Cameroon — Stamps & Postal Service

Postal Service Overview

CAMPOST (Cameroon Postal Services) is Cameroon’s national postal operator. Cameroon’s philatelic history is among Africa’s most complex: German colonial Kamerun stamps (1897–1915), French Cameroun stamps (1916–1960), British Southern Cameroons stamps (using Nigerian stamps with “CAMEROONS U.K.T.T.” overprint, 1960–1961), and the Republic of Cameroon/Federal Republic of Cameroon stamps (1960–present). French and English are both official languages of the modern republic, reflecting this dual colonial heritage.

Notable Stamp Issues

German Kamerun stamps (1897–1915) are classic early African colonial material — Kaiser’s Yacht design typical of German colonies. French Cameroun stamps (1916–1939) initially overprinted German stamps. French mandate stamps (1939–1960) developed distinctive Cameroonian imagery. British Southern Cameroons stamps (Nigerian stamps overprinted “CAMEROONS U.K.T.T.” for UN Trust Territory) are a unique specialist area. Republic of Cameroon stamps from 1960 reflect the bilingual nation’s culture — wildlife, the Waza National Park elephants, and Mount Cameroon (Africa’s highest mountain west of the Rift Valley).

Collecting Tips

Michel covers German Kamerun; Yvert & Tellier covers French Cameroun; Stanley Gibbons covers British Southern Cameroons. Collecting the complete Cameroonian philatelic story across all administrations is a rewarding specialist project. German Kamerun stamps are classic early colonial African material. British Cameroons overprints are a brief but distinct specialist area. Modern Cameroon stamps on mountain gorillas and forest elephants are popular with wildlife collectors. Mount Cameroon stamps attract mountaineering thematic collectors.

Part of the Africa Postal Directory.