Somalia year 1994 Soccer World Cup USA, Football postage stamps set

Somalia year 1994 Soccer World Cup USA, Football postage stamps set

In 1994, Somalia released a comprehensive and colorful set of stamps to celebrate the FIFA World Cup held in the United States. Because Somalia was experiencing significant civil unrest at the time, these stamps were primarily produced for the international topical collector market and are highly popular among sports philatelists.

Issue Details: 1994 Soccer World Cup USA

This set is known for its dynamic action shots of football players and its inclusion of world-famous stars from that era.

• Release Date: 1994
• Catalog Numbers: * Michel: #511–519 (Individual stamps) and Blocks #30–32 (Souvenir Sheets).
  • Scott: Unlisted (Scott generally does not list Somali issues from this period due to the lack of a functioning central postal authority).
• Format: * 9 Individual Stamps: Featuring various game maneuvers like dribbling, tackling, and goalkeeping.
  • 3 Souvenir Sheets (Blocks): These are larger sheets typically containing a single high-value stamp with a wide decorative margin showing stadium crowds or iconic US landmarks.

Stamp Varieties & Values

The set features different denominations in Somali Shillings (Sh). While the artwork is vibrant, it is important to note that most of these stamps found on the market are CTO (Cancelled to Order) or MNH (Mint Never Hinged), as they saw very little actual postal use within Somalia.

Collector’s Note

• “Agency” Issues: These stamps are often referred to as “agency issues” or “illegal stamps” by some catalogs because they were printed and sold by international philatelic agencies during the civil war. However, they remain highly collectible for thematic “Soccer” or “World Cup” albums.
• Visual Themes: Look for the official World Cup USA ’94 logo (the blue and red kicking ball) and the “Striker” mascot which appear on several of the designs.