Inhambane

1911 Scott 44 400r dull blue/straw "King Carlos"

Stamps of 1903 overprinted in carmine or green

Quick History
When  Vasco de Gama in 1498 discovered the Bay of Inhambane while rounding East Africa, he was so taken with the land, that he called it "Terra de Boa Gente", or "Land of the Good People".

This southern part of Mozambique, where the Portuguese established a trading post in 1534, is also the land of cashews, coconuts, and tangerines. Beaches mixed with mangrove swamps, fishing, and the last vestige of dugong in Mozambique complete the tropical setting.

Village in Inhambane Province

The first issue for Inhambane in 1895 were overprinted using 1886 and 1894 Mozambique stamps, and celebrated the 700th anniversary of the birth of St. Anthony of Padua. They are rather expensive by Portuguese colony standards (CV $25-$400 for 14 stamp production), and I don't have any. ;-)

The colony continued to issue stamps until 1917, when the stamps of Mozambique were used.
(Inhambane was actually a district of the Mozambique Province of Portuguese East Africa.)

Map of Mozambique, with Inhambane on the southern coast.

Currently, Imbambane is a province of Mozambique, and has a population of 248,000.

1914 Scott 74 1c blue green "Ceres"

Into the Deep Blue
The 2011 Scott Classic specialized catalogue has, from 1895-1917, 101 major stamp descriptions. Stamps with a CV of <$1-$1+ are 58, or 58%.

Except for the first 1895 14 stamp issue, the CV for Inhambane is modest.

A closer look at the stamps and issues

1903 Scott 15 2 1/2r gray "King Carlos"

The first non overprinted issue for Inhambane was in 1903, and had the familiar Portuguese colony image of "King Carlos". This 16 stamp set has a CV of <$1-$1+ for 9 stamps.

1911 Scott 34 10r light green

Overprinted "Republica" in carmine

Due to political turmoil in Portugal, in 1911, the set was overprinted as shown. The overprint was in carmine, except for the 25c carmine, which was in green. The 15 stamp set has a CV of <$1-$1+ for all the stamps in the set.

1911 Scott 43 200r red violet/pink

Of interest, the higher values of the set are on colored paper. Here "pink", while "straw" paper color is found for the 400r stamp illustrated at the beginning of the post.

In 1913, some 24 stamps from Macao, Portuguese Africa, and Timor of the "Vasco da Gama" common design issues were overprinted for use in Inhambane. CV ranges from $1-$2+ for these stamps.

.1914 Scott 77 2 1/2c light violet "Ceres"

The familiar "Ceres" design was used for the 1914 issue. This 16 stamp production has a CV of <$1=$1+ for 12 stamps.

In 1917, the overprinted "Republica" King Carlos stamps were overprinted locally, resulting in major Scott numbers for this 13 stamp issue. I don't have any, but the CV is an inexpensive $2+ for 8 stamps. 

Deep Blue

The 1914 "Ceres" issue in Deep Blue

Deep Blue (Steiner) has 8 pages for the issues of Inhambane, and follows the Scott catalogue exactly. One can contrast the generous and spacious Deep Blue with the full and compact one page in Big Blue. Each have their advantages.

1911 Scott 41 115 orange brown/pink , overprinted carmine

Big Blue
Big Blue '69, on one page, has 37 spaces for the stamps of Inhambane. Coverage begins with the "1902" (Actually 1903) King Carlos issue ( 7 stamps), then the 1911 overprinted "Republica" issue ( 9 stamps), then the "1914" (Actually 1913) overprinted Vasco da Gama issues ( 8 stamps), and finally the 1914 "Ceres" issue ( 13 stamps). Overall, the coverage is 37%. If one removes the expensive 14 stamp first issue, coverage is 43%.

To nitpick, 9 stamps are left out with a CV of <$1-$1+, and the 1917 "overprinted locally" issue is not given any spaces ( 8 stamps CV $2-$2+).

Of interest, there are three choices for each stamp space for the Vaco da Gama issue, as Macao, Portuguese Africa, and Timor all had these stamps overprinted for use in Inhambane.

There are no $10+ threshold stamps.

Checklist

1902
15,16,17,18,19,20,21,

1911
32,33,34,35,36,37,
38,39,(40),

1914
48 or 56 or 64, 49 or 57 or 65, 50 or 58 or 66, 54 or 62 or 70, 55 or 63 or 71,
51 or 59 or 67, 52 or 60 or 68, 53 or 61 or 69,

(1914)
72,73,74,75,76,77,78,
79,80,81,82,(83),(84),

End

Comments
A) Expensive stamps ($10 threshold): None
B) (  ) around a number indicates a blank space choice.

1914 Scott 78 5c deep blue

Out of the Blue
I find the repetitive designs used for every Portuguese colony a bit boring. But a bit of historical understanding is needed. Portugal was not a rich nation. So the colonies, which were many, got there stamps "on the cheap". ;-)

What I do find interesting are the exotic and remote places of many of the Portuguese colonies. Fascinating. It is curious, though, that Scott generally gives no increase in value for a used vs unused stamp. For me, a nicely postmarked Portuguese colony stamp means much more than simply an unused specimen.

Links
Inhambane - Bud's Big Blue

Note: Map, pics appear to be in the public domain.

Comment?

Inhambane