The country was known as French Somaliland or French Somali Coast until 1958 when the name was changed to the Territory of Afars and Issas. It gained independence in 1977 and changed its name to the Republic of Djibouti. The earliest date seen in from 1952.
The stamps are grouped according to the country identification in the frank:
A - COTE FRANCAISE DES SOMALIS
B - TER. FRS. AFARS ET ISSAS
C - R.P. DE DJIBOUTI or REPUBLIQUE DE DJIBOUTI
Several meters are known used for years with obsolete country name.
GROUP A: Frank inscribed “COTE FRANCAISE DES SOMALIS”[edit | edit source]
A1. Satas “C” (MV), 1952.
Meter number with “SC” prefix.
TM: SL
V/F: 000F
A2. Satas “D” (MV), 1953.
Post Office stamp.
Meter number with “SD” prefix.
TM: SL
V/F: 000F
A3. Satas “P” (MV).
Post Office stamp.
Meter number with “SP” prefix.
Date figures tall.
Hour figure between TM and frank.
TM: SC
V/F: 000
A4. Satas “R” (MV). [$5]
Meter number with “SR” prefix.
TM: SC
V/F: 000
GROUP B: Frank inscribed “TER. FRS AFARS ET ISSAS”[edit | edit source]
B1. Satas “C” (MV), 1958. [$10]
Meter number with “SC” prefix.
TM: SL
V/F: 000F
B2. Satas “P” (MV).
Post Office stamp.
Meter number with “SP” prefix.
Date figures tall.
Hour figure between TM and frank.
TM: SC
V/F: 000
a. Official stamp. TM contains “OFFICIEL” at bottom
B3. Satas “R” (MV). [$5]
Meter number with “SR” prefix.
TM: SC
V/F: 000
GROUP C: Frank inscribed “R.P. DE DJIBOUTI” or "REPUBLIQUE DE DJIBOUTI"[edit | edit source]
C1. Satas “C” (MV), 1977. [$25]
Meter number with “SC” prefix.
TM: SL
V/F: 000F
C2. Satas “P” (MV). [$10]
Meter number with “SP” prefix.
Date figures tall. Hour figure between TM and frank.
TM: SC
V/F: 000
a. Official stamp. TM contains “OFFICIEL” at bottom
C3. Satas “R” (MV), 1977
Meter number with “SR” prefix.
TM: SC
V/F: 000
C4. Secap (Pitney Bowes) (MV).
Meter number with “PBGH-D” prefix.
Date figures widely spaced, without stops.
TM: SC
V/F: 0000
C5. Unidentified (MV).
Nearly square frank with "REPUBLIQUE / DE" at top.
The one example seen is so poor that the bottom inscription is unreadable but presumed to include "DJIBOUTI".
The frank appears to be from a negative die leaving the inscriptions colorless against a solid background.
000F
[$5]
