Postage stamps and postal history of Annam and Tongking
# Postage stamps and postal history of Annam and Tongking

A concise postal history of French Annam protectorate and Tongking protectorate, former territories of colonial French Indochina, that were located in present-day Vietnam. Dates 1888 - 1892

## Stamp issues

### Overview

The protectorate government over Annam and Tonkin issued only a single series of stamps. On 21 January 1888 the protectorates overprinted "A & T" or "A – T" (an abbreviation for the French protectorates of Annam and Tonkin) on nine different French colonial commerce type stamps. These overprints included a surcharge of either 1 centime or 5 centimes. The surcharges that were added to these postage stamps come in different types with various letters and numerals and a variety of errors are known to exist.

By the year 1892 the regular issue postage stamps of French Indochina had replaced the overprint issues of Annam & Tonkin.

### List

**Dates**


    1888 - 1892

**Currency**


    100 centimes = 1 franc

**Refer**


    Indo-China Territories

## Geography

Tongking, also spelt Tonkin, is the northern part of Vietnam. Annam comprises most of central Vietnam.

### Capital

    Hanoi

### Frontiers

    Tongking is bounded by China (north); Gulf of Tongking (east); Annam (south); Laos (west). Annam is bounded by Tongking (north); Cochinchina (south); South China Sea (east); Cambodia and Laos (west).

### Language

    Vietnamese and French.

### Religion

    Mahayana Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism

## History

### 1885

    Annam & Tongking became French protectorates following war with China.

### 1887

    Included in Indochina with Cambodia and Cochinchina.

### 1888

    (21 January) One issue was released with 9 stamps. These stamps were French Colonial Commerce types overprinted A&T plus a surcharge of either 1 or 5 centimes.

### 1892

    The issue was replaced by stamps of Indochina.

### 1893

    Laos was added to the union.

### 1949

    (14 June) Annam & Tongking became part of the new colony of Vietnam.
