1931 International Colonial Exposition

The Colonial Exposition Issue was the first joint issue of postage stamps by the French colonial empire. Issued in 1931, in conjunction with the Paris Colonial Exposition, it consisted of four different engraved designs, denominated in the local currency. 26 French territories participated. The four designs had themes reflecting those of the exposition:

• People of the French empire (green)
• Women’s heads (violet)
• An allegory of France showing the way to civilization (red orange)
• Colonial commerce, with natives holding their wares, and a steamship in the background (blue)

Stamp inscriptions read “Exposition Coloniale Internationale Paris 1931.” The designs were identical for all territories, differing only in currency, and the name of the territory, which was printed in black. France also issued stamps for the Colonial Exposition, but with different designs.

Download the table of stamps in this collection: