Nigeria year 1938 1 shilling postage stamp

Nigeria year 1938 1 shilling postage stamp

Nigeria issued postage stamps under British colonial rule from 1914 until its independence in 1960. Here are some key details about Nigerian stamps from the British era:

King George V Issues (1914-1936):

• The first stamps used in Nigeria after amalgamation in 1914 were overprints on existing British colonies stamps.
• Definitive pictorial stamps depicting native village scenes, elephants, and palm trees were issued from the 1920s.
• King George V’s profile was also featured on many of these early Nigerian definitive issues.

King George VI Era (1937-1949):

• New definitive series in the late 1930s showed King George VI’s profile along with Nigerian motifs like a human figure and elephants.
• Several war-time stamp issues during WWII had generic designs or overprints on existing issues.

Queen Elizabeth II Period (1953-1960):

• Portrait-style definitives were issued inscribed “Nigeria” and showing the young Queen Elizabeth II starting in 1953.
• Various special commemorative stamp sets marked events like the 1957 IPU Congress in Nigeria.
• The last stamps issued while Nigeria was still a British colony came out in 1960 shortly before independence.

Common design elements on these British Nigerian stamps included native huts, elephants, palm trees and other iconic imagery representing the territory. While not extremely scarce, pre-independence Nigerian issues under British rule are modestly valued by collectors of British Commonwealth stamps and topical collectors interested in African themes.