EQUATORIAL GUINEA - República de Guinea Ecuatorial

Equatorial Guinea (Guinea Ecuatorial/ Guinée équatoriale/ Guiné Equatorial), officially the Republic of Equatorial Guinea (Spanish: República de Guinea Ecuatorial, French: République de Guinée équatoriale, Portuguese: República da Guiné Equatorial), is a country located on the west coast of Central Africa, with an area of 28,000 square kilometres (11,000 sq mi). Formerly the colony of Spanish Guinea, its post-independence name evokes its location near both the Equator and the Gulf of Guinea. Equatorial Guinea is the only sovereign African state in which Spanish is an official language.

Equatorial Guinea consists of two parts, an insular and a mainland region. The insular region consists of the islands of Bioko (formerly Fernando Pó) in the Gulf of Guinea and Annobón, a small volcanic island which is the only part of the country south of the equator. Bioko Island is the northernmost part of Equatorial Guinea and is the site of the country's capital, Malabo. The Portuguese-speaking island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe is located between Bioko and Annobón. Equatorial Guinea is on the west coast of Central Africa. The country consists of a mainland territory, Río Muni, which is bordered by Cameroon to the north and Gabon to the east and south, and five small islands, Bioko, Corisco, Annobón, Elobey Chico (Small Elobey), and Elobey Grande (Great Elobey). Bioko, the site of the capital, Malabo, lies about 40 kilometers (25 mi) off the coast of Cameroon. Annobón Island is about 350 kilometers (220 mi) west-south-west of Cape Lopez in Gabon. Corisco and the two Elobey islands are in Corisco Bay, on the border of Río Muni and Gabon.

Equatorial Guinea, formerly known as Spanish Guinea. Stamps for the island of Fernando Po were first issued in 1868 by the Spanish colonial authorities in the capital Santa Isabel. Stamps inscribed "Guinea Continental Española" were issued for the continental enclave of Río Muni from 1902 to 1909. The colony consisting of the islands of Elobey Grande, Elobey Chico, Annobón and Corisco in the Gulf of Guinea issued its own postage stamps between 1903 and 1910. Stamps inscribed "Territorios Españoles del Golfo de Guinea" (Spanish Territories of the Gulf of Guinea) and later "Guinea Española" (Spanish Guinea) were issued from 1909 to 1959 for Spanish territories in the Guinea region, replacing those of individual colonies. From 30 July 1959 to 11 October 1968, Fernando Poo and Rio Muni were treated as overseas provinces of Spain until they combined to form Equatorial Guinea on 12 October 1968 .

Fernando Poo and Río Muni originally used postage stamps of Spanish Guinea until 1960 when the Spanish govt. decreed the use of separate issues for Río Muni and Fernando Po. The first definitive series for Fernando Poo as a province were issued on 25 February 1960. The first stamps of Rio Muni were issued on 27 April 1960. The first definitive series consisted of nine values, 25 c to 10 p, all with the same design showing a missionary and a native boy reading, and inscribed "RIO MUNI". Issues from 1961 on added the inscription "ESPAÑA"; typically, two to three issues per year, consisting of two to four stamps each, and usually depicting local plants and animals. Another definitive series appeared in 1964, also with nine values. The last issue of Río Muni was a set of three signs of the zodiac issued on 25 April 1968.

Equatorial Guinea became an independent republic on 12 October 1968 and its first stamps as such were issued on that date. For some time after independence many colourful topical stamps were issued, they were more to attract overseas stamp collectors than for domestic use. From 1979 all stamps are designed and printed by the Spanish FNMT, since then a very moderated and decent stamp issuing policy is adopted.

 

 

Equatorial Guinea is one of the most rare country for philatelists, especially cover collectors. The main reason is there is no properly working postal system , especially in mainland. My friend Marcus visited there last year , he took my pre-prepared airmail envelopes to the post office in Bata, unfortunately the post office staff said, no international mails are receiving ! Then he handed over my envelopes to a local contact and instructed to send back once the postal system resume normal. 

Marcus again visited Bata in 2017 February, but the postal system was still in the same situation. Then he again paid money for postage and requested for postmarking the envelopes, they did. he took back all those covers and posted to me when he visited India. He said the postal system is working only in capital city Malabo. On the last cover , the stamps he bought from Bata post office and affixed. Postage rate is 2000 FCFA, that is the R rate, but there is no R label affixed. even though the postmark is poor and not clear, it is big asset into my collection. The covers postmarked on February 09, 2017 and I received in my hands on march 13, 2017. In the same year my another contact Lisa visited Malabo, she sent the envelope as registered.