This is my first post on FR.
I collected stamps when I was a kid thanks to my mom giving me a stamp collecting album in 1964. When I read a post on this thread that no one had been able to locate a stamp from Kenya from the years 1963 & 1964 I remembered that album. I also thought I remembered it was given to me around that time and I knew I remembered having stamps on the page for Kenya - odd how we remember little tid bits like that years later. It took me an hour and a half to locate the album which isn’t bad considering it’s been packed, repacked and repositioned through seven moves and residences. Starting point Ohio and now located with me and Canadian husband on an island in Maritime Canada!
To get to the bottom line of the saga, the album was published in 1964 and I did indeed manage to get a hold of some stamps for my Kenyan page. The title of the page may reveal why no one has located a Kenyan stamp from that time period (I have read most of this thread but not all of it so may have missed it if someone has already discovered this).
The page title is:
THE BRITISH COMMONWEALTH OF NATIONS - KENYA AND UGANDA. Underneath the title is “ Colony and protectorate in East Africa. Kenya: 224,960 square miles; Population: 6,500,000 (1959). Uganda: 93,981 square miles; Population: 6,517,000 (1959). Since 1935, postally grouped with the trusteeship territory of Tanganyika.”
The album has squares for mounting stamps, some of which are blank and others have black and white pictures of stamps that the collector should try to obtain. I have 5 stamps on the page and there are, in addition, 13 black and white pictures of stamps I never acquired. All but two of the stamps have a picture of a Brit royal on them and all of them have three geographic names on them: Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyikja.
It appears from my album that the Brits may have been responsible for the issuance of stamps there and they chose to simplify and reduce the cost of that duty by lumping these colony countries together for the purpose of postal stamps. The 5 stamps that I have all have postmarks on them but not one is readable as to date. Pretty safe to say, though, that they are pre-1965 for the obvious reason. There’s also the fact that I was wildly enthusiastic the first year I began collecting and frequently talked my mom into buying packets of stamps issued by other countries from the hobby store and post office so it is likely that I acquired those 5 stamps in 1964.
Hope this info prevents someone from spending time searching for a Kenyan stamp from 1963-1964 as they probably shed no light on whether Kenya referred to itself officially as a republic prior to the date it officially was recognized as one in 1964.
One more thing. I’ve read FR for years because it is populated with the kind of Americans I admire, relate to and miss. I finally opened an account today to post this info despite the fact that there are probably a number of trolls with the same date of entry given the subject matter attracting all the attention.
I already did the stamp search. Queen on stamp until 1963. Then just Kenya with pictures. Some of the stamps with Uganda and some other despot country.
Can you scan them please?
Welcome !
Welcome to FreeRepublic as a poster. You have provided valuable information — mainly because you know the exact dates you acquired your album. I don’t know if you mentioned it, but it is likely that the stamps you acquired in 1964 were older — sitting around in stock somewhere.
I wonder what Stanley Ann, or even Stanley Dunham would think about all this fuss over their comings and goings? They are probably laughing their hearts out. Somehow, I doubt that Madelyn would be amused at all this attention.
I’ve read almost all of this thread, and my head is spinning and eyes are crossed. Thanks for your contribution. Keep posting.
Thank you for the info and welcome to FR :)
Bikk