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Spanish Sahara

FIRST STAMPS ISSUED 1924.
Later inscriptions as follows:
1924, POSESIONES ESPANOLAS DEL SAHARA OCCIDENTAL.
1926, SAHARA ESPANOL.
1943, (only), also in Arabic:
1960-75, ESPANA SAHARA.

CURRENCY
Spanish.

Known as Rio de Oro before 1924, the Spanish Sahara was a province of Spain until 31 December 1975.

When Spanish troops were withdrawn on 26 February 1976, the country was divided between Morocco and Mauritania; the border was agreed on 14 April 1976. Morocco had made her claim by the peaceful 'Green March' in November 1975. A so-called 'Saharan Arab People's Republic' was declared in opposition by Algerian-backed Rio de Oro guerrillas. Existing postal arrangements are not known.

Cape Juby

FIRST STAMPS ISSUED 1916.

CURRENCY
Spanish.

Occupied by Spain, June 1916; incorporated in Spanish Sahara 1950. Used stamps of Rio de Oro and Spanish Morocco in 1917-19.

La Aguera

FIRST STAMPS ISSUED June 1920.

CURRENCY
1920, as Spain.

Occupied by Spain November 1920 as a military air base; incorporated in Spanish Sahara 1924.

Spanish West Africa
(Africa Occidental Espanola)

FIRST STAMPS ISSUED 9 October 1949-51.

CURRENCY
1949, as Spain.

Stamps inscribed AFRICA OCCIDENTAL ESPANOLA were used in both Spanish Sahara and Ifni.

Ifni

FIRST STAMPS ISSUED 1941.

CURRENCY
Spanish.

Spanish possession from 1860, stamps issued from 1941-69. From 1946, part of Spanish West Africa; in 1969 joined Morocco.

Rio de Oro

FIRST STAMPS ISSUED 1905.

CURRENCY
Spanish.

Spanish protectorate 9 January 1885, administered from Canary Islands; colony, 1901; renamed Spanish Sahara (see below) in 1924. Used stamps of Spain 1901-5.

North West Africa 1919
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