Samoa

Samoa is an island group in the middle of the south Pacific Ocean.

Independent kingdom
 File:Samoa express 5sh ty 4.jpg|5/- value, 4th state, a remainder File:Samoa half d palm.jpg|c.1886 ½d value File:Samoa king 2.5d.jpg|c.1886 2½d King Malletoa Laupepa File:Samoa 5d flag.jpg|c.1894 5d flag 
 * In 1877-82, stamps were issued inscribed SAMOA and EXPRESS. There are four types/states (to be described in a following article). Most stamps are straight-edged. Fourth state stamps have been remaindered; only the 9d value was issued. Most examples found of the entire issue are forgeries of the last type, always perfed all around, with a dot below the "M" of "SAMOA".
 * In 1886-1900, two small designs were issued inscribed SAMOA POSTAGE. They exist in six different perfs and are watermarked in three variants of the "NZ" and star type. These issues and those of the kingdom that follow are typically poorly centered.
 * In 1893, three handstamped surcharges were issued.
 * In 1894-1900, a 5d national flag design was issued in two major perf types.

 File:Samoa 1.5d surch.jpg|c.1895 1½d on 2d surcharge file:Samoa 2.5d on 1sh.jpg|1899 2½d on 1/- printed surcharge File:Samoa prov govt.jpg|1899 ½d Provisional Government 
 * In 1895-1900, large surcharges reading Surcharged / 1½d. and R / 3d. were issued.
 * In 1896, 2½d definitives were printed in black (wrong color), in two different perfs.
 * In 1898-99, four values printed with Surcharged / 2½d. were issued, the 2½d on 1/- also existing handstamped.
 * In 1899, ½d and 1d values win new colors were issued.
 * In 1899-1900, several values were overprinted PROVISIONAL / GOVT..

German colony
In March 1900, Samoa was partitioned between Germany and the United States. Germany would take the western part (also known as Western Samoa or German Samoa) and issue new stamps for it. The United States part (known as American Samoa) would use US stamps from that point.  File:Samoa diag ovpt.jpg|1900 2pf diagonal overprint File:Samoa 10pf yacht.jpg|1900 10f Yach 
 * Prior to this, beginning in 1886, a German post office was established at Apia. More German post offices would be opened as time pssed. German stamps would be used during this time.
 * In 1900, then-current German stamps were overprinted Samoa diagonally.
 * In 1990-01, the Yacht keytypes were issued for the colony on unwatermarked paper.
 * In 1915-19, several watermarked values were released but never placed in use, issued to try to maintain a claim on the colony.

New Zealand occupation and mandated territory
With the start of World War I, New Zealand troops were sent and occupied Samoa. It was awarded to New Zealand as a mandated territory after the war, then continued to be a trust territory under the United Nations.  File:Samoa GRI 2.5d.jpg|1914 2½d on 20pf G.R.I. surcharge File:Samoa KEVII ovpt.jpg|1914 ½d overprinted Edward VII File:Samoa 9d hut.jpg|1921 9d definitive File:Samoa 5sh postal fiscal.jpg|1935 5/- postal-fiscal File:Samoa 2d arms 1952.jpg|1935 2d arms 
 * In 1914, Samoan Yachts were surcharged in new values and G.R.I..
 * In September 1914, contemporary New Zealand stamps wer overprinted SAMOA. in red or black.
 * Overprints continued to be the rule except for a 1921 definitive series inscribed Samoa.
 * In 1935, new bicolor definitives were issued now inscribed WESTERN SAMOA.
 * Also in 1935, postal-fiscals were issued, New Zealand stamps overprinted WESTERN SAMOA (two different papers with single NZ and star watermark).

Independent country
Western Samoa gained its independence in January 1962.  File:Samoa 1962 indep.jpg|1962 ½d independence file:Samoa $4 sea demon.jpg|2005 $4 sea demon 
 * In 1962, its first issue was a pictorial definitive series, inscribed samoa i sisifo with the old name in smaller letters.
 * In 1965, the first airmails were issued, depicting the red-tailed tropic bird.
 * By July 1966, inscriptions were reduced to samoa i sisifo, then SAMOA AND SISIFO.
 * In mid-1978, years began to be added to stamps. This would continue to about th end of 1985.
 * In 1981, inscriptions would be changed to just SAMOA.

Express mail
 File:Samoa 2015 $12.50 express.jpg|2015 $12.50 value 
 * In 2015, stamps were issued for domestic and international courier service. They bear the EMS logo.

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