Cameroun (1887-1959)

For issues of the federal republic (1960-present), see: Cameroun (republic)

Cameroun, or Cameroons, is a country on the central west African coast.

German protectorate
 File:Cam 25pf eagle ovpt.webp|1897 25 pfennig overprint File:Cameroun 10pf Yacht A.webp|1900 10pf Yacht File:Cameroun 5m wmkd Yacht A.webp|1913 5 mark Yacht, watermarked 
 * Beginning in 1887, German post offices were established at several towns and cities using then-current German stamps. Usage in Cameroun is recognizable by the CDS-type cancels used (KAMEROUN, VIKTORIA).
 * In 1897, contemporary German numeral stamps were overprinted Kameroun diagonally.
 * In 1900, the Yacht keytype series was issued on unwatermarked paper.
 * In 1905-19, six Yacht values were issued on lozenges watermarked paper.
 * In 1911, a vertically bisected unwatermarked 20pf was used provisionally at Longji. It must have the Lonji negative seal handstamped alongside on cover. This has been forged.

British occupation and mandate
During World War I, Cameroun, or Cameroons, was occupied by British forces who controlled a region along the northeastern border with Nigeria. This region was also known as British Cameroons.  File:Cameroun CEF 1d A.webp|1915 ½d on 5pf C.E.F. surcharge File:Cameroun plebiscite 1d.jpg|1960 1d plebiscite 
 * In 1915, Cameroun Yacht stamps were surcharged C.E.F. and new values in pence and shillings.
 * In 1922, that part of Cameroun was mandated to Great Britain and Nigerian stamps were used.
 * With the independence of Nigeria and French Cameroun imminent, a plebiscite was held in 1960. Nigerian stamps overprinted CAMEROONS / U.K.T.T. were issued during this time. The southern part joined Cameroun, the northern part joined Nigeria.

French occupation
During World War I, Cameroun, or Cameroons, was occupied by French forces who controlled most of the former German colony.  File:Cameroun Fr Expedition.jpg|1915 5c overprint

File:Cameroun occ Francaise ovpt.jpg|1916 2c "Occupation / Francaise / du Cameroun" File:Cameroun occ francaise II.jpg|1916 4c "CAMEROUN / Occupation / Francaise." File:Cameroun 50c occ francaise II A.webp|1916 50c "CAMEROUN / Occupation / Francaise." 

French mandate
This region was also known as French Cameroun.  File:Cameroun CAMEROUN ovpt.A.webp|1921 1c overprint File:Cameroun swimming cattle.jpg|1925 15c swimming cattle File:Cameroun 65c rubber tap.jpg|1925 65c rubber tree tapping File:Cameroun bridge A.webp|1927 3f suspension bridge File:Cameroun Paris Intl Expo.jpg|1937 1.50f Paris Exposition File:Cameroun 4c woman hair.jpg|1939 4c value File:Cameroun 1.25f elephants.jpg|1939 1.25f value 
 * Figuring they had a lock on owning Cameroun, French administrators had Middle Congo (Moyen Congo) definitives overprinted with a bold CAMEROUN in 1921. The League of Nations mandate was awarded in 1922.
 * Several surcharges on those overprints were issued in 1924-25.
 * In 1925-38, bicolor pictorial definitives were issued in three different designs. One surcharge was issued in 1926.
 * In 1931, the Colonial Exposition issue was released. All the French colonial omnibus sets would follow.
 * In 1939-40, a new pictorial series was issued, now engraved.

 File:Cameroun 1940 ovpt.jpg|1940 2.50f overprint File:Cameroun 1f Vichy.jpg|1941 1f Vichy issue. Note the design, an engraved version of a previous design, flopped/flipped File:Cameroun France Libre.jpg|1941 25c France Libre File:Cameroun cattle engraved.jpg|1946 10c definitive File:Cameroun engraved.jpg|1946 1f definitive File:Cameroun FIDES bridge.jpg|1956 15f FIDES File:Cameroun autonomy.jpg|1958 first anniversary of autonomous government 
 * In 1940, definitives were overprinted CAMEROUN / FRANCAIS / 27.8.40 in solidarity with the Free French movement.
 * 1940-43 saw further Free French issues in the form of semipostal sets.
 * a set of three 1925-era definitives were surcharged OEUVRES DE GUERRE and additional values.
 * four values of then-current definitives were surcharged with an additional value and SPITFIRE with funds raised to buy Spitfire aircraft ("presentation Spitfires") for the RAF.
 * In 1941, the New York World's Fair set was surcharged SPITFIRE with Général de GAULLEand an additional value.
 * Also in 1941, the New York World's Fair set was surcharged with added values and AMBULANCE / LAQUINTAINE.
 * In 1943, five older definitives were surcharged VALMY to raise funds to replace the scuttled destroyer Valmy.
 * In 1941, the colonial France Libre set was issued, showing a shield and sword.
 * In 1941, The French Vichy government issued a set of two pictorials and their omnibus colonial soldiers issue. Surcharged semipostals were issued in 1944. None were sold in Cameroun.
 * Meanwhile in 1942, the airplane-over-the-sea design airmails were issued.
 * 1946 saw surcharges on a number of definitives from the previous series of 1939-40.
 * Later in 1946, an engraved series of pictorial definitives was released in six different designs.
 * In 1957, Cameroun gained partial independence as an autonomous country in the French Community.
 * In 1960, Cameroun gained full independence.

Postage dues
 File:Cameroun 10c lumberjack due.jpg|1925 10c value File:Cameroun figures due.jpg|1939 1f value File:Cameroun 10c numeral due.jpg|1947 10c value 
 * In 1925-27, a pictorial series was issued showing a lumberjack at work.
 * In 1939, an engraved series showing carved figures was issued.
 * In 1944, the Vichy government in France issued a 10c value in the above design without "RF". This was never sold in the colony.
 * In 1947, a series with a numeral surrounded by engine-turning was released.

[[Category:C]]