Benin officially the Republic of Benin, is a country in West Africa.
It is bordered by Togo to the west, by Nigeria to the east and by Burkina Faso and Niger to the north. A majority of the population live on its small southern coastline on the Bight of Benin.
The capital of Benin is Porto-Novo, but the seat of government is in Cotonou, the country's largest city. Benin covers an area of approximately 110,000 square kilometers (42,000 sq mi), with a population of approximately 9.05 million.
Benin is a tropical, sub-Saharan nation, highly dependent on agriculture, with substantial employment and income arising from subsistence farming.
The official language of Benin is French, however, indigenous languages such as Fon and Yoruba are commonly spoken. The largest religious group in Benin is Roman Catholicism, followed closely by Islam, Vodun and Protestantism. Benin is a member of the United Nations, the African Union, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone, La Francophonie, the Community of Sahel-Saharan States, the African Petroleum Producers Association and the Niger Basin Authority.
From the 17th to the 19th century, modern day Benin was ruled by the Kingdom of Dahomey. This region was referred to as the Slave Coast from as early as the 17th century due to the large number of slaves shipped to the New World during the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. After slavery was abolished, France took over the country and renamed it French Dahomey. In 1960, Dahomey gained full independence from France, bringing in a democratic government for the next 12 years.
A Marxist-Leninist dictatorship called the People's Republic of Benin existed between 1972 and 1990. This regime led to repression and the collapse of the economy. The Republic of Benin was formed in 1991 which brought in multiparty elections.
It is bordered by Togo to the west, by Nigeria to the east and by Burkina Faso and Niger to the north. A majority of the population live on its small southern coastline on the Bight of Benin.
The capital of Benin is Porto-Novo, but the seat of government is in Cotonou, the country's largest city. Benin covers an area of approximately 110,000 square kilometers (42,000 sq mi), with a population of approximately 9.05 million.
Benin is a tropical, sub-Saharan nation, highly dependent on agriculture, with substantial employment and income arising from subsistence farming.
From the 17th to the 19th century, modern day Benin was ruled by the Kingdom of Dahomey. This region was referred to as the Slave Coast from as early as the 17th century due to the large number of slaves shipped to the New World during the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. After slavery was abolished, France took over the country and renamed it French Dahomey. In 1960, Dahomey gained full independence from France, bringing in a democratic government for the next 12 years.
A Marxist-Leninist dictatorship called the People's Republic of Benin existed between 1972 and 1990. This regime led to repression and the collapse of the economy. The Republic of Benin was formed in 1991 which brought in multiparty elections.
| 1978.01 | 05.10.1978 | Domestic poultry | 4v set |
| 60f | 9 | Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris |
| 1978.02 | 01.11.1978 | Philexafrique |
| 100f | 14 | Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator | |
| 100f | 14 | African Pygmy Goose Nettapus auritus | Dahomey 1966.01 |
| 1979.01 | 08.06.1979 | Philexafrique |
| 15f | 145 | Fiery-breasted Bushshrike Malaconotus cruentus |
| 1982.01 | 01.09.1982 | Birds |
| 5f | 92 | Laughing Kookaburra Dacelo novaeguineae | |
| 10f | 213 | Bluethroat Luscinia svecica | |
| 15f | 183 | Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica | |
| 20f | 92 | Woodland Kingfisher Halcyon senegalensis | |
| and | 219 | Village Weaver Ploceus cucullatus | |
| 30f | 190 | Eurasian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus | |
| 60f | Not identified Not identified | ||
| 80f | 78 | Spotted Eagle-Owl Bubo africanus | |
| 100f | 72 | Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Cacatua galerita |
| 1985.01 | 17.10.1985 | Audubon |
| 150f | 67 | Parasitic Jaeger Stercorarius parasiticus | |
| 300f | 54 | Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus |
| 1986.01 | Surcharge |
| 75f | 145 | Fiery-breasted Bushshrike Malaconotus cruentus | Dahomey 1966.01 |
| 75f | 90 | Broad-billed Roller Eurystomus glaucurus | Dahomey 1967.01 |
| 90f | 76 | African Emerald Cuckoo Chrysococcyx cupreus | Dahomey 1967.01 |
| 1986.02 | Surcharge on Dahomey 1966.01 |
| 150f | 210 | Emerald Starling Lamprotornis iris |
| 1987.01 | 28.04.1987 | Surcharge on Dahomey 1966.01 |
| 50f | 210 | Emerald Starling Lamprotornis iris |
| 1989.01 | 30.01.1989 | WWF |
| 10f | 66 | Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii | |
| 15f | 66 | Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii | |
| 50f | 66 | Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii | |
| 125f | 66 | Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii |
| 1993.01 | 24.05.1993 | Possotome artesian well |
| 125f | 90 | Blue-throated Roller Eurystomus gularis |
| 1994.01 | Surcharge on Dahomey 1966.01 |
| 135f | 14 | African Pygmy Goose Nettapus auritus |
| 1994.02 | Surcharge on Dahomey 1966.01 |
| 200f | 145 | Fiery-breasted Bushshrike Malaconotus cruentus |
| 1995.01 | Surcharge on Dahomey 1966.01 |
| 200f | 210 | Emerald Starling Lamprotornis iris |
| 1995.02 | 28.08.1995 | Birds and their young |
| 40f | 226 | Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes | |
| 50f | 70 | Spotted Dove Spilopelia chinensis | |
| 75f | 38 | Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus | |
| 100f | 227 | Blackburnian Warbler Setophaga fusca | |
| 135f | 66 | Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus | |
| 200f | 29 | Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus |
| 1996.01 | 10.09.1996 | Birds |
| 40f | 108 | Ivory-billed Woodpecker Campephilus principalis | |
| 50f | 167 | Grey-necked Rockfowl Picathartes oreas | |
| 75f | 71 | Kakapo Strigops habroptila | |
| 100f | 73 | Puerto Rican Amazon Amazona vittata | |
| 135f | 25 | Crested Ibis Nipponia nippon | |
| 200f | 34 | California Condor Gymnogyps californianus |
| 1996.02 | 10.09.1996 | Birds |
| 1000f | 165 | Blue Bird-of-paradise Paradisaea rudolphi | MS |
| 1997.01 | 30.07.1997 | Song birds |
| 135f | 226 | Eurasian Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula | |
| 150f | 226 | Eurasian Siskin Carduelis spinus | |
| 200f | 212 | Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus | |
| 270f | 177 | European Crested Tit Lophophanes cristatus | |
| 300f | 162 | Spotted Nutcracker Nucifraga caryocatactes | |
| 400f | 213 | Common Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos |
| 1997.02 | 30.07.1997 | Song birds |
| 1000f | 224 | Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava | MS |
| 1997.03 | Overprint Republique du Benin |
| 15f | 145 | Fiery-breasted Bushshrike Malaconotus cruentus | 1979.01 |
| 100f | 14 | Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator | 1978.02 |
| 100f | 14 | African Pygmy Goose Nettapus auritus | 1978.02 |
| 1999.01 | 30.01.1999 | Birds |
| 135f | 220 | Gouldian Finch Erythrura gouldiae | |
| 150f | 232 | Saffron Finch Sicalis flaveola | |
| 200f | 219 | Red-billed Quelea Quelea quelea | |
| 270f | 219 | Yellow-crowned Bishop Euplectes afer | |
| 300f | 231 | Red-crested Cardinal Paroaria coronata | |
| 400f | 231 | Golden-breasted Bunting Emberiza flaviventris |
| 1999.02 | 30.01.1999 | Birds |
| 1000f | 220 | Green Twinspot Mandingoa nitidula | MS |
| 1999.03 | 07.12.1999 | Birds |
| 135f | 220 | Locust Finch Paludipasser locustella | |
| 150f | 220 | Swee Waxbill Coccopygia melanotis | |
| 200f | 220 | Green-winged Pytilia Pytilia melba | |
| 270f | 220 | Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu Uraeginthus bengalus | |
| 300f | 219 | Southern Red Bishop Euplectes orix | |
| 400f | 219 | Village Weaver Ploceus cucullatus |
| 1999.04 | 07.12.1999 | Birds |
| 1000f | 221 | Long-tailed Paradise Whydah Vidua paradisaea | MS |
| 2000.01 | Surcharge |
| 135f | 226 | Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes | 1995.02 |
| 150f | 38 | Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus | 1995.02 |
| 150f | 71 | Kakapo Strigops habroptila | 1996.01 |
| 150f | 177 | European Crested Tit Lophophanes cristatus | 1997.01 |
| 150f | 219 | Yellow-crowned Bishop Euplectes afer | 1999.01 |
| 2005.01 | Surcharge |
| 175f | 177 | European Crested Tit Lophophanes cristatus | 1997.01 |
| 175f | 219 | Yellow-crowned Bishop Euplectes afer | 1999.01 |
| 2007.01 | Surcharge |
| 250f | 76 | African Emerald Cuckoo Chrysococcyx cupreus | Dahomey 1967.01 |
| 500f | 90 | Broad-billed Roller Eurystomus glaucurus | Dahomey 1967.01 |
| 2008.01 | Surcharge |
| 200f | 145 | Fiery-breasted Bushshrike Malaconotus cruentus | Dahomey 1966.01 |
Philately has been considered as an "auxiliary science of history" because it is based on the general principles of other sciences, which in turn contribute to enrich it. It acquires knowledge of the sciences, of the arts, of languages and opens an immense road of social relations through all countries. This science broadens broad horizons of culture, discovers artistic temperaments and offers the interest of the new and the unknown, while performing a positive therapeutic wor.
