French colonies general issues

French colonies general issues were used beginning in 1859.
 * The first design showed the French imperial eagle.
 * This was followed by issues with the same designs of France proper, Napoleon III (1871-72) and Céres (1872-77) heads. For the colonies, these were imperf, mostly in different colors from the stamps of France but confusingly, sometimes very close to French issue colors. The Céres stamps can be mistaken for France's first issues also.
 * Beginning in 1877, the type Sage design was used for the colonies; French stamps were perfed and the colonial stamps were imperf. In the case of very close-cut imperf margins on used stamps, collectors should try to determine if the cancel used is French (making the stamp a forgery) or colonial.
 * In 1881, type Alphée Dubois made its first appearance.
 * The last type would later be overprinted and/or surcharged uniquely for various colonies.
 * The type Groupe, or Navigation and Commerce series in 1892 were released for individual colonies, eliminating the need for general issues.

 File:Frc col 5c Ceres.jpg|5c Céres. It is hard to tell, but this is on pale blue paper while the French issue is on greenish paper. File:Fr col 25c alphee.jpg|25c type Alphée Dubois. 

See
[[Category:F]]
 * French colonies obliterator codes