Gambia — Stamps & Postal Service

Postal Service Overview

Gambia Post Authority is The Gambia’s postal operator. The Gambia — Africa’s smallest mainland country, entirely surrounded by Senegal except for its Atlantic coastline — has one of West Africa’s longest stamp-issuing histories, dating from 1869. The Gambia’s position along the Gambia River in the heart of West African birdlife territory makes it a premier destination for birdwatchers, and this biodiversity is magnificently reflected in its stamp programme. Gambia produces some of Africa’s most sought-after bird stamps.

Notable Stamp Issues

The Gambia’s first stamps in 1869 depicted the Crown and “GAMBIA” in an embossed design — one of West Africa’s earliest philatelic issues. The subsequent Victoria and Edwardian colonial issues are classic British West Africa stamps. Gambia’s 1898–1922 Queen Victoria and King Edward VII stamps are standard Commonwealth items. Post-independence stamps from 1965 established a national identity featuring the Gambia River, groundnuts (the country’s main crop), and — most famously — West African birds. The Gambia has produced extraordinary ornithological stamps on bee-eaters, kingfishers, hornbills, sunbirds, and weavers.

Collecting Tips

Stanley Gibbons Commonwealth catalogue covers The Gambia. Bird stamps from Gambia are among the finest ornithological stamps in the world — popular with birding thematic collectors. The Gambia River’s hippos and crocodiles appear on wildlife stamps. Gambia’s groundnut industry stamps are agricultural thematic items. The country’s 1869 Crown embossed stamps are rare early West African items. Post-independence Gambian stamps are affordable and well-catalogued. The Senegambia stone circles (UNESCO heritage, unique megalithic monuments) appear on archaeological stamps.

Part of the Africa Postal Directory.