Lourenço Marques Stamps
Lourenço Marques was the colonial capital of the Portuguese territory of Mozambique, located in Southeast Africa. Its postal history is intrinsically linked to the Portuguese colonial administration, with stamps primarily denominated in Portuguese currency and featuring Portuguese language inscriptions.
- Issued stamps
- 1895–1920
- Region
- Africa, Southern Africa
- Currency
- PTE
- Languages
- Portuguese
- Issuer type
- Colonial postal administration
- Part of
- Portugal
About Lourenço Marques stamps
The territory operated under the Portuguese postal system until the Mozambican War of Independence culminated in the country's independence in 1975, after which Lourenço Marques was renamed Maputo and began issuing stamps under the new sovereign government.
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.
- LOURENÇO MARQUES
How to identify Lourenço Marques stamps
- Look for the inscription 'LOURENÇO MARQUES' or 'LOURENÇO MARQUES' overprints on stamps of Portugal or Portuguese Africa.
- Stamps are typically denominated in Portuguese currency (Reis, Centavos, Escudos).
- Designs often feature Portuguese monarchs (Carlos I, Manuel II) or allegorical figures like Ceres.
Popular series
-
King Carlos I Issues
1895-1908
Early issues featuring the portrait of King Carlos I of Portugal, often overprinted for Lourenço Marques.
-
Republic Issues
1910-1915
Stamps issued after the establishment of the Portuguese Republic, often with 'Republica' overprints or new designs.
-
Ceres Issues
1914-1920
The iconic Ceres definitive series, widely used across Portuguese colonies, overprinted for Lourenço Marques.
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
- $0.50–$10
- Scarce stamps
- $50–$500+
Common stamps are readily available and inexpensive. Rarer issues include errors, varieties, high values, and early overprints, especially those in fine condition or on cover. The Ceres issues are generally more common unless they have specific overprint varieties.
Catalogs. Lourenço Marques 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 Lourenço Marques stamps
Lourenço Marques stamps are postage stamps issued for the colonial capital of Portuguese Mozambique, Lourenço Marques (now Maputo), between 1895 and 1920. They were part of the Portuguese colonial postal system.
While many common Lourenço Marques stamps are inexpensive, certain issues can be valuable. These include early overprints, high-denomination stamps, errors, and varieties, especially in mint condition or on period covers. Rare examples can fetch hundreds of dollars.
You can identify Lourenço Marques stamps by looking for the explicit inscription 'LOURENÇO MARQUES' or overprints with this name on stamps originally issued for Portugal or Portuguese Africa. They will also feature Portuguese currency denominations. The Stamp Identifier app can suggest the issue from a photo; confirm the catalog number, and ask an expert about anything valuable.
Lourenço Marques stamps are comprehensively listed in major international stamp catalogs such as Scott, Michel, and Stanley Gibbons, usually found within the sections for Portuguese Colonies or Mozambique.
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