OPUS 23
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Summary :
OPUS is AEP's flagship yearly publication. This 2023 edition is devoted to the African continent with 19 articles, summaries of which can be seen below.
1) The provisional Gibraltar issue in Spanish currency, used in Morocco, 1889
Richard J.M. Garcia
The author explains the reasons why Gibraltar stamps were used in Morocco in 1889 after being overprinted with Spanish currency. He examines this issue in great detail, including the dates, print runs, overprinted varieties, and how they were used by the different British postal agencies in Morocco. He shows us several letters franked with these stamps and explains the postage rates.
2) Le Maroc et la France : le service postal francais du Maroc
Les agences postales ouvertes entre le 1er février 1893 et le 30 mars 1912
Maurice Hadida
The author traces the history of the development of the French postal service in Morocco from its origins until the proclamation of the French protectorate in Morocco. The article describes the gradual expansion of the French postal agencies network in Morocco and is illustrated by a large number of specially selected letters which are classified according to the opening dates of these agencies. Stamp sales figures per agency enable us to appreciate the relative rarity of the cancellations. The last part of the article is devoted to the military postal service and mixed frankings with local postal services.
3) Autour de septembre 1871 en Algérie
Francis Carcenac
With his usual attention to detail, the author provides us with a comprehensive analysis of the postage rates applied in Algeria from September 1871, after the Franco-Prussian war. Algeria then consisted of three departments and was an integral part of the French territory. It is therefore normal that the postal rates around this period consider Algeria and France as one postal entity. The author shows us a large number of letters, analyses their frankings, and uses them to explain the solutions used to resolve problems related to postage rates.
4) La poste de la Tripolitaine et de la Cyrénaïque l’époque ottomane
Bruno Crevato-Selvaggi RDP & Piero Macrelli
The authors begin by telling us about the history of Tripolitania and Cyrenaica, which came under Ottoman domination in 1835. They then examine how the Ottoman postal service operated in these territories, while describing the post offices and postmarks. They also show us several letters, cards and documents from this period. The last part of the article is devoted to the telegraph service and revenue stamps.
5) From Alexandria to Casalmaggiore, Austrian earlier, Italian later
Lorenzo Carra
The author once again presents us a subject in line with the central theme of this OPUS XXIII: Africa. And, as usual, he highlights the postal connections between a foreign country, Egypt, and Italy in particular with locations in the Po valley where he was born and lives. He shows with significant documents one of the many postal aspects of the Italian Risorgimento, that he has deeply studied and about which he continues to propose us precise and exciting pages.
6) From Tuscany to Alexandria in Egypt with the French Postal Steamers, 1858-1863
Vittorio Morani
The author presents us Alexandria, Egypt, the most frequent African destination for letters from "his Tuscany" and, as usual, he does so by showing us rare and fascinating letters which he explains in great detail.
7) Les cartes postales des gares du chemin de fer du Soudan
Bernard Jutteau
The author describes the early days of railway network construction in French West Africa. By illustrating the route with several beautiful postcards, he takes us on a train journey from Dakar (Senegal) to Koulikoro (Niger).
8) Colonies françaises - Utilisation de la série de 1892 type Groupe avec cartouche "CONGO FRANÇAIS"
Thomas Lindekens
The author describes in detail the use of the Group type stamps with the “CONGO FRANÇAIS” cartouche of 1892. Showing numerous letters, he gives an in-depth analysis of the rates and the different destinations.
9) Précurseurs du Congo : le courrier de l’estuaire du fleuve Congo et de l’amont
Luc Van der Marcken
Until the Angolan post office was established in Banana (between 1875 and 1880), there was no postal activity per se in Congo. The few travellers present entrusted their mail to ships that would call at Banana or Boma. After a series of stations were established between Matadi and Leopoldville by the International African Association, mail was handled by the agents of the latter, using two different routes. The article is illustrated with a large number of letters which are extremely rare and sometimes unique examples from this pioneering era.
10) Congo belge : le 100 F. émis le 23 mai 1942, sur lettres
Charles Bruart
The author shows us some rare letters franked with one or more 100 F. postage stamps of the Belgian Congo, the high value of the 1942 issue. He explains in detail the rates of these frankings.
11) Le courrier de la Belgique vers l’Afrique durant la période de l’émission du Médaillon (18 octobre 1849 - 30 juin 1866)
Yves Vertommen
The author, a specialist in the Belgian “‘Medaillon” issue, shows us some very rare letters franked with these stamps, with destinations in Africa between 1849 and 1866. He explains in detail the franking of these letters sent to Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia and Mauritius.
12) La LARA (Liaison aérienne Roi Albert) en Afrique centrale 1920-1922
Vincent Schouberechts
The author first tells the story of LARA, the first airline carrying mail by seaplane between Léopoldville and Stanleyville in the Belgian Congo between 1920 and 1922. He then shows us some rare examples of letters carried by air in Central Africa at that time.
13) Histoire et Philatélie : Malawi - Zambie - Zimbabwe
Guy Coutant
The author begins by taking a close look at the shared and rather complicated colonial past of these territories, before describing the different routes that they used, which were often very turbulent after gaining independence. The entire article is illustrated with a large number of stamps which closely follow the historical development of these three countries.
14) Les Jésuites au Zambèze
Luís Frazao RDP
After painstakingly researching the archives over a long period, the author traces the presence of the Jesuits on the Zambezi between 1881 and 1910. After an historical and geographical overview, the author shows us a set of extremely rare letters which were sent or received by these Jesuits.
15) Philately and International Mail Order Fraud.
The Success of Professor A. Victor Segno and his American Institute of Mentalism in the European African Colonies
Edward Grabowski
The author tells us about the incredible life story of "Professor" A. Victor Segno. After establishing the American Institute of Mentalism, he offered foolproot solutions to his countless followers and customers all over the world to achieve wealth, success and health. He took advantage of the gullibility of the masses in order to amass a great fortune between 1900 and 1940. The author focuses on the African customers and shows us correspondence including dozens of pieces sent by the many hopeful Africans who sent their problems - and money - to Segno’s company.
16) Early ZAR / Transvaal Covers
Lars Jørgensen
The author presents an extremely detailed study of mail franked between 1870 and 1885 with stamps of the Zuid Afrikaanse Republiek or the Transvaal. The different types of stamps, rates and destinations are documented by several fine letters, some of which are very rare or even unique.
17) Postal History of the Boer War Sieges, 1899-1902
Steven C. Walske RDP
The author tells us about the various sieges that took place during the Boer War between 1899 and 1902. He first describes the historical aspects of each siege before showing us a large number of letters, some of which are extremely rare or even unique, sent or received during these sieges. For each letter, the author provides a detailed description of the relevant postage and route.
18) Les courriers frauduleux de la Nigerian Connection
Arnold Ottonin
The author describes a huge scam set up by Nigerian swindlers, which resulted in a large number of victims in Europe, especially in Switzerland, at the end of the 20th century. He begins by outlining historical aspects before showing us a large number of fake postage stamps from Nigeria, as well as false meter stamps from the franking machines used by these crooks.
19) Les perforations commerciales des anciennes colonies francaises en Afrique noire
Rainer von Scharpen
The author shows us several examples of perfins made by commercial companies in French Equatorial Africa, French West Africa, Madagascar and Reunion Island. These perfin patterns are often extremely rare and the author shows us several examples with information on the companies involved.
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