Togo — Stamps & Postal Service

Postal Service Overview

La Poste du Togo manages Togo’s postal services. Togo’s philatelic history is among Africa’s most complex: German colonial Togo stamps (1897–1914), a WWI period producing British overprints on German stamps (1914–1916), British Togoland stamps (Western Togoland, merged with Gold Coast/Ghana in 1957 plebiscite), French Togoland mandate/trust territory stamps (1921–1960), and independent Republic of Togo stamps (1960–present). This complex history spans three colonial powers and two post-colonial territories.

Notable Stamp Issues

German Togo stamps (1897–1914) are classic early German colonial material — the Kaiser’s Yacht design. British forces overprinted German Togo stamps in 1914 — creating rare wartime overprints. French Togoland mandate stamps (1921–1960) used French West Africa designs adapted for the mandate. British Togoland (integrated with Gold Coast before becoming Ghana) is a brief but distinct philatelic entity. Independent Togo’s stamps from 1960 depicted President Sylvanus Olympio and Togolese cultural heritage. Modern Togolese stamps feature traditional voodoo, kente weaving, and wildlife.

Collecting Tips

Michel covers German Togo. Yvert & Tellier covers French Togoland. Stanley Gibbons covers British Togoland. Scott Africa covers independent Togo. The British 1914 overprints on German stamps are WWII-precursor specialist items with multiple varieties. French Togoland stamps (1921–1960) are a distinct collecting area related to French West Africa. British Togoland stamps (1916–1956) briefly exist before integration with Gold Coast. Independent Togo’s stamps are affordable and underexplored. Traditional fetish (voodoo) culture stamps from Togo are unique in African philately.

Part of the Africa Postal Directory.