history of what I do have. However it probably wont be completed for a little while, as there are over 140 stamps issued, and it is difficult to make a virtual album with few stamps (sizing the spaces is difficult).
Michael
I was attracted to your website by the article on dead countries in Stamp and Coin Mart, which featured Hatay, of which I was able to find a complete set of stamps on Delcampe. I also have an example of the only stamp issued by Tierra del Fuego, which (as far as I know) is the only stamp issuing entity to have only a single stamp listed (and given a catalogue number) by Stanley Gibbons.
Richard
Thank you for visiting DCStamps.com. I hope you find it useful. I do not have the Tierra del Fuego issue, but one day. I don’t know about Stanley Gibbons, but Scott has some other stamp issuing entities which have a single stamp . Examples include:
– Jasdan and Tonk (Indian Feudatory States)
– Basal (a Swiss canton)
– Cuautla, Cuernavaca, Merida, and Tlacotalpan (Mexican Provisionals issues)
These are some I could find quickly, there are probably more.
Since I don’t have access to SG, are these included as something else?
Michael
Indian feudatory state Jasdan is not the stamp-issuing authority to issue only a single stamp. Jasdan issued 6 postage stamps, all having same vignette of coat of arms of Jasdan depicting the sun and all printed by LV Indap and Company,Mumbai in typographic process in 5 series viz., on 03.15.1942., 1 Ana dark myrtle green and 1A light sage green, in 1943, 1A light bottle green, in 1945 1A light yellow green (perf.10*10), in 1946 1A light yellow green (perf.8.5*9) and in 1947, 1A turquoise green.
Secondly no single postage stamp was issued by Taunk and not a single fiscal stamp of Taunk has ever been known to be used postally.
Hullo Michael
I am a recent collector of some dead countries – at this time concentrating on all the Chinese foreign post offices which opened following the Treaty of Nanking. I am very impressed by your personal album pages, and wonder if you sell these- without stamps of course? They would provide a very useful basis for assembling my collection.
I am also assembling a collection with one stamp from every stamp issuing entity ever, which takes in all the dead countries.
Congratulations upon your website – it is a great asset to collectors and the hobby.
Best wishes…Kevin Duffy – kduffy@bigpond.com.au – in Sydney Australia.
Kevin
Thank you so much for your nice comments. Chinese foreign post offices formed from the Treaty of Nanking seem like a very interesting area, facinating history. Other than Shanghai and Russian PO’s, my treaty port collection is rather limited (I would be willing to make some trades if you are interested).
Also, trying to collect one stamp from every stamp issuing entity seems like a tough challenge, as there are some areas that have only one or two issues which are very expensive. Good Luck.
Regarding my personal album pages, I am not selling them, but am happy to provide copies (without the stamps) to anyone interested. Realize that they are generated on PowerPoint and converted to pdf, and are often customized to my collection. Also, I have only completed the pages that you can see on the site. but am hopefully putting together a few new ones each month or so.
Michael
Dear Sir:
I am tryng to find a source (catalogue preferred but xerox pages will do) that will assist me in identifying stamps issued in ARAD during the French Occupation of a part of Hungary (1919-1920). Can you help.
Thank you for any and all assistance you are able to provide.
George Robinson
gwejrobinson@comcast.net
George
Any of the major catalogs will help you identify Arad stamps, in Scott they are listed under Hungary (in the occupation stamps 1N section). The difficulty is trying to determine whether they are genuine. Scott tells us that: The overprints on this issue have been extensively forged. Even the inexpensive values are difficult to find with genuine overprints. Unexpertized collections should be assumed to consist of mostly forged stamps. I am not an expert, and I would point you to a couple of places to start:
http://www.hungarianstamps.com/
http://www.hungarianphilately.org/introduction/Intro_Default.htm
Sorry I don’t have more
Michael
Aloha Michel,
thanks for your philathelic historic info work about Hawaii,
I do not understand why start and end date of a political aera you
always note with same date.
see: Kingdom ends at July 16, 1893 I mean, and Prov. Government starts at
at July 17, 1893 and so on. ….
Hans from Germany
Hi Hans
Welcome to DCStamps
Often a country change didn’t happen at midnight, it happens with a ceremony, a coup or a surrender. However, regarding the end of the Kingdom of Hawaii, the marines landed to support the American coup, on July 16, 1893 and the Provisional government was proclaimed on the 17th.
Hope this helps
Michael