Niger Coast Protectorate

The Niger Coast Protectorate was a region on the Bights of Benin and Biafra, now in Nigeria. It originally included just the coastal areas but expanded inland in 1894.  File:Niger coast 2d.jpg|1892 2d first overprint. File:Niger Coast 2.5d.jpg|1894 2½d definitive. File:Niger Coast weeds 1d.jpg|1894 1d revised design. 
 * Postal service began with British consulates handling mail using British stamps in 1891 and local postmarks.
 * In 1892, British definitives were overprinted BRITISH / PROTECTORATE / OIL RIVERS.
 * Several provisional overprints followed in a number of styles and with many different errors.
 * In January 1894, engraved stamps were issued with OIL RIVERS removed from the designs and NIGER COAST added to the tops.
 * In May 1894, corrected engraved designs were released inscribed NIGER COAST PROTECTORATE.
 * Surcharged bisects quickly followed along with a ½d surccharge on the 2½d definitive.
 * Beginning in 1897, the old designs with several new ones were released on watermarked paper.