From 1940, the French Vichy government issued stamps in France for the colonies, although they had no means of actually delivering them to the colonies. Défense d’Empire is a typical omnibus set, showing French colonial troops and equipment. Although pro-Vichy forces governed the colonies at that time, the issues were more for propaganda purposes and maintaining a claim to the colonies, rather than with a view to genuine usage. The majority of these issues are unused, and those found with genuine contemporary postmarks were probably mostly canceled as a favor.
