An omnibus issue is an issue of stamps by several countries with a common subject and which may share a uniform design. Omnibus issues have often been made by countries under common political control or groups of colonies due to the close co-operation required to produce the issue. Omnibus issues are to be distinguished from joint issues which are usually much smaller in scope.
Historical Background
In
1898, it was four hundred years since the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama
reached India. Having left from Lisbon in 1497, Vasco da Gama rounded Cape of
Good Hope, explored the east African coast and finally crossed the Indian Ocean
to arrive in India in 1498. The voyage of Vasco da Gama may been seen as one of
the major efforts in establishing the Portuguese colonial empire – the
Portuguese would dominate the trade on the Indian Ocean for the next century.
In
1898, Vasco da Gama was commemorated throughout the Portuguese Empire. The
postal authorities did so by issuing a set of commemoratives.
For
use in the Portuguese possessions in Africa, a set was issued inscribed ‘AFRICA
CORREIO”. The Portuguese possessions in Africa were at the time : Angola, Cape
Verde, Mozambique, Portuguese Congo, Portuguese Guinea and Sao Tome &
Principe.
The FIRST omnibus issue
“Vasco da Gama”
The stamps were also issued in other
Portuguese possessions, as part of an omnibus issue that included Portugal. The six Portuguese colonies were : Macau,
Portuguese India, Timor, Azores, Madeira, Africa & Portugal homeland.
Thus, the issue was a Portuguese version of
what would call an ‘Omnibus Issue’ or in French a ‘Grande Série’.
The omnibus Overprint
“REPUBLICA”
In
1910, the monarchy in Portugal had been ousted and the republic proclaimed. All
over the Portuguese Empire available stamps, including the “Vasco da Gama”,
were overprinted “REPUBLICA”.
The
set was reissued with overprints in almost all countries within the Portuguese
Empire, in two occasions.
The omnibus Overprint “REPUBLICA”
+ “new currency”
In 1912,
the Portugal adopted a new currency – the escudo/centavo. Thus the stamps were overprinted with
“REPUBLICA” and the new face value of the new currency.
Portuguese
Africa, Macau and Timor stamps were also overprinted with “REPUBLICA” and new
currency.
The omnibus Overprint “REPUBLICA”
+ “country name” + “new currency”
In
other Portugal colonies, Portuguese Africa’s, Macau’s and timor’s stamps were
used for the overprint. The overprint
also includes the name of the colony/country.
Congo
-1913
Guinea
- 1913
Mozambique’s
Inhambane – 1913
Mozambique’s
Marques – 1914
Mozambique’s Quelimane – 1914
Mozambique’s
Tete – 1914
Sao
Tome & Principe - 1913
