STAMP ISSUES RELATED TO ICAO (1978-1983)

Comoros : 30^th anniversary of ICAO

and 75^th Anniversary of first engine-powered flight of Wright Brothers

Issue date: 31/07/1978
The following shows the sequence of over-printings from the two original stamps, which were overprinted twice.
		Comoran stamps issued on 18 July 1976 for the first anniversary of the Archipel des Comores independence. Friday Mosque in Moroni, state flag, Comoros Islands map, and government buildings in Moroni.
		Above stamps were first overprinted on 24 July 1978 with three horizontal lines defacing the country name ETAT COMORIEN and replacing it with the four-line text République / Fédérale / et Islamique / des Comores, when the country changed name.
		Some of the above stamps were also surcharged on 24 July 1978: 1. Surcharge of 40 F on 30 F (left stamp); 2. Surcharge of 100 F on 50 F (right stamp).
		Above stamps were then overprinted on 31 July 1978 with the ICAO logo (for the 30^th anniversary of the Organization). The stamps retained their denomination.
		Same stamps as above with the selvage showing sideways the imprint with the Wright Flyer I aircraft, corresponding to one of the subjects of this issue, i.e., the 75^th anniversary of the triumph of the Wright Brothers, who made the first successful flight of a manned heavier-than-air vehicle on 17 December 1903.
Registered First Day Cover postmarked on 24 July 1978 (date of the second overprint) when the country changed name to République / Fédérale / et Islamique / des Comores. Note that this cover shows four stamps released at the same time: two overprinted, and two overprinted and surcharged. Registered First Day Cover (front and back) postmarked on 31 July 1978 (date of the last overprint with the ICAO logo and the selvage showing sideways the imprint with the Wright Flyer I aircraft), The back of the cover shows the two stamps overprinted on 24 July 1978 (one with a surcharge) with three horizontal lines defacing the country name. Very rare postal history cover.
Background: Due to the serious budgetary situation in Comoros during the years of this issue, the postal authorities of that country overprinted many prior issues to commemorate special events. Some history of the Comoros Islands is reflected in this issue. The Comoro Islands comprise an archipelago of four main volcanic islands (Grand Comore, Anjouan, Moheli and Mayotte) off the coast of Africa east of Mozambique and northwest of Madagascar. The Omanis, British and Portuguese had enjoyed a strong presence in the islands through agreements with native rulers; in 1946, after World War II, the Comoro Islands became an overseas territory of France. Agreement was reached with France in 1973 for Comoros to become independent in 1978. On 6 July 1975, however, the Comorian Parliament passed a resolution declaring unilateral independence and became a republic under the name of État Comorien and later (beginning of 1978) République des Comores. Unstable Comoros has endured many coups or attempted coups since gaining independence. The government changed in May 1978 and restored Islam as the state religion, while acknowledging the rights of those who did not observe the Muslim faith. The new constitution was approved on 1 October 1978, creating the République Fédérale Islamique des Comores. However, the stamps were overprinted with République / Fédérale / et Islamique / des Comores and surcharged (40 Fr. and 100 Fr.) on 24 July 1978, and later overprinted again (between 25 July and 7 August 1978) to commemorate special events, such as the 75^th anniversary of the Wright brothers’ triumph. Of interest to this story is that the temporary country name used on stamps in July 1978 did not correspond to the name approved on 1 October of that year (i.e. République Fédérale Islamique des Comores).