Madagascar

Madagascar is both an island and a nation in the Indian Ocean off the east coast of Africa. This article is about the French colonial period, 1889 to 1958. For issues of the independent republic, see: Malagasy Republic.

 File:Mad 1891 5c on 25c.jpg|1891 5c on 25c surcharge – genuine? File:Madagascar 1f typeset.jpg|1891 1f typeset File:Madagascar majunga prov.jpg|1895 0.15 on 1f Majunga provisional File:Mad 15c 3line ovpt.jpg|1895 15c overprint File:Madagascar 10c red Groupe.jpg|1900 10c type Groupe File:Mad 05 on 50 with bar.jpg|1902 05 on 50c surcharge with bar/line File:Mad 15c on 1f narrow zero.jpg|1902 "0,15"c on 1f surcharge, narrow zero File:Mad 1c on 2c wide zero.jpg|1902 "0,01"c on 2c surcharge, wide zeros 
 * In 1889 and 1891, several French colonies general issue type Alphée Dubois were handstamp surcharged with numerals of new value. Naturally, forgeries exist.
 * In 1891, six typeset values were issued, inscribed POSTES / FRANÇAISES / MADAGASCAR. Forgeries exist.
 * In 1895, French stamps were overprinted POST / FRANÇAISE / Madagascar. Poor forgeries exist.
 * Also in 1895, manuscript surcharges were issued at Majunga. Forgeries exist.
 * In 1896, French stamps were surcharged with new values in ovals. Do we really need to say that forgeries exist?
 * In 1896-1908, type Groupe stamps were issued for Madagascar, inscribed MADAGASCAR ET DÉPENDENCES. And yes forgeries exist.
 * In 1902 just 3 values pf the previous issue were surched with two digits and a line through the old value. More type Groupe stamps were surcharged in fractions of francs (e.g., "0,01" for 1 centime) including two obsolete Diego-Suarez stamps. A Slightly larger surcharge version with wide zero(s) was also issued, also on two obsolete Diego-Suarez stamps.

 File:Mad 2c 1903.jpg|1903 2c value File:Mad 50c 1908.jpg|1908 50c definitive File:Mad 05 on 15 leftovers.jpg|1912 "05" on 15c surcharge File:Mad 1921 1c on 15c.jpg|1921 1c on 15c surcharge File:Mad 1930 4c.jpg|1930 4c definitive File:Mad 15c 1930.jpg|1930 15c definitive File:Mad 3c Gallieni 1931.jpg|1931 3c Galliéni File:Mad 1932 25c on 15c.jpg|1932 25c on 15c surcharge 
 * In 1903, A new design was issued showing a Traveler's Tree with a zebu and lemur.
 * In 1908-21, a new definitive series was released, the design of a traveler being carried on a sedan chair.
 * In 1912, type Groupe and 1903 stamps were surcharged "05" or "10" to use up stocks of old stamps.
 * In 1915, the first semipostals was issued with a red cross and "5c" on the 10c definitive.
 * In 1921-27, various surcharges in different types were issued.
 * In 1930-44, new definitives were again issued, in four different designs.
 * In 1931, the Colonial Exposition set was issued, the first of the colonial omnibus sets.
 * Also in 1931, a Gen. Galliéni set was issued.

 File:Mad 1941 airmail 1.60f.jpg|1941 1.60f airmail File:Mad Libre 1f on 1.25.jpg|1942 1f on 1.25 France Libre File:Mad 1943 25c Libre.jpg|1943 25c France Libre overprint File:Madagascar man w spear.jpg|1946 40c dancer File:Mad 80c 1946.jpg|80c cattle File:Mad 1957 cloves.jpg|1957 4f cloves 
 * In 1935-41, an airplane over Madagascar airmail issue was released. Values without "RF" are Vichy issues, never used in Madagascar.
 * In 1938-40, a Jean Laborde commemorative set was issued.
 * Beginning in 1941, the usual Vichy types were issued but never sold in Madagascar. That included previous designs but with "RF" removed. In 1942, a 1.50f Vichy stamp with three explorers was issued but again never used.
 * In 1942, previous issues were overprinted or surcharged with "FRANCE LIBRE". This included airmails. Contrary to many other colonies, these were actually used.
 * In 1943, the France Libre set was issued, depicting a stylized Traveler's Tree.
 * In 1945 the above set was srucharged with new values.
 * In 1946, a pictorial definitive set was issued, with seven different designs.
 * In 1956-57, two sets for agricultural products were issued.
 * In 1958, Madagascar became independent. See: Malagasy Republic.

Postage due
 File:Madagascar 40c ovptd due.jpg|1896 40c value File:Mad 2c 1908 due.jpg|1908 2c value File:Madagascar 3f surch due.jpg|1927 3f on 1f surcharge File:Mad 1947 due.jpg|1947 10c value 
 * In 1896, imperf French Colonies general issued postage dues were overprinted MADAGASCAR / et / Dépendences.
 * In 1908-24, country-specific stamps were issued showing the Governor's Palace.
 * In 1924-27, three values were surcharged with new values.
 * In 1943, values from the 1908-24 series was overprinted FRANCE / LIBRE.
 * In 1947, a numeral series was released.