Stamp Story No. 123 Tangier’s Stamps Can Tell Fascinating Story

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30146, 1 June 1963, Page 8

Stamp Story No. 123 Tangier’s Stamps Can Tell Fascinating Story

[SpecUUlp written for "The Press" by

Kenneth Anthony]

AFTER its long and hectic life as an international free-trade city, where for years smuggling was the chief industry, the seaport and tourist centre of Tangier has nowadays settled down to a less exciting existence as part of the independent kingdom of Morocco.

Its international past, however, is reflected in the stamps of various nationalities which have been used there at different times. For many years British, French and Spanish post offices flourished at the same time— Germany, too, was represented from 1899 to 1914—and the inhabitants could take their choice as to which one they patronised! The British post office in Tangier was opened as early as 1857, by which time the French office was already established For a time stamps of Gibraltar were used, but for most of its life British stamps were on sale there, either with or without a special overprint. In the early years of the present century Morocco was divided into French and Spanish protectorates, but these were abolished when the country achieved full independence m 1956. The Moroccans then naturally w.sned to control their own postal services, and the foreign post offices, in Tangier as in other parts of Morocco, weie closed. •

But Tangier's British office was allowed to remain open

a while longer—until the end of April, 1957—especially so that it could celebrate its centenary! This it did by issuing, for the short space of the last month only of its existence, a series of British stamps overprinted with the centenary dates as well as the name of the city, as in the example illustrated.

Stamps like this, therefore, not only reflect a remarkably long use of British stamps abroad: they Iso mark the end of a strange episode of postal history Not the least curious point about the post office was that it lay outside the Sterling Area. Thus, although its postal rates aad its postage stamps were always expressed in sterling. the stamps could be bought only with francs or pesetas—not with shillings or pence.— (Central Press Features, Ltd Al] Rights Reserved )