Zambezia

1898 Scott 18 20r gray violet "King Carlos"

Quick History
Drained by the Zambezi River in the middle portion of the Portuguese East Africa Colony (Mozambique), this territory from the Quelimane settlement on the coast to the Tete settlement upriver was given to the Zambezia Company to initiate tea, copra, and livestock production by exploiting forced African labor, and to explore mining opportunities.

In addition, Portuguese settlements were encouraged through the creation of prazeiro holdings (land grants).

East Africa and Portuguese East Africa (Mozambique) area 1880-1914

Zambezia Province: Quelimane to Tete along the Zambezi River

The Zambezia Company were given the rights in 1892, and although the largest, and comparatively the most successful, they are not as well known today as the the chartered Mozambique Company and Nyassa Company that produced their own postage stamps.

The territory was named the Zambezia Province (or District) in 1894, and stamps were issued.

The last issue for Zambezia was produced in 1917.

The capital of the Zambezia Province was the Quelimane settlement.

Portuguese East Africa 1922

Zambezia was divided into the Quelimane and Tete areas

The Zambezia Province name went away in 1920, leaving the Tete Province and the Quelimane Province.

(Tete and Quelimane were already named districts within Zambezia by 1902, apparently.)

All three present and former areas - Zambezia, Tete, Quelimane - then were exclusively covered by the stamps of Mozambique (Portuguese East Africa).

General Note: Although the Portuguese territory was referred to as Mozambique or Portuguese East Africa, the scattered settlements (and chartered companies) early on had their own stamps- hence Mozambique, Inhambane, Lourenco Marques, Quelimane, Tete, Zambezia, Mozambique Company, and Nyassa (Company) issues were produced.

Clarifying Note: Tete and Quelimane are both specific settlements and a region.

It is all rather complicated, and Michael Adkin's Dead Countries Mozambique Area Transition Chart might be helpful to review. 

In addition, Gerben's Stamp World History has a nice synthesis map of the era, and a detailed history.

Present day Mozambique - Note "Zambezia"

In present day Mozambique, Zambezia Province is again partially reconstituted (as of 1943), claiming the former named Quelimane area. 

I will close with an observation that speaks volumes about the Portuguese era: Until as late as 1961, Africans were considered indigenas (natives) rather than citizens.

1902 Scott 47 400r on 200r blue/blue

Stamps of 1894 Surcharged

Into the Deep Blue
The 2014 Scott Classic Specialized 1840-1940 catalogue has, for Zambezia 1894-1917, 105 major number descriptions. Of those, 49 are CV <$1-$1+, or 47%. The rest are modestly priced higher, with only one of the major numbers in the catalogue priced above CV $10+.  Clearly, classical Zambezia should not have high cost for WW collectors.

Zambezia offers typical fare for Portuguese colonies with key plate types, surcharges and overprints.

Of some interest, the "Republica" overprints are found with Lisbon print and local print on various issues.

And it is rewarding to collect Zambezia paying attention to the postmarks from Zambezia regions.

A closer look at the stamps and issues
1000 Reis = 1 Milreis

1894 Scott 8 80r yellow green "King Carlos"

Perf 12 1/2

Note the Quelimane cancel? 

In 1894, a twelve stamp set with the "King Carlos" visage was released, and was the first regular issue for the district of Zambezia.

CV is <$1-$3+ for eleven stamps.

The 2011 Afinsa (Portugal) Colonias Portuguesas catalogue parses the set into those with Perf  11 1/2, 12 1/2, and 13 1/2 respectively. The 80r yellow green shown above only is found with Perf 12 1/2. But there are five stamp denominations (15r, 50r, 75r, 200r, 300r) where more than one perforation exists. 

1903 Scott 20 25r carmine "King Carlos"

1898-1903 Issue, Perf 11 1/2

Note the Tete cancel?

Between 1898-1903, a twenty-three stamp "King Carlos" keyplate set was released, all with perf 11 1/2.

1903 Scott 22 50r brown

Note the Quelimane cancel?

This familiar Portuguese colony design for Zambezia has a CV of <$1-$3+ for sixteen stamps.

1903 Scott 29 130r brown/straw

Looks like a "Zambezia" cancel.

One of the most interesting things one can do for obscure colonies is pay attention to postmarks.

1902 Scott 45 400r on 50r light blue, Perf 12 1/2

Stamps of 1894 Surcharged

Changing rates resulted in a surcharged thirteen stamp set on the 1894 issue in 1902. The stamps can be found in Perf 11 /2 and Perf 12 1/2, with the 65r on 300 blue/salmon, 130r on 75r carmine, and the 400r on 50r light blue found with both perfs.

For Zambezia, the issue is on the high end CV wise, @ $3+-$7 for the stamps in the set.

1902 Scott 52 75r rose

Stamps of 1898 Overprinted

Provisional overprinted stamps (four) were issued in 1902.

1911 Scott 65 200r red violet/pinkish

Stamps of 1898-1903 Overprinted in Carmine or Green

In 1911, a fifteen stamp set was overprinted as shown (Lisbon overprint), reflecting the 1910 revolution.

CV is <$1-$1+ for every stamp in the issue.

1914 Scott 74 115r on 25r blue green

Stamps of 1902-05 Overprinted in Carmine or Green

This 1914 issue is perhaps a bit more interesting, as the "Republica" overprint was applied locally.

Note the shape of the "R", compared to the overprints from Lisbon.

Both perf 11 /2 and perf 12 1/2 can be found, with perf overlap for the 130r on 75r carmine and 400r on 50r light blue.

CV is $1+-$2+ for every stamp in the set, save for the 50r on 65r dull blue @ $1,200!

By the way, both Quelimane and Tete issued some of their own stamps beginning on May 31, 1913.

1915 Scott 87 130r on 75r carmine

Overprinted in Carmine

On Surcharged Issue of 1902

The 1915 issue is similar to the 1914 issue, but the "Republica"overprint is from Lisbon, not locally.

The eight stamp issue is <$1 for seven stamps.

1917 Scott 101 100r blue/blue

Stamps of 1898-1903 Overprinted Locally in Carmine

The last regular issue for Zambezia has thirteen stamps, and the overprint is again local. Note the "R" shape compared to the Lisbon overprint.

CV is $2+-$6+ for eleven stamps.

After July 17, 1920 ( If I'm reading the Portuguese in the Afinsa catalogue correctly), the stamps of Mozambique were used.

1894 Scott P1 2 1/2r brown Newspaper Stamp

The newspaper stamp for Zambezia was actually the first stamp issued for the district. If I'm reading the Portuguese correctly in the Afinsa catalogue, it appears to have been  released on May 8, 1893.

CV is <$1.

Deep Blue

1911 Issue in Deep Blue

Deep Blue (Steiner) has, for Zambezia 1894-1917, seven pages. All of the major Scott numbers have a space.

1914 Scott 76 130r on 2 1/2r brown 

Stamps of 1902-05 Overprinted in Carmine or Green

Big Blue

Big Blue '69, on one page, has 37 spaces for the stamps of 1894-1915 Zambezia

Coverage is 35%.

There are no expensive stamps (CV $10+) required for the spaces of BB.

The coverage is adequate, if not generous.

The 1902 surcharged issue on the 1894 issue (Scott 36-48) is not given coverage.

The locally overprinted "Republica" issues of 1914 and 1917 (25 stamps) are also without coverage.

Checklist

1894

1,2,(3),(4),

1898

13,14,15,18,19,(16),(21),

1902

49,50,51,

1903

17,20,(22),

1911

54,55,56,57,58,59,60,

61,62,63,64,(65),(66),(67),

1915

84,85,86,(87),93,

Newspaper

1894

P1,

Comments

A) Expensive stamps ($10 threshold): None

B) (    ) around a number indicates a blank space choice.

1917 Scott 104 200r red violet/pinkish

Stamps of 1898-1903 Overprinted Locally in Carmine

Out of the Blue

The last of the Mozambique area and era stamps to be covered with a blog post. 

Note: Maps appear to be in the public domain.

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