BENIN ( République du Bénin )

Benin ( French: Bénin), officially the Republic of Benin (French: République du Bénin) and formerly Dahomey (1960–1975), is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east, Burkina Faso to the north-west, and Niger to the north-east. The majority of its population lives on the small southern coastline of the Bight of Benin, part of the Gulf of Guinea in the northernmost tropical portion of the Atlantic Ocean.  The capital of Benin is Porto-Novo, but the seat of government is in Cotonou, the country's largest city and economic capital. Benin covers an area of 114,763 square kilometres (44,310 sq mi). The official language of Benin is French, with several indigenous languages such as Fon, Bariba, Yoruba and Dendi also being commonly spoken. From the 17th to the 19th century, the main political entities in the area were the Kingdom of Dahomey, along with the city-state of Porto-Novo, and a large area with many different nations to the north. France took over the country and renamed it French Dahomey. In 1960, Dahomey gained full independence from France. The sovereign state has had a tumultuous history since then, with many different democratic governments, military coups, and military governments. A Marxist–Leninist state called the People's Republic of Benin existed between 1975 and 1990. In 1991, it was replaced by the current multi-party Republic of Benin.

Benin's first stamps were French colonial stamps used at Porto Novo from 1888. Stamps were issued in 1892 for French colonies on the coast of the Bight of Benin called the Établissments du Golfe de Benin. In 1904, the colony of French Dahomey was established, as part of French West Africa. Stamps inscribed Dahomey were issued between 1899 and 1942. Stamps of French West Africa were then used until 1960. The colony became the self-governing Republic of Dahomey, and two years later on 1 August 1960, it gained full independence. Stamps inscribed Dahomey were issued again in 1960. In 1975, the country was renamed Benin. La Poste du Bénin is the government organisation responsible for the post in Benin.

French West Africa (French: Afrique-Occidentale française, AOF) was a federation of eight French colonial territories in Africa: Mauritania, Senegal, French Sudan (now Mali), French Guinea (now Guinea), Ivory Coast, Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso), Dahomey (now Benin) and Niger. The federation existed from 1895 until 1958. Its capital was Saint-Louis, Senegal until 1902, and then Dakar until the federation's collapse. The French colonial territories in the federation issued their own postage stamps until 1943. In many cases the stamps were inscribed with the name of the federation "Afrique Occidentale Française" as well as the colony's own name. In 1943 and 1944, stamps of Senegal and Mauritania were overprinted with new values and valid throughout French West Africa.

The first issues printed specifically for the federation were the Eboue common design type and a definitive series depicting colonial soldiers, both in 1945. A series of 1947 featured 19 scenes and people of the various colonies, then during the 1950s there were about 30 various commemoratives. The last issue inscribed "Afrique occidentale française" and "RF" was the Human Rights issue of December 1958. It was followed by a Stamp Day issue on March 21, 1959, which omitted the federation's name and was inscribed "CF" along with "Dakar-Abidjan" for use in Ivory Coast and Senegal.

These covers sent from Benin Philatelic Bureau on November 17,2016 and I received  on December 12, 2016 with my favorite blue UPU barcode label. few years back I had received my covers back with perfect postmarks and as registered, but the barcode was not in perfect condition. The remaining postage affixed as stamps on backside of the cover.