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Dominican Republic

FIRST STAMPS Cuba/Puerto Rico 1861.
FIRST STAMPS ISSUED 18 October 1865.

CURRENCY
1865, 8 reales = 1 peso.
1880, 100 centavos 1 peso.
1882, 100 centimos = 1 tranco.
1885, 100 centavos = 1 peso.

Comprises the eastern part of the island of Santo Domingo (Hispaniola). Discovered by Columbus in 1493, and came under French control in 1697. Under Haiti from 1804, but the area was reconquered by the Spanish after 1815. They were driven out by a popular uprising in 1821 and, again, the whole island was ruled by Haiti until 1844.

British PAs were opened at Porto Plata and San Domingo by 1866 and they used British stamps (oblit. C86 and C87) from 1867 to 1870, and again from 1876 to 1881 when the republic joined the UPU.

In 1861 the republic was annexed by Spain and first stamps used were the joint issue for Cuba and Puerto Rico. However, the unpopular Spanish government was expelled in 1865 and first stamps for the republic were issued on 19 October 1865.

The republic's political and economic instability led to American occupation in 1916. It remained under US military government until 1924 when, following a treaty, US troops withdrew. American forces used Army POs.

Politically, the Dominican Republic has remained unstable since the Trujillo dictatorship, which ended in 1961 with his assassination. However, more recently the Republic has developed a successful Tourist Trade, especially with Western European Countries.