Sandafayre Stamp Auctions | Stamp Atlas

Morroco

The Barbary Coast, despite its organized piracy, attracted European consuls in the 16th century, but its decayed Muslim sultanate remained medieval into the 19th century. Various European aspirations were polarized by secret conventions in 1904 between Spain and France to partition Morocco. The French bought out German interests by concessions in the Congo. French and Spanish protectorates were established in 1912 and an International Zone in 1923. Opposition to French rule was suppressed by Lyautey in 1912-25 and Petain in 1925-8. The protectorates were relinquished in 1956 and the international status of Tangier abolished later in the year. In 1957 the sultan assumed the title of king. Independent Morocco absorbed the northern part of Spanish Sahara in 1976 but this is still disputed by the Polisario.

In the 19th century posts were organized by European governments or private concerns.

French POs in Morocco

FIRST STAMPS ISSUED 1 January 1891.

CURRENCY
1891, 100 centimos = 1 peseta.

A French agency in Tangier passed mail via Oran, using a datestamp from c. 1854. Used stamps of France from November 1862 (oblit. 5106 at Tangier).

Further offices opened in 1891 at Arzila, Casablanca, El Ksar el Kebir, Fez, Larache, Mazagan, Mogador, Rabat and Safi.

Morocco Agencies
(British POs in Morocco)

FIRST STAMPS Britain 1857-86.
FIRST STAMPS ISSUED (stamps of Gibraltar overprinted) 1898.

CURRENCY
1898, as Spain until 1956 or British currency.
1917, as France until 1938.

Used stamps of Britain 1857-86; stamps were cancelled at Gibraltar, and are only recognizably from Morocco if on cover.

POs were placed under control of Gibraltar 1886-1907; used stamps of Gibraltar 1886-98.

POs were under control of London 1907-56; used stamps of Britain overprinted, unsurcharged (whole period), or with currency surcharges in Spanish (entire period) or in French (1917-8 January 1938).

German POs in Morocco

FIRST STAMPS ISSUED 20 December 1899.

CURRENCY
1889, as Spain.

Seven POs were opened in December 1899 and another eight subsequently. Those in the French zone were closed on 3 August 1914; the four on Spanish territory remained open until 16 June 1919.

Spanish POs in Morocco

FIRST STAMPS Spain from 1860.
FIRST STAMPS ISSUED 1903.
Used only in Tangier (see below) after 1914.

CURRENCY
1903, as Spain.

Spanish Morocco

FIRST STAMPS ISSUED 22 July 1914, withdrawn 7 April 1956.

Sherifian Post

FIRST STAMPS ISSUED 1912.

CURRENCY
400 moussonats = 1 rial.

An official post started in 1892 using octagonal cachets (operative throughout Morocco to 1915; in Tangier to 1919).

French Morocco

FIRST STAMPS ISSUED 1 August 1914, withdrawn 2 March 1956.

CURRENCY
1956, as France.

The Sherifian post and former French offices were recognized as one system.

Morocco
Independent from France 2 March 1956; from Spain 7 April 1956; Tangier from international control 29 October 1956. For currency reasons the ex-Spanish and ex-French territories retained separate stamps to February 1958:

Northern Zone

FIRST STAMPS 17 August 1956.

Southern Zone

FIRST STAMPS ISSUED 19 May 1956.
FIRST STAMPS ISSUED for whole independent territory 20 April 1958.

CURRENCY
Until 1958, French.
After 1959, 100 centimes = 1 dirham.

Tangier
(International Zone 1912- October 1956)

CURRENCY
1918, as France.

French PO 1854-1918 (see above)

FIRST STAMPS ISSUED June 1897.

Amalgamated with Spanish PO March 1942.

Spanish PO 1860-1914 (see above)

FIRST STAMPS ISSUED 1921.

Continued to use stamps of ex-Spanish POs in Morocco 27 November 1914- 1921.