In 1855 a British protectorate was declared for much of the coastal area of Nigeria apart from the region around Lagos. From 1891 a consular postal service was set up, based primarily around Old Calabar in the “Oil Rivers” area, becoming authorised post offices in 1892. The first stamps and postal stationery were issued in 1892. Although overprinting British stamps ceased in 1894 with the change of name of the Protectorate, overprinting continued on postal stationery until 1897, which can therefore appear with either the “OIL RIVERS” or the “NIGER COAST” overprint. The Niger Coast protectorate, along with some other parts of the territories administered by the Niger Company, became the new protectorate of Southern Nigeria on 1 January 1900.
Unoverprinted British stamps were also in frequent use.
Low values
GBOS №
(SG №)
denomination
colour
date of issue
number issued
Control letters
letters
perf
letters
perf
Varieties
(SG №)
denomination
colour
date of issue
number issued
Varieties
GBOS №
(SG №)
denomination
colour
date of issue
number issued
Varieties
References specific to this and related chapters
GBOS GB Overprints Compendium edition 8, Dr John Gledhill (12/4/2020)
Particular thanks go to Stanley Gibbons Ltd, for permission to quote their catalogue numbers and numerous other contributors who are mentioned in the Appendix section.
All content is copyright, Dr John Gledhill and the GB Overprints Society, May 2025.
