Niger

Niger was a landlocked French colony in West Africa, and is now an independent country. It's pronounced "Nee-zhay" and not what you think. Just saying. Don't confuse it with Nigeria just south of it, either. Just don't.

French colony
Niger was separated from Upper Senegal and Niger in 1922 to become a separate colony. It still remained a part of the French West Africa federation. In 1941, stamps were surcharged as semipostals, with SECOURS / NATIONAL.  File:Niger first ovpt.jpg|1922 15c definitive File:Niger boat pict.jpg|1926 25c boat on the Niger River File:Niger first air.jpg|1940 2.90f airmail. Note that the country name was printed separately. 
 * In 1922(?)-26, Upper Senegal and Niger camel and rider definitives were overprinted TERRITOIRE / DU NIGER.
 * These were followed by surcharged values.
 * In 1926-40, new pictorial definitive designs were issued. There were three different designs.
 * In 1931, the Colonial Exposition omnibus set was issued, followed in later years by more French colonial omnibus issues.
 * Also beginning in 1941, sets were produced by the Vichy government in France. They were never used in the colony even though it was under Vichy control up to November 1942.
 * Beginning in 1943, stamps of French West Africa were used. See: French West Africa.

Postage due
 File:Niger first due.jpg|1922 10c value File:Niger view due.jpg|1927 30c value 
 * In 1922(?), Upper Senegal and Niger numeral postage dues were overprinted TERRITOIRE / DU NIGER like the definitives.
 * In 1927, pictorial dues were issued.

Republic
In July 1960, Niger became an independent country.  File:Niger beeeater air.A.webp|1961 Bee-Eater airmail File:Niger running dog.jpg|2020 800f (capitalist?) running dog 
 * In 1959-60, the country issued its first definitives, pictorials showing animals and inscribed REPUBLIQUE DU NIGER.
 * About 1996, Niger joined the gang of countries issuing a bunch of sheetlets and souvenir sheets in every topic imaginable. Not long after, fakers joined the fun and began printing bogus issues, too.
 * In 2000, year dates were added to stamps.

Official
 File:Niger first official.jpg|1962 5f value 
 * In 1962-71, a woman carrying a jar design was issued.
 * Beginning in 1988, the design was changed so the woman is no longer smiling.

Postage due
 File:Niger 20f first Rep due.png|1960 20f value 
 * In 1960, diamond-shaped postage dues were issued.
 * In 1993, the design was reissued in new color shades. These are reported to measure 50x50mm and the bottom imprints are in black.