Somalia year 1994 Fauna Snakes Reptiles postage stamps set

Somalia year 1994 Fauna Snakes Reptiles postage stamps set

In 1994, several stamp sets featuring Snakes and Reptiles were issued under the name of Somalia.

The most common set from that year is a series of four stamps (and sometimes an accompanying souvenir sheet) featuring detailed illustrations of venomous and non-venomous snakes native to the region.

Stamp Details (Michel #528–531)

This set is typically identified in European catalogs as Michel #528–531 and is widely available in “Mint Never Hinged” (MNH) condition.

Philatelic Status: A Historical Note

It is important for collectors to know the context of these stamps. In 1994, Somalia was in the midst of a severe civil war, and the central government had collapsed in 1991.

• Legitimacy: Many stamps from this era (1991–2013) were produced by international agencies (often based in Italy or Lithuania) under contracts that are sometimes disputed by philatelists.
• Postal Use: While these stamps are beautifully designed and listed in major catalogs like Michel or Yvert & Tellier, they saw very little, if any, actual postal use within Somalia during that time because the national postal service was largely non-functional.
• Recognition: The Scott Catalog often excludes or lists these issues in a separate section because they were primarily marketed to topical collectors rather than being used for postage.