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GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
By John Moody
We join John Moody as he showcases the philatelic legacy of
another country that no longer exists. This month he explores
the stamp history of the large area of South East Asia previously
known as Indo-China.
The Indo-China area lies east of the
Indian sub-continent and south of
mainland China, and is bordered
by the Indian Ocean to the west
and the Pacific Ocean to the east,
encompassing the Bay of Bengal and
the South China Sea. Today the area
includes the independent countries of
Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand,
Vietnam and the peninsular portion
of Malaysia. The title ‘Indo-Chine’ was
applied in the early 19th century by
European colonists which linked the
meeting of the cultural influences of
both Indian and Chinese civilisations.
The French adopted the name later in
the 19th century after their colonisation
of the vast Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam
area, which became a part of the French
Union in 1904.
Indo-China’s stamp issuing history
did not commence until 1889, although
stamps were issued previously in
Cochin-China, Annam and Tongking
but were locals for those areas only.
Indo-China’s stamp issuing commenced
at a rather difficult time for its French
administrators who were suffering from
a shortage of French Colonies general
issues of 5c. stamps which now had to
accommodate distribution in the ‘new’
Indo-China, and as a consequence, the
early issues were sparse, and hence carry
a large catalogue valuation.
The first stamp carrying the ‘Indo-
Chine’ nomenclature was issued on
8 January 1889 (SG 1) and was a French
Colonies general issue known as the
‘Commerce’ type stamp, surcharged
and overprinted. The surcharge was a
large figure ‘5’ in red. The overprint
was ‘Indo-Chine’ in one line, ‘1889’ in
another below it and ‘R-D’ below the
denomination, all in red. The ‘R-D’
related to the surnames of Étienne
Richaud, Governor of the Colony, and
the Director of Posts in Saigon, Demurs.
The overprinting was undertaken in
Saigon and three slightly different styles
of overprint can be found. A further
50
Fig 1 The first stamps which
included the Indo-China name
in the design appeared on a
set of 18 definitives depicting
stamp was issued on 10 January on this native women issued in 1907
occasion surcharged in black (2).
For collectors seeking more
information on the French Colonies
general issues you are advised to consult
Stanley Gibbons French Colonies catalogue.
Parcel post
The next issue was not until 1891 when
a single stamp was allocated for the
specific use on parcels, a somewhat
intuitive move by the post office, which Fig 2 In 1912, surcharges were
possibly caught Stanley Gibbons on the applied to previous ‘Grasset’ type
hop at the time and they catalogued definitives. A single denomination
in red or blue ink was applied.
them as SG P4 and P5. The stamp
Two styles exist, with either
used for this issue was again a French narrow or wide spacing
Colonies general issue, the ‘Commerce’
type, which was overprinted in red
at Hanoi ‘Indo-Chine, Timbre, Colis
Postaux’ in three horizontal lines. A
further printing was released, also in
1891, this time handstamped in Hanoi
with the same overprint in a slightly
different typeface. In 1898 a single
parcel post stamp was issued, also
overprinted in red but abbreviated to
just ‘Colis Postaux’ (P20). A similar issue Fig 3 An example of a 5c. on 10c.
was released in 1899 (P21) but without Red Cross surcharged stamp
the ‘Indo-Chine’ nomenclature and
another in 1902 with a similar overprint
(P22). These were the last Indo-Chinese
specific parcel post stamps. stamps were printed on toned or tinted
paper except for the lowest value (1c.)
New definitives which was printed on white paper
Between 1892 and 1896 a substantial (30/46).
set of 14 definitives issued on ‘X A major change in the design of
Tablet’ type French Colonies general the stamps took place between July
issues appeared. The ‘Indo-Chine’ and October 1907 when a set of 18
nomenclature was printed in red on the definitives was issued featuring designs
majority of the stamps and in blue on which were more specific to Indo-China
some of the others (6/19). Several of the than the French Colonial general issues.
stamps were reissued between December The designs are catalogued as ‘Native
1900 and 1901 (23/27) with the colours women’ and include portraits of Muong,
changed but with the inscriptions still Tonkinese, Cambodian, Laotion and
in red or blue and two more were Annamite ladies (51/68). The stamps
surcharged in 1903 (28/29). were typo printed in the National
A further set of 17 was issued between Printing Office (Imprimerie Nationale)
March 1904 and 1906, on this occasion in Paris and were the first to include
overprinted on ‘Grasset’ type French the nomenclature in the design of the
Colonies general issue stamps. The stamps (Fig 1).
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In November 1912 some of the
previous ‘Grasset’ type definitives were
surcharged. The surcharges comprise
a single denomination in either red
or blue. There are also two types of
surcharge, narrow spacing (69A/74A)
and wide spacing (69B/74B) (Fig 2).
First commemoratives
The Hanoi Post Office issued a single
stamp in November 1914 surcharged in
aid of the Red Cross. The stamp used for
the surcharging was the 10c. value from
the previous definitive set. The surcharge
was in red featuring a red cross at the top
left of the stamp and the 5c. surcharge at
the bottom right (75) (Fig 3).
The Red Cross was also honoured in
1915 with a single stamp similar to the
previous also surcharged with a similar
red surcharge applied in Paris, but with
the red cross and denomination closer
together and both at the top left of the
stamp (77) (Fig 4). Two further stamps
were issued in 1917 in exactly the same
format (76 and 78).
Change of currency
In 1918 the country changed its
currency from centimes and francs to
cents and piastres and as a consequence
between November 1918 and March
1919 two of the previous Red Cross
stamps were surcharged with the new
currencies hence, ‘4 cents on 5 centimes
+ 5 centimes’ for example (79/81).
A further surcharged issue came out
in November 1918 in aid of the War
Orphan’s Fund. The surcharge was
applied to French stamps which were
sold at double face value (82/87).
The stamps were also overprinted
‘Indochine’, all in one word.
The 1907 ‘Native women’ definitives
were reprinted and surcharged with the
new currency in January 1919; a set of 18
stamps (88/105) (Fig 5). A further set,
21 stamps, was issued between April 1922
and June 1923, not surcharged but with
the current denominations (115/135).
There were no further postage stamps
issued until 1927 when a completely
new set of 24 definitives was released on
26 September by the Imperial Printing
Office in Paris. The stamps share six
different designs: Ox ploughman and
the Tower of Confucius, the Bay of
Along, the ruins of Angkor, a wood
carver, the Thuat-Luong temple and the
founding of Saigon (136/159) (Fig 6).
No postage stamps were issued in
1928–1930, the next set issued was on
13 April 1931; three commemoratives
surcharged in aid of the International
Colonial Exposition held in Paris.
The stamps were the same as used in
other French Colonies but inscribed
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Fig 4 Another Red Cross
surcharged stamp Fig 5 In January 1919 a
appeared in 1915, but this set of 18 1907 ‘Native
time the red cross and women’ definitives
denomination were placed were surcharged with
closer together at top left the new currency
Fig 6 A completely new
set of 24 definitives in
six designs was issued
on 26 September 1927
Fig 7 A set of three commemoratives was
issued in 1931 surcharged in aid of the
International Colonial Exposition in Paris
Fig 8 A set of 34 stamps was issued on 16 November 1931. The
stamps shared four designs: Chinese junk, statues from the
Bayon Temple in Angkor, rice fields and Apsara, a dancing nymph
‘Indochine’. Each stamp has a different
design which includes, women of five
races, ‘France the Civiliser’ and French
Colonial commerce (160/162) (Fig
7). The exposition opened on 6 May
1931 in the Bois de Vincennes on the
eastern outskirts of Paris. The show was
Fig 9 An illustration of a Farman F.190
an enormous attraction and it is believed aircraft was used on a set of airmail
that between seven and nine million stamps issued from 1 June 1933
people attended. Twenty-six French
territories attended the exposition,
as well as many other countries from four of the stamps were printed by the
around the world. The United Kingdom collaborative Petain Government in
was absent, having declined the Vichy France, the 30c., 50c., 1p. and 2p.,
invitation, but it accepted a small booth the ‘RF’ nomenclature was omitted from
in the information area! the stamps. The stamps were not sold in
Another set of definitives was issued Indo-China.
on 16 November 1931 with additions On 1 June 1933 a set of airmails was
until 1941 (163/196) (Fig 8). This set issued which eventually resulted in
of a massive 34 stamps shared four a 22-stamp set with additions added
different designs, a Chinese junk, statues until 1949. All the stamps share the
from the Bayon Temple in Angkor, same design of a Farman F.190 aircraft
rice fields and Apsara, a dancing (197/218) (Fig 9). Like the 1931
nymph. The majority of the stamps are definitive set, several of the stamps were
perforated 13½ ×13 but the five high issued by the Petain Government, again
values are perforated 13½. A interesting minus the ‘RF’, but again not sold in
note attached to this set is that in 1943 Indo-China.
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As previously outlined, the country was
composed of different states united under
the one title. In 1936, two of these states
were acknowledged with stamps issued
in honour of their native royalty. On 20
November 1936 the tenth anniversary of
the accession of Emperor Bảo Ðại (known
as the ‘Keeper of Greatness’) to the crown
of Annam, he was also de jure monarch
of Tonkin, was honoured with a set of 11
stamps all of the same design featuring a
portrait of the Emperor (219/229) (Fig
10). The stamps were for use in Annam.
A similar set was also issued on the same
day to honour King Sisowath Monivong of
Cambodia who came to the throne in 1927
(230/240) (Fig 11). These stamps were for
use in Cambodia.
The Exposition Internationale
des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie
Moderne (International Exposition of Art
and Technology in Modern Life – a brave
new world perhaps?) was held from 25 May
to 25 November 1937 in Paris. The event
was promoted on 15 April with the issue of
six stamps and a miniature sheet all with
different designs, including commerce,
sailing ships, women of three races,
agriculture, France extending the Torch of
Civilisation and Diane de Poitiers (Fig 12).
On this occasion Great Britain attended
with a special pavilion which was described
as a ‘large box’. One of its talking points
was a large photograph of Prime Minister
Neville Chamberlain whilst fishing!
(241/246) . A total of 31 million people
attended the exhibition (Fig 13).
The 35th anniversary of the Trans-Indo-
China Railway was celebrated on 8 June
1938 with a set of four stamps (247/250).
All the stamps carry the same design
which shows President Doumer, railway
workers and a steam locomotive. One of
the stamps has the added inscription ‘Poste
Aerienne’ (Fig 14).
On 24 October 1938 a single French
Colonial stamp was issued surcharged in aid
of the International Anti-Cancer Fund (251)
(Fig 15).
1939 was in effect the last year of direct
French administration in Indo-China.
The first set of the year was on 10 May
with two stamps again part of Colonial
French omnibus, to celebrate the New York
World’s Fair (252/253).
The San Francisco International
Exhibition was honoured on 12 June with
a set of four stamps all of the same design
featuring the Mount Cot Pagoda in Hanoi
(254/257) (Fig 16).
The last issue was on 5 July, another
French colonial omnibus with five postage
stamps and an airmail stamp (258/263)
celebrating the 150th anniversary of the
French Revolution, all the stamps featuring
the same design of the storming of the
Bastille (Fig 17).
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Fig 10 The tenth Fig 11 Stamps were
anniversary of the also issued on the
accession of Emperor 20 November 1936
Bao Ðai was marked honouring King
with a set of 11 Sisowath Monivong
stamps, all of the of Cambodia
same design, issued
on 20 November 1936
Fig 12 Six stamps, all
of different designs,
were issued on
15 April 1937 to
promote the arts and
technology exposition
held in Paris that year
Fig 13 A postcard from
the 1937 exposition. A
total of 31 million people
attended the event
(Reduced)
Fig 14 A set of four stamps of Fig 15 The 1938 Colonial
the same design was issued to French omnibus issue
commemorate the 35th anniversary of surcharged in aid of the
the Trans-Indo-China Railway in 1938 International Anti-Cancer Fund
Japanese occupation 1940–1945
Following the defeat of France in 1940, Japan forced the French Vichy Government to
allow Japanese bases to be set up in Indo-China, and subsequently in July 1941 Japan
completely occupied Indo-China but strangely allowed the French Vichy administration
in France to continue to issue stamps. All the stamps were printed or surcharged at
the Imprimerie d’Extreme-Orient in Hanoi. The designs were very different from the
previous Colonial French stamps, following a more art-deco style but still carrying the
‘Indo-Chine’ nomenclature.
The first issue under Japanese occupation was on 15 October 1941, a set of three
stamps commemorating the coronation of King Sihanouk of Cambodia, probably as a
reassurance to the people that the Japanese would not interfere with native traditions.
The stamps were litho printed with no gum and all of the same design featuring a picture
of the King (264/266) (Fig 18). The majority of the Vichy French Japanese occupation
stamps were issued with no gum.
The next year turned out to be a very good year for stamp collectors with seven sets of
stamps. The first, on 29 March 1942, was a set of two commemoratives marking the Fetes
of Nam-Giao, a Vietnamese ceremony held in honour of the earth and sky (267/268).
Like the previous set the stamps were litho printed with no gum. The stamps feature a
processional elephant (Fig 19).
Between March and June a single stamp from the 1931-41 definitive set was surcharged
10c. on the 25c. purple (269) (Fig 20).
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Fig 16 Four stamps
of the same design
featuring the Mount Cot
Pagoda were issued
in 1939 to highlight
the San Francisco
International Exhibition

Fig 17 The 1939 colonial omnibus issue

commemorating the 150th anniversary
of the French Revolution
A complex set of three stamps Fig 18 The first Japanese occupation
issue was a set of three stamps
surcharged in aid of the University Fund
commemorating the coronation of
was issued on 1 June 1942. Again, the King Sihanouk of Cambodia
stamps were litho printed without gum and Fig 19 A set of two
perforated 11½ (270/271) (Fig 21). The commemoratives
of the same design Fig 20 The 25c. purple
stamps all carry the same design of Hanoi
marking the Fetes of from the 1931-41
University and flags. A second printing Nam-Giao was issued definitive set was
was made of SG 270, perf 13½, but 5000 29 March 1942 surcharged 10c. in 1942
were sold without surcharging (270a). To
complicate matters even more, on 10 June
1944, SG 270a was surcharged again on
surcharged stamps but with a slightly
different style of surcharge (272).
On 1 July 1942, with additions to
1944, a set of six definitives was issued Fig 21 The 1942 6c.+2c. Fig 22 A set of six
probably to associate the Japanese charity issue in aid of definitives featuring
occupiers to the Vichy Government in the University Fund the portrait of Philippe
Petain, the leader
France (273/278) (Fig 22). The stamps
of the French Axis
all feature the same design, a portrait of Government, was
Philippe Petain, leader of the French Axis issued 1 July 1942
Government. Another collaborative set
of stamps was issued on 1 August 1942
featuring the Vichy French coat of arms.
The stamps were surcharged in aid of
the National Relief Fund (279/280). A
single stamp from this set was addionally
surcharged on 15 March 1944 (281).
A set of six definitives featuring various
royal heads of occupied states was another
attempt by the Japanese to support the
various states under their administration.
The designs feature Emperor Bao Dai
of Annam, King Sihanouk of Cambodia,
Empress Nam-Phouong of Annam and
King Sisavasng-Vong of Laos. The stamps
were issued from 1 September 1942 to 1943
Fig 23 Six definitives featuring royal heads of the occupied
(282/288) (Fig 23). states were issued from 1 September 1942 to 1943
Surprisingly, during a war, the Japanese
occupied Indo-China held a major
industrial and artistic fair in Saigon during
December 1942, which was honoured by a
single stamp issued on 20 December. The
stamp pictures a large pavilion at the fair
(289) (Fig 24).
All the stamps issued in Indo-China until
the states were returned to French control,
and ultimately to independence, are more Fig 24 A single stamp issued on Fig 25 A set of six stamps was issued between
French influenced than Japanese. The first 20 December marked the 1942 industrial 1943 and 1945 featuring portraits of famous
and artistic fair in Saigon French men with connections to Indo-China
in this series of issues was from 10 June
1943 to 1945 (290/295). The six stamps and lexicographer who had a major impact on Christianity in Vietnam) (Fig 25) and
feature portraits of famous French men Pigneau de Behaine (Appointed Bishop of Adran and Apostolic Vicar of Cochin China on
with connections to Indo-China, Alexandre 24 September 1771).
Yersin (Bacteriogist who worked in Indo- Two surcharged stamps were issued on 1 August 1943 to commemorate the
China and who co-discovered the bacillus 60th anniversary of the birth of Do-Huu-Vi, an early aircraft pilot from Annam who
responsible for the bubonic plague), served in the French Foreign Legion where he entered the military air academy and
Alexandre de Rhodes (A Jesuit missionary graduated as a pilot. He returned to Saigon to study the use of the Lambert hydroplane

GSM September 2023 53

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on the Mekong and Red Rivers, and

on 3 October 1914, he went to join his
comrades in arms in France where he died
on 9 July 1916 at the battle of the Somme
(296/297) (Fig 26). His headstone was
inscribed: ‘Capitaine-aviator Do-Huu/Died
on the Field of Honor/For his fatherland,
Annam/For his country of France.’ Fig 26 Surcharged stamps were issued on 1 August Fig 27 The same set was reissued
On 10 February 1944 the two stamps were 1943 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the with an additional surcharge on
re-issued but on this occasion they were birth of aircraft pilot Do-Huu-Vi 10 February 1944
double surcharged (298/299) (Fig 27).
A set of 12 definitives was issued from
16 August 1943, with additions to 1945, Fig 28 From August 1943 a set of
featuring famous sailors, all of which 12 definitives was issued featuring famous
were French but who did have various French sailors with various connections to
connections to Indo-China and/or Indo-China and/or French colonisation
French colonisation (300/311). A similar
set, 11 stamps, was issued during 1944 Fig 29 The third anniversary of
featuring famous governors, also all French the National Revolution was
(313/323) (Fig 28). marked with a single 6c. stamp
Between the two issues a single stamp issue on 5 November 1943
was released on 5 November 1943 to
celebrate the third anniversary of the
National Revolution, which was the
overthrow of the Third French Republic,
i.e. German occupation of France and
Japan’s occupation of Indo-China.
The design of the stamp shows a statue
representing ‘family, homeland and
labour’ (312) (Fig 29).
The last stamps issued under the
Fig 30 The 10c. value from the Fig 31 The last Japanese occupation
Japanese occupation appeared in 1944. Juvenile Sports issue released issue was a two-stamp ‘Martyr Cities’
The first on 10 July celebrated Juvenile on 10 July 1944 set released on 20 December 1944
Sports, a two-stamp issue figuring an
athlete and a flag (324/325) (Fig 30).
The last was dedicated to ‘Martyr Cities’
surcharged in aid of a fund. There are two
stamps in the set, both of the same design
of Orleans Cathedral (326/327)(Fig 31).

Vichy issues available in

France 1941–44
After the fall of France in 1940, the so-
called Vichy France, the part of France
not actually occupied by the Germans at
the time but nevertheless collaborators,
decided to produce stamps for French
colonies. Four new sets were issued but
because most of the colonies declared
themselves Free French the stamps were
never shipped abroad but were available
in France. Stanley Gibbons catalogue these
stamps with ‘V’ numbers, and only price
them mint as probably the stamps were
never used.
The first set for Indo-China was issued
in 1941, a set of three surcharged in aid of
Empire Defence. The designs feature native
soldiers (V1/3) (Fig 32). A set of two was
also issued during 1942 featuring President
Petain, leader of the Vichy French, and
native cattle and a herder (V4/5).
Two more sets were issued in 1942, one
surcharged in aid of Child Protection,
three stamps with designs of families
(V6/8) (Fig 33). The other was a single
stamp surcharged in aid of Imperial
Fig 32 The 1941 issue produced by the Vichy French
government surcharged in aid of Empire Defence
Fortnight featuring a man and map Fig 33 One of the three
(V9) (Fig 34). 1942 Vichy stamps
As mentioned previously, several of the surcharged in aid of
the 1931 definitives and 1933 Airmails were Child Protection
reissued by the Petain Government minus
the ‘RF’ in the design and sold in France
(V10/29).
The last set was issued in 1944 when the
1941 Petain set was surcharged in aid of Fig 34 The 1942
the Red Cross and overprinted with new Vichy ‘Imperial
values (V30/31). Fortnight’ issue
The aftermath
On 9 March 1945 the Japanese declared
that rule by the Vichy colonial authorities
was at an end. As a consequence Vietnam,
Cambodia and Laos ultimately achieved
their own independence within the next
few years.

54 GSM September 2023