# Congo, People's Republic

    Once a French colony, the country gained its independence in 1959 and adopted the name Congo Republic. In 1969 the name was changed to People's Republic of Congo. The first meter was installed in 1959. For issues before 1959 see FRENCH EQUATORIAL AFRICA.
    The stamps are grouped according to political status:
       A – Congo Republic, inscribed “REPUBLIQUE DU CONGO”
       B – People's Republic of Congo, inscribed “REPUBLIQUE Plaire DU CONGO” or “REP. POP. DU CONGO”
    NOTE: Meter stamps of the People's Republic of Congo can easily be confused with those of the Democratic Republic of Congo (previously Zaire) which is an entirely separate nation. The People's Republic of Congo is a former French colony, and the Democratic Republic of Congo is a former Belgian colony. Franks that contain “Congo” alone, “Republique Democratique Congo” or “RDC” are from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

## GROUP A: Congo Republic, inscribed “REPUBLIQUE DU CONGO”

A1. Universal “Multi-Value” (MV), 1959. [Scarce]
    Post Office stamp.
    Frank nearly square with straight-line border.
    M# with “U” prefix in small boxes in lower corners. M#s U1-U4 known
    TM: DC
       A. Narrow spacing between TM and frank, 20 mm (U1, U2, U4)
       B. Wide spacing, 63 mm (U2, U3)
    VF: 00 FRS
       a. As B, with “R” for Registration between TM and frank [Very scarce]
       b. Inverted TM [Very scarce]
A2. Hasler “F22” (MV), 1959. [Rare]
    Upright rectangle with straight-line frame.
    Unengraved bar below frank where M# would be.
    TM: SC raised in relation to frank
    VF: 0000 Fr.
A3. Satas “D” (MV), 1960. [Scarce]
    Simulated perforation border. M# with “SD” prefix at bottom.
    TM: SL
    VF: 000F
                                                                      a. Date only, no town name in town line
                                                                      b. "BRAZZAVILLE" misplaced, high in slogan area
A4. Camp “PR” (MV), 1961. [Very scarce]
    Post Office stamp.
    Printed in red-pink on plain white tape.
    M# with “PR” prefix in lower corners. Date with hour figure.
    TM: SC
    VF: 000F
A5. Satas “J” (MV), 1963. [Scarce]
    Date figures tall.
    M# with “SJ” prefix.
    TM: SC
    VF: 00 000
A5.1. Satas “J” (MV).
    As Type A5 but with "REP" instead of "REPUBLIQUE" at top.
    M# with “SJ” prefix.
    TM: SC
    VF: 0000
A6. Havas “M” (MV), 1961. [Very scarce]
    Frank wider than tall.
    TM: SL
                                                                A. M# with “M” prefix
                                                                B. M# with “MG” prefix
    VF: 000
A7. Satas “P” (MV). [Very scarce]
    Tall date figures. Hour figure between TM and frank.
    M# with “SP” prefix.
    TM: SC
    VF: 000
A8. Satas “R” (MV), 1963. [Scarce]
    M# with “SR” prefix.
    TM: SC
    VF: 000
A9. Satas (MV), 2001.
    Post Office stamp.
    Frank is nearly square. M# with “SE” prefix.
    TM: SC
    VF: 00000
A10. Satas (MV), 2002?
    Probably a Post Office stamp.
    Frank is nearly square.
    Without meter number, blank below the value figures.
    TM: SC
    VF: 00000
A11. possibly SECAP (MV), 2013 or earlier.
    Post Office stamp.
    Frank taller than wide.
    With meter number but without prefix.
    Wide date figures without stops.
    TM: SC containing "(RE)P DU CONGO LA POS(TE)" at bottom.
                                              VF: 00000

## GROUP B: People's Republic of Congo, inscribed “REPUBLIQUE PLAIRE DU CONGO” or “REP. POP. DU CONGO”

B1. Havas “M” (MV), 1969. [Scarce]
    Wide frank containing “REPUBLIQUE/ PLAIRE DU CONGO”.
    M# with “M” prefix.
    TM: SL
    VF: 000
B2. Satas “J” (MV). [Scarce]
    With “REP. POP./ DU CONGO”.
    M# with “SJ” prefix. Date figures tall.
    TM: SC
    VF: 000 0000
B3. Satas “R” (MV), 1972. [Scarce]
    With “REPUBLIQUE/ PLAIRE DU CONGO” at top.
    M# with “SR” prefix.
    TM: SC
    VF: 000
B4. Satas “R” (MV), 1973. [Scarce]
    As Type B3 but with “REP. POP./ DU CONGO”.
    M# with “SR” prefix.
    TM: SC
    VF: 000
B5. Satas “SP” (MV), 1971. [Scarce]
    With “REP. POP./ DU CONGO”.
    Date figures tall. Hour figure between TM and frank.
    M# SP 3017 and 3019 seen.
    TM: SC
    VF: 000
B6. Havas “P” (MV). [Scarce]
    With “REPUBLIQUE/ PLAIRE DU CONGO”.
    M# with “P” prefix.
    TM: SC
    VF: 000
                                        a. Inverted TM [Scarce]