Afars and Issas / Djibouti

Flint tool and prehistoric animals of stamps of Afars and Issas
Fossils, dinosaurs, prehistoric animals on stamps and postmarks of Djibouti

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Contents:
The French Territory of Afars and Issas (French: Territoire français des Afars et des Issas) was the name given to present-day Djibouti between 1967 and 1977, while it was still a colony of France.
In antiquity, the territory was part of the Land of Punt.
Nearby Zeila (now in Somalia) was the seat of the medieval Adal and Ifat Sultanates. In the late 19th century, the colony of French Somaliland was established following treaties signed by the ruling Somali and Afar sultans with the French.
The railroad from the city of Djibouti to Dire Dawa (and later Addis Ababa) allowed French Somaliland to quickly supersede Zeila as the port for southern Ethiopia and the Ogaden. It was subsequently renamed to the French Territory of the Afars and the Issas in 1967.
A decade later, the Djiboutian people voted for independence. This officially marked the establishment of the Republic of Djibouti, named after its capital city. [R1]

There are no stamps of Afars and Issas that directly feet to Paleontology thematic, but the following three issues might be of interest for some collectors. The first two sets are archaeology-themed and show some flint tools. The third set shows some modern shells. Stylized Trilobite and Ammonite are shown on stamp with face value of 10F (top-right stamp). [R2]



Some stamps of Afars and Issas to consider: flint tools, stylized fossils

16.03. , 07.09. 1973 "Archeologic discovery" (flint tools) 21.01.1975 "Shells" [1]
Flint tools on stamps of Afars and Issas 1973 Flint tools on stamps of Afars and Issas 1973 Trilobite and Ammonite on stamps of Afars and Issas 1975

Notes:
[1] Stylized ammonite and trilobite are depicting on stamp with face value of 10F. Mi.Nr.: 119, Scott: 384
Stylized ammonite and trilobite  on stamp with face value of 10F


Official stamps of Djibouti related to Paleontology: fossils, dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals

12.11.1990 "Fossils"
05.05.2016 "Dinosaurs"
26.09.2016 "Extinct animals"
26.09.2016 "Prehistoric aquatic animals"
30.01.2017 "Dinosaurs
15.03.2017 "135 anniversary of Charles Darwin"
05.07.2017 "Extinct animals"
11.12.2017 "Prehistoric water animals"
11.12.2017 "Dinosaurs"
Fossil of prehistoric elephant, Elephas recki, on stamp of Djibouti 1990 Dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals on stamp of Djibouti 2017 Dinosaurs and Charles Darwin on stamps of Djibouti 2017
05.05.2017 "Dinosaurs"
15.03.2018 "Extinct animals"
12.06.2018 "Dinosaurs"
27.07.2018 "Prehistoric water animals"
14.03.2019 "Prehistoric water animals"
12.06.2019 "Dinosaurs"
27.08.2019  "Flying Dinosaurs" [D1]
12.12.2019 "Dinosaurs"
Dinosaurs on stamp of Djibouti 2017 Dinosaurs on stamp of Djibouti 2018 Dinosaurs on stamp of Djibouti 2019
27.02.2020 "Dinosaurs"
12.06.2020 "80th anniversary of the discovery of cave paintings in Lascaux, France"
27.07.2020 "Flying dinosaurs" [D1]
27.07.2020 "Fossils""
30.12.2020 "Dinosaurs""
20.05.2021 "Flying dinosaurs" [D1]
30.08.2021 "Fossils"
30.08.2021 "Prehistoric Humans"
30.08.2021 "Dinosaurs"
30.08.2021 "Extinct Species"
24.01.2022 "Flying dinosaurs" [D1]
24.01.2022 "Fossils"
30.03.2022 "Dinosaurs"
25.04.2022 "140th memorial anniversary of Charles Darwin"
01.08.2022 "Extinct mammals"
01.08.2022 "Meteorites"
Dinosaurs on stamp of Djibouti 2020 Dinosaurs on stamp of Djibouti 2021 Prehistoric animals and their fossils on stamp of Djibouti 2022

Notes:
[D1] "Flying dinosaurs" is not a correct term to apply to the animals shown on these stamps. The animals pictured are pterosaurs.
Pterosaurs are a group of flying reptiles in the Archosauria. Reptiles in the archosaurs include crocodiles, dinosaurs, and pterosaurs.


Commemorative postmarks of Djibouti related to Paleontology: fossils of prehistoric animals

Legend is here
12.11.1990 "Fossils" [FDC]
Fossil of prehistoric elephant, Elephas recki, on commemorative postmark of Djibouti 1990



References:
  •   [R1] Afars and Issas and Djibouti: Wikipedia.
  •   [R2] Postal History and Philately of Afars and Issas and Djibouti: Wikipedia,
              Links to official website of the Post Authority, stamp catalog and a list of new stamps of Djibouti are here.



Acknowledgements:
Many thanks to Dr. Peter Voice from Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Western Michigan University, for the draft page review.

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