Biafra And Forgotten Rebellions

Thinking back to the 1960s, this area was one of those regional experiments that failed. It was big in the news at that time and for several years and I do know that several stamp issues were made, ostensibly to raise money for the cause.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biafra

I don't think these achieved any recognized status - certainly not in Scotts - but perhaps they did in Stanley Gibbons or Michel.

Another area with a similar story was Katanga Province but I don't have a set from there to illustrate.

How many other areas with ambitions to independence can be shown? They would, in themselves, make an interesting Topical Collection of mainly Cinderella issues.

Backroads, Gibbons does indeed list your first set, as SG 17-21, and prices it used (CTO) at £13.50 this year. Gibbons mentions the overprinted set in a footnote, but says 'There is no evidence that these surcharges were used for postage within Biafra. (Price for set of 5 £2 mint).'

Here is a (I think) commercial cover from Katanga:

Have a small but growing collection of stamps from Biafra, Katanga and South Kasai - a great little "rebellion" collecting interest from Africa