Rio de Oro

under construction

Rio de Oro was a Spanish colony, the southern part of what is now the disputed Western Sahara today.


 * Beginning in 1901, Spanish stamps were used in Rio de Oro, identifiable by cancels. These were only used until the colony issued its own stamps.
 * In 1905, a series with the portrait of the young Alfonso XIII was issued. It was inscribed COLONIA DE RIO DE ORO.
 * In 1907, the 25c value was surcharged HABILITADO / PARA / 15 CENTS in an oval. This style would be re-used on other values in 1908.
 * In 1907 and 1908, surcharges with the year date and new value were released.
 * Also in 1907, new definitives with Alfonso XIII in uniform were issued.
 * In 1908, large Spanish West Africa revenues were overprinted HABILITADO / PARA / CORREOS with RIO DE ORO and the new value at the sides.
 * In 1909, new definitives with a curved banner at bottom were issued.
 * In 1910, surcharges on the first definitives were issued with the year date.
 * In 1911-13, surcharges on the second definitives were issued, with new values denominated "Cents" or "Centimes".
 * In 1912, definitives with Alfonso XIII facing to the left and a curved banner at top were released.




 * In 1914, new definitives with the denominations in corner tablets at the the top and a banner below the portrait were issued.
 * In 1917, previous issue were overprinted 1917, probably because they could.
 * In 1919, new definitives appeared (magically?) with a large tablet at bottom reading COLONIA / DE RIO DE ORO.
 * In 1920, once again, new designs were issued with a smaller portrait facing left.
 * In 1922, new designs followed (could you guess?) with Alfonso XIII facing right again, the bottom inscription in a curved banner.
 * In 1924, Rio de Oro became part of Spanish Sahara.