Gabon, officially the Gabonese Republic (French: République Gabonaise), is a country in Central Africa. It borders Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon to the north, the Republic of the Congo to the northeast, east, and south, and the Gulf of Guinea to the west.
It covers an area of 267,667 km², has a population of 2,119,275, and its capital is Libreville. The official language is French.
Ruled by autocratic presidents since independence from France on August 17, 1960, Gabon introduced a multiparty system and a new constitution in the early 1990s, which allowed for a more transparent electoral process and the reform of government institutions.
This system was essentially overturned by Presidents Omar Bongo and Ali Bongo Ondimba until the approval of a new democratic constitution following a coup d'état. Gabon's small population, abundant natural resources, and foreign investment have helped make it one of the most prosperous nations in the region and on the entire African continent.
The first inhabitants of the area were Pygmy tribes, dedicated to hunting and gathering. Around 1,000 years ago, the Bantu migrations began, replacing and partially absorbing the Pygmy populations. Nevertheless, a small percentage of Gabon's current population is still Pygmy. The Bantu who settled in the area gave rise to the Mpongwe ethnic group. The last to settle in the area, in the 19th century, were the Fang, who came from the north.
Before European contact, small tribal communities existed, but tribal art suggests a rich cultural heritage. The first European visitors to Gabon were Portuguese traders who arrived in the 15th century. They named the territory of present-day Gabon with the Portuguese word gabao, a coat with a muff and hood resembling the figure created by the Komo River estuary. The coast became a center of the slave trade. In the 16th century, Dutch, English, and French traders arrived.
Face value | Family number | English name | Scientific name
1960.01
15.12.1960
Overprint XVIIe OLYMPIADE... on French Eq Afr 1953.01
250f
67
African Darter Anhinga rufa
1961.01
30.05.1961
Birds
50f
101
Lyre-tailed Honeyguide Melichneutes robustus
1963.01
07.10.1963
Birds
100f
231
Johanna's Sunbird Cinnyris johannae
200f
93
Blue-headed Bee-eater Merops muelleri
500f
83
Narina Trogon Apaloderma narina
1964.01
23.09.1964
Birds
250f
78
Crowned Eagle Stephanoaetus coronatus
1971.01
12.10.1971
Birds
30f
70
Great Egret Ardea alba
40f
107
Grey Parrot Psittacus erithacus
50f
90
Woodland Kingfisher Halcyon senegalensis
75s
174
Grey-necked Rockfowl Picathartes oreas
100f
22
Guinea Turaco Tauraco persa
1974.01
20.07.1974
Apollo 11
200f
78
Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus
1978.01
01.11.1978
Philexafrique
1971.01
100f
107
Grey Parrot Psittacus erithacus
100f
64
White Stork Ciconia ciconia
1980.01
15.10.1980
Birds
50f
190
African River Martin Pseudochelidon eurystomina
60f
93
Southern Carmine Bee-eater Merops nubicoides
80f
114
African Pitta Pitta angolensis
150f
80
Pel's Fishing Owl Scotopelia peli
1983.01
20.04.1983
Fauna
4v set
125f
73
Pink-backed Pelican Pelecanus rufescens
1983.02
20.04.1983
Fauna
4v sheet
1983.01
125f
73
Pink-backed Pelican Pelecanus rufescens
1984.01
Birds
90f
32
Grey Crowned Crane Balearica regulorum
125f
21
Azure-crowned Hummingbird Saucerottia cyanocephala
150f
98
Keel-billed Toucan Ramphastos sulfuratus
1989.01
17.04.1989
Birds
100f
70
White-crested Tiger Heron Tigriornis leucolopha
175f
107
Grey Parrot Psittacus erithacus
200f
87
Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill Lophoceros camurus
500f
90
Blue-breasted Kingfisher Halcyon malimbica
1989.02
17.04.1989
Birds
Sheet
1989.01
100f
70
White-crested Tiger Heron Tigriornis leucolopha
175f
107
Grey Parrot Psittacus erithacus
200f
87
Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill Lophoceros camurus
500f
90
Blue-breasted Kingfisher Halcyon malimbica
1992.01
04.11.1992
Birds
100f
80
African Wood Owl Strix woodfordii
175f
81
Speckled Mousebird Colius striatus
200f
78
Palm-nut Vulture Gypohierax angolensis
300f
90
Giant Kingfisher Megaceryle maxima
1992.02
04.11.1992
Birds
Sheet
1992.01
100f
80
African Wood Owl Strix woodfordii
175f
81
Speckled Mousebird Colius striatus
200f
78
Palm-nut Vulture Gypohierax angolensis
300f
90
Giant Kingfisher Megaceryle maxima
1995.01
04.09.1995
Prehistoric animals
12v sheet
260f
0
Archaeopteryx Archaeopteryx lithografica
1997.01
16.04.1997
UNESCO 50 years
8v sheet
225f
70
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
1997.02
05.06.1997
Protected animals
3v set
225f
78
Crowned Eagle Stephanoaetus coronatus
1997.03
05.06.1997
Protected animals
3v sheet
1997.02
225f
78
Crowned Eagle Stephanoaetus coronatus
1998.01
Protected animals
3v set
225f
73
Pink-backed Pelican Pelecanus rufescens
1998.02
Protected animals
3v sheet
1998.01
225f
73
Pink-backed Pelican Pelecanus rufescens
2000.01
05.06.2000
Protected animals
3v set
125f
78
African Fish Eagle Icthyophaga vocifer
2000.02
05.06.2000
Protected animals
3v sheet
2000.01
125f
78
African Fish Eagle Icthyophaga vocifer
2000.03
20.12.2000
Prehistoric animals
12v set
100f
0
Archaeopteryx Archaeopteryx lithografica
2000.04
20.12.2000
Prehistoric animals
1500f
0
Archaeopteryx Archaeopteryx lithografica
MS
2004.01
05.06.2004
Biodiversity protection
4v set
225f
93
Rosy Bee-eater Merops malimbicus
260f
80
Red-chested Owlet Glaucidium tephronotum
2004.02
05.06.2004
Biodiversity protection
4v sheet
2004.01
225f
93
Rosy Bee-eater Merops malimbicus
260f
80
Red-chested Owlet Glaucidium tephronotum
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.
