France colonies year 1884/85 Porto/Tax used stamps

France issued postage due stamps, also known as “Porto” or “Tax” stamps, for use in its colonies at various points in history. These stamps were used to indicate that additional postage was required on mail items that were insufficiently prepaid. Here are some notable Porto/Tax stamp series issued for the French colonies:

1. 1884-1885 issue: this series featured a uniform design with the inscription “TIMBRE” and “POSTES” and included denominations ranging from 5 centimes to 1 franc.
2. 1893-1908 issue: This series had a similar design to the 1884-1885 issue but with slightly different frames and denominations. The stamps were printed in different colors for each denomination.
3. 1908-1930 issue: This series featured a new design with the inscription “CHIFFRE-TAXE” (postage due) and a value tablet in the center. The stamps were printed in various colors and included denominations from 1 centime to 5 francs.
4. 1930-1939 issue: This series had a similar design to the 1908-1930 issue but with updated colors and denominations. The stamps were issued in values from 1 centime to 20 francs.
5. 1947-1955 issue: After World War II, a new series of postage due stamps was issued for the French colonies. These stamps featured a simpler design with the inscription “TAXE” and the denomination in the center.

These Porto/Tax stamps were used across the French colonial empire, which included territories in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and the Pacific. The specific periods of use and the colonies in which each series was utilized may have varied depending on the administrative and postal changes within the French colonial system over time.

Collecting postage due stamps from the French colonies can be a fascinating area of specialization for philatelists interested in postal history and the workings of colonial mail systems. However, as with any information about stamp releases from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, some details may not be entirely accurate or complete due to the challenges of verifying every piece of information from historical records.