Martinique

under construction while the volcano is asleep

Martinique is an island in the Caribbean, somewhere in the middle of the Antilles chain. It was a French colony since 1635, briefly under British control during Napoleonic times but returning to being a French colony afterwards.

Prior to issuing its own stamps, French colonies general issues were used. Usages can be identified by CDSs or diamond-shaped killers/obliterators with MQE.

 File:Martinique forerunner.jpg|Forerunner usage of French stamps File:Martinique small 5c on 20c.jpg|1886 small 5c on 20c surcharge File:Martinique 15 on 25 surch.jpg|1890 15c on 25c value
 * In 1886, the 20c French colonial type Alphée Dubois was surcharged MARTINIQUE and a small 5, the two parts spaced 6mm apart.
 * It was also surcharged with the parts 9¾mm apart.
 * A small "c" was added after the "5".
 * In 1887, 20c Alphée Dubois stamps were surcharged with MQE and 15c. "MQE" is closely spaced in one version, widely in the other.
 * In 1888-91, 20c Alphée Dubois stamps were again surcharged, "MARTINIQUE" in a somewhat heavier font and new values.
 * A "c." was added to similar surcharges on other Alphée Dubois values.



To add to the fun, in 1892, 25c Alphée Du bois stamps were surcharged "1892 / MARTINIQUE" with the new value below.  File:Mart 15c on 20c postage due.jpg|1891 15c on 20c postage due File:Martinique forerunner.jpg|Forerunner usage of French stamps File:Martinique small 5c on 20c.jpg|1886 small 5c on 20c surcharge File:Martinique 15 on 25 surch.jpg|1890 15c on 25c value File:Mart 15c on 20c postage due.jpg|1891 15c on 20c postage due File:Mart 10c Groupe.jpg|1899 10c type Groupe File:Martinique 1904 surch.jpg|1904 "0f10" on 5f surcharge 
 * In 1891-92, black colonial type Duval postage dues were provisionally surcharged TIMBRE-POSTE / MARTINIQUE and new values.
 * Three values were surcharged in red or brown red.
 * An "01c." surcharge on 2c Alphée Dubois was also issued.
 * The were also surcharged with the new value between "1892" and "MARTINIQUE".
 * In 1892, type Groupe designs were issued inscribed "MARTINIQUE".
 * New values/colors were added in 1899-1906.
 * In 1904, various surcharges were issued on type Groupe stamps.

From 1920 to 1930, surcharges of various types on the previous definitives were released.  File:Mart 10c pict.jpg|1922 10c woman File:Martinique 30c pictorial.jpg|1924 30c bay view File:Mart 65 on 45.jpg|1925 65c on 45c surcharge File:Mart 10c building.jpg|1933 village 
 * In 1908-18, three new definitive designs were issued.
 * In 1912, "05" and "10" surcharges were issued on type Groupe stamps to use up those obsolete stamps.
 * In 1915, a red cross and "5c" surcharge on a 10c definitive as a semipostal.
 * In 1931, the Colonial Exposition issue was released, the first of the colonial omnibus sets to follow.
 * In 1933-38, three new definitive designs were issued.

 File:Mart 3f on 2c.jpg|1945 3f on 2c surcharge File:Mart scheolcher.jpg|1945 80c Schoelcher File:Mart engr pict 194x.jpg|1947 30c woman 
 * In 1941, various Vichy issues including semipostals and airmails were printed but never issued in Martinique.
 * In 1945, a series featuring Victor Schœler was issued.
 * In 1945, 50f and 100f London airmails (4-engine plane over ocean) were released.
 * In 1945-46, several defintives were surcharged in francs.
 * In 1947, a new engraved pictorial definitive series was issued in six different designs.
 * Shortly after, Martinique began using French stamps, having become a department of France in 1946.

Parcel post
 File:Martinique parcel post.jpg 
 * In 1903, one 5f surcharge on 60c French colonies postage due was issued, inscribed TIMBRE POSTE / 5 F. / MARTINIQUE / COLIS POSTAUX.

Postage due
 File:Martinique 5f diag ovpt due.jpg|5f from the 1887 unauthorized/bogus series. File:Mart 45c ovptd due.jpg|1927 45c value 
 * In 1887, a bogus series of diagonal overprints on French colonial dues reading "MARTINIQUE" was created.
 * In 1927, French postage dues were overprinted MARTINIQUE.
 * In 1933, a series depicting tropical fruit was issued.
 * In 1944, four values in the above the designs but without "RF" were issued by the Vichy government in France. These were never released in the colony.
 * In 1947, a new series showing a map of the island was issued.

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