Sandafayre Stamp Auctions | Stamp Atlas

French Guiana

FIRST STAMPS French Colonies General Issues from 1860.
FIRST STAMPS ISSUED December 1886.

CURRENCY
100 centimes = 1 franc.

Settled by the French in 1626, it became a colony in 1674 and achieved notoriety as a penal settlement in 1854-1938. Successively under Vichy and Free French administration in 1941 and 1944, it became an overseas departement of France from 19 March 1946.

Postal History
Cayenne had the only post office (opened 11 August 1819) until 1888. Internal mail was passed free. External mail was handstamped from 1833. Cayenne was served from 1865 to 1939 by packets of the French Ligne C, a branch line from Martinique, connecting at Fort-de-France with Ligne A for Saint-Nazaire (in 1884-6 at St Thomas with Ligne B, from 1933 with Ligne D for Bordeaux). Used French Colonies General Issues from 1860.

Local stamps of Compagnie des Transports Aeriens Guyanais issued July-October 1921 to prepay the internal airmail fee.

Inini

FIRST SEPARATE STAMPS ISSUED 7 April 1932.

An inland territory of French Guiana, administered separately from 6 July 1930 to 19 March 1946, when it was reunited.

Venezuela & the Guianas to 1903
Click map for larger view