Which Country?

Indeed,
whilst I cannot be certain, I do recall, perhaps a "60 minutes"
program, focussing on an Australian nurse, who is married to
a western desert tribesman, looking after people on the east of the berm.
It is/was an extremely harsh and challenging area, I recall it was
nearing the end of the program when I realised it was the area
dealt with on our stamps.

Another program dealing with the area from the BBC

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/c.../3466917.stm

Here is a map that shows Western Sahara is divided between Morocco & Polisario.

http://www.newint.org/issue374/pics...-map-big.jpg

Now the big question: Is there a postal service east of the "berm" and if so, what stamps are used?

Great question!
consulting my Stuart Rossiter "Stamp Atlas"
(second reprint 1990)

We see Spanish Sahara (Rio de Oro) stamps used until 1975
31st december.

The Algerian backed rio de oro guerillas declared
the "Saharan Arab People's Republic"
with the pertinent observation:

"Existing Postal arrangements are not known"

I guess the answer lies with whom lives where,
as can be seen by this article perhaps there is disillusionment
Some limited mail would flow through Algeria (Algerian stamps)
for those in the Southern refugee Camps, others who
have moved to Morocco, would use theirs.
(just a thought)
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/...ri-polisario

From worldstatemen.org

Morocco retains de facto control, however the SADR is currently recognized by 46 countries and the African Union ([to 2002 Organization of African Unity] 1982): Algeria (1976), Angola (1976), Antigua and Barbuda (1987), Barbados (1988), Belize (1986), Bolivia (1982), Burundi (1976-2006, 2008), Cuba (1980), East Timor (2002), Ecuador (1983-2004, 2006), Ethiopia (1979), Grenada (1979), Guinea-Bissau (1976-97, 2000), Guyana (1979), Haiti (2006), Iran (1980), Jamaica (1979), Laos (1979), Lesotho (1979), Mali (1984), Mauritania (1984), Mauritius (1982), Mexico (1979), Mozambique (1976), Namibia (1990), Nicaragua (1979-2000, 2007), Nigeria (1984), North Korea (1976), Panama (1978), Papua New Guinea (1981), Rwanda (1976), St. Kitts and Nevis (1987), St. Vincent and the Grenadines (2002), Sierra Leone (1980-2002, 2003), South Africa (2004), Suriname (1982), Syria (1980), Tanzania (1978), Trinidad and Tobago (1986), Uganda (1979), Uruguay (2005), Vanuatu (1980-2000, 2008), Venezuela (1982), Vietnam (1979), Zambia (1979), Zimbabwe (1980);
--- former diplomatic recognitions: Afghanistan (1979-2002), Albania (1987-2004), Benin (1976-97), Botswana (1980-2005), Burkina Faso (1984-96), Cambodia (1979-2006), Cape Verde (1979-2007), Chad (1980-97, 2006), Colombia (1985-2000), Congo (Brazzaville)(1978-96), Costa Rica (1980-2000), Dominica (1979-200.), Dominican Republic (1986-2002), El Salvador (1989-97), Equatorial Guinea (1978-80), Ghana (1979-2001), Guatemala (1986-98), Honduras (1989-2000), India (1985-2000), Kenya (2005-2006), Kiribati (1981-2000), Liberia (1985-97), Libya (1980-1999), Madagascar (1976-2005), Malawi (1994-2001, 2008), Nauru (1981-2000), Paraguay (2000), Peru (1984-96), São Tomé and Príncipe (1978-96), Seychelles (1977-2008), St. Lucia (1979-89), Solomon Islands (1981-89), South Yemen (1977-90), Swaziland (1980-97), Togo (1976-97), Tuvalu (1981-2000), Yugoslavia ([from 2003 Serbia and Montenegro] 1984-2004).

Cheers,
I am getting a snap lesson in detente,
further reading and perhaps understanding
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o..._recognition

These were given to me years ago. As they fall under this topic, I assume they are essentially cinderellas, although I suppose there are topical collectors of Olympic stamps that may have interest and I do see them occasionally coming up for sale on auction sites.



In any event, these stamps were in the following glassine:



Note they don't even have the "country" right. At least the seller gave them away as a "free gift".

By the way, does anyone know what was meant by the "North American Society of Philatelists"? They don't exist as far as I can find on the internet. I suspect it was just a fancy term used by a mail order house to sell stamps to unsuspecting collectors.

Interesting set as they are all winter competitions, but then again Jamaica had a bobsled team...go figure!

Donna

I'm fond of the RASD stamps - many of them (esp birds) are good designs. And the story of how the inhabitants were betrayed by Spain and Morocco makes me sympathetic to their cause. Also, with so many other countries recognising RASD (thanks, warrehouse!), how can their stamps really be regarded as cinderellas?