Some unusual postmarks on a few recently found stamps suggest an interesting history; while the stamps are postmarked with the name “Repulique Populaire du Benin,” a close examination of the heavy stroke of black ink reveals the original country of issue: “Republique du Dahomey.” The values of each stamp are changed too – one is increased (100 to 200F) and the other is decreased (150 to 80F).

Why the change in name? A quick bit of research clarifies the discrepancy, which is in fact rather benign: the Republic of Dahomey changed its name to Benin in 1975. It seems that these stamps were simply modified so that they could be used alongside newer issues which reflected the change of name.

One stamp (at right) commemorates the 1972 Olympics, which took place in Munich. Dahomey/Benin didn’t win a single medal that year. The other stamp (above) features the poet Walt Whitman, though I’m not sure about his connection to Dahomey.