British East Africa Forces Stamps
British East Africa Forces stamps were issued for military personnel operating across the British East Africa Protectorate and surrounding territories in Eastern Africa during the First World War. These provisional issues served military units stationed in regions that would later become Kenya, Uganda, and Tanganyika.
- Issued stamps
- 1943–1943
- Region
- Africa, East Africa
- Currency
- GBP
- Languages
- English
- Issuer type
- military
- Part of
- Great Britain
History and background
The stamps primarily bear English inscriptions, reflecting their British colonial administrative origin, and often feature overprints or specific military designations. Their issuance marks a distinct, temporary phase of postal administration necessitated by wartime logistical requirements across the East African theater.
Further reading: Wikipedia
Inscriptions to look for
Words printed on the stamp that point to this issuer. Search any of them in the issuer directory.
- B.E.A.F.
How to identify them
- Look for the 'B.E.A.F.' overprint (British East Africa Forces) on stamps originally issued for Kenya, Uganda, Tanganyika.
- Examine the base stamp for King George VI portraits or other designs typical of British colonial issues of the period.
Popular series
-
King George VI Provisional Issues
1943
Stamps of Kenya, Uganda, Tanganyika overprinted 'B.E.A.F.' for use by military personnel.
-
Overprinted K.U.T. Issues
1943
Standard definitive stamps of Kenya, Uganda, Tanganyika surcharged or overprinted for military postal service.
Value overview
Typical ranges as orientation, not prices for a particular stamp. Condition, variety and demand decide the value of your copy; for current asking prices, check listings or the app.
- Common stamps
- £5–£50
- Scarce stamps
- £100–£500+
Values vary significantly based on the specific overprint, condition, and whether they are on cover. Rarer denominations and errors command higher prices.
Catalogs. British East Africa Forces stamps are listed in the major world catalogs: Scott, Michel and Stanley Gibbons. Catalog numbers and groupings differ between them; the Stamp Identifier app shows the numbers it can find for your stamp.
Questions about British East Africa Forces stamps
British East Africa Forces stamps were provisional issues used by military personnel in the British East Africa Protectorate and surrounding territories during World War II, specifically in 1943. They are typically stamps of Kenya, Uganda, Tanganyika overprinted with 'B.E.A.F.'.
The value of British East Africa Forces stamps can range from a few pounds for common examples to several hundred pounds for rarer denominations, specific overprint varieties, or stamps on original covers. Condition plays a significant role in their value.
You can identify British East Africa Forces stamps by looking for the distinctive 'B.E.A.F.' overprint on stamps that are otherwise identifiable as issues from Kenya, Uganda, and Tanganyika. The Stamp Identifier app can suggest the issue from a photo; confirm the catalog number, and ask an expert about anything valuable.
British East Africa Forces stamps are listed in major philatelic catalogs such as Stanley Gibbons (often under British East Africa or Kenya, Uganda, Tanganyika with military issues), Scott, and Michel, usually within sections dedicated to military or provisional issues.
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