Martinique is part of the Lesser Antilles island group of the Caribbean and was discovered by Columbus in June 1502 but not colonised until the French founded a settlement in 1635. The island lies directly north of Saint Lucia, northwest of Barbados and south of Dominica. Before 1886 Martinique used the French general stamp issues and later, provisional stamps were created by surcharging French denominated stamps and the word ‘MARTINIQUE’ or an abbreviated form, ‘MQE’. The widely recognised French ‘Tablet’ colonial design was introduced in November 1892 with the inscription ‘MARTINIQUE’.
However, it was not until December 1908 that the first distinctive Martinique stamps were issued, featuring three designs. The low values (1c, 2c, 4c, 5c, 10c, 15c, 20c) featured a Martinique woman, middle denominations (25c, 30c, 35c, 40c, 45c, 50c, 75c) featured a scene overlooking the capital, Fort de France, and the franc denominations (1f, 2f, 5f) featured a woman carrying a basket of sugar cane on her head. Each stamp is typographed in two colours and is surrounded by a border also incorporating the ‘MARTINIQUE’ inscription as well as the denomination and the words ‘REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE’ or ‘RF’. The definitive series remained in use until 1933.
In 1915, the 10c denominated stamp was surcharged with a ‘5c’ overprint accompanied by a red cross in aid of the Red Cross during World War I. During the 1920s numerous provisional surcharges were applied and in 1922 the series was refreshed with colour changes and new denominations as postal rates rose.
The series was eventually superseded by an equally distinctive issue in January 1933, again featuring three designs – a native village at Basse Point, Government House in Fort de France and two Martinique women in local head-dresses.
Today, Martinique remains an integral part of the French Republic and an Outermost Region (OMR) of the European Union. Indeed, its currency is the Euro and the population speak predominantly French and/or a French-based creole.
To view postal issues of Martinique, please visit the M&S Philately HipStamp store.
Matthews & Son Philately 