FRANCE - Maury French African Colonies 2010/11

Published by Maury. 985pp. Colour. French

Inc booklets, parcel post, telegraphs, postage dues, postal rates, stamps on cover, imperforate issues, precancels, telephone stamps, airmails

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Philatelic Exporter review, courtesy of David Rennie (June 2010):

This is the first edition of this title produced by Maury after the union of Dallay and Ceres, and as the title indicates deals with all those former French Colonies in Africa.; It is in full colour throughout with detailed and specialised listings including varieties, booklets and panes, Millesimes, and postmark information as well as historical and geographical notes.

It is a substantial paperback of some 986pp, and a real bargain at this price, when compared with the other title in the series dealing with the principalities and polar lands (reviewed in February 2010 Exporter) which only had a "mere" 670pp for the same price.

The original Dallay numbers are used, with the Ceres numbers shown in brackets alongside in red.; In addition to the usual unmounted-mint, mint and used prices, many earlier items are priced as singles correctly used on covers.; Varieties of all types are well illustrated when necessary.

There is much postmark information, with the French General Colonies issues being priced for each colony for the various early postmarks and cancellations in use. To aid the postal historian, there are numerous tables of both internal, external and UPU;; Postage Rates.; There are useful area maps, which also show the main post office towns.; The Morocco local issues are included.; There are consolidated priced summaries of the various common designs or omnibus issues.

Of necessity to accommodate the huge amount of information, the font size is often too small for comfort, and the country individual introductory notes and histories are italicised which makes for tedious reading. Nevertheless, recommended; even if you can't read French.