NIGER - Illegal Issues of Postage Stamps

Dear Sir/Madam

The postal administration of NIGER asks me to inform you of the following:

"I enclose a list of stamps issued without the authorization of Niger Post by a French company.

"I wish to inform you that my administration brought an action. about the fraudulent activities of this individual before the Regional Court of Niamey which, at a hearing on 19 October 1999, imposed a six-month suspended prison sentence and a fine on the manager.

"Another action is being brought before the Paris courts, to be heard on 4 July 2000 in the 31st Chambre correctionnelle."

Yours faithfully,

E M GHARBI
Assistant Director-General

Annex 1

List of postage stamp issues purporting to be from the Republic of Niger and offered on the philatelic market by a French firm.

These issues are neither authorized nor approved by the postal administration of the Republic of Niger, and as such are not valid for postage.

1 Great painters, with "PHILEXFRANCE" Logo
1 Eugène Delacroix miniature sheet with 9 stamps at 425 F
1 Eugène Delacroix block with 1 stamp at 2000 F
1 Toulouse Lautrec miniature sheet with 9 stamps at 250 F
1 Paul Gauguin miniature sheet with 9 stamps at 300 F
1 Renoir miniature sheet with 9 stamps at 375 F
1 Van Gogh miniature sheet with 9 stamps at 500 F
1 Van Gogh block with 2 stamps at 2000 F
1 Matisse miniature sheet with 9 stamps at 400 F
1 French Actors and Actresses miniature sheet with 9 stamps at 675 F

II. PAPAL VISIT TO AFRICA

1 miniature sheet with 9 stamps at 500 F
1 block with 2 stamps at 1500 F

Ill. EVENTS OF THE 20th CENTURY

1 miniature sheet (1900-1909) with 9 stamps at 225 F
1 miniature sheet (1910-1919) with 9 stamps at 225 F
1 miniature sheet (1920-1929) with 9 stamps at 225 F

V. PRINCESS DIANA WITH NEW OVERPRINTS: FAMOUS PEOPLE RED CROSS -AIDS, ETC

1 miniature sheet with 9 stamps at 180 F
1 miniature sheet with 9 stamps at 180 F
1 block with 1 stamp at 2000 F
1 block with 1 stamp at 1500 F + 250 F (surcharge)
1 block with 1 stamp at 4000 F
1 block with 1 stamp at 4000 F

V. CHESS

1 block with I stamp at 725 F

VI. FRANK SINATRA

1 block with 1stamp at 2000 F

VII. MARRIAGE OF PRINCE EDWARD TO SOPHIE RHYS-JONES

1 block with 1 stamp at 2000 F

VIII. SPACE HISTORY

1 Halley's Comet block with 1 stamp at 2000 F
1 John Glenn block with 1 stamp at 3000 F

IX. J.F. KENNEDY

1 miniature sheet with 9 stamps at 500 F

X. STAR WARS

1 miniature sheet with 9 stamps at 375 F
1 block with 1 stamp at 2000 F

Annex 2

'I have learned that during November 1999, issues of postage stamps purporting to be from the Republic of Niger were circulated on the international philatelic market by the a French company.

I would advise readers that these issues were not approved by the postal administration of Niger and their sale could involve distributors' civil and criminal liability.'

These issues are as follows:

Events of the 20th century (1930 to 1939) 9 values at 375 F
Events of the 20th century (1940 to 1949) 9 values at 375 F
Events of the 20th century (1950 to 1959) 9 values at 375 F
Various cats 9 values: 10-20-30-40-50-100-200-300-500 F
Prehistoric animals 9 values: 10-20-30-40-50-100-200-300-500 F
Pandas 9 values: 10-20-30-40-50-100-200-300-500 F
Butterflies 6 values-10-30-50-100-300-500 F
Kennedy Space Center 9 values: 10-20-30-40-50-100-200-300-500 F Boats with NATO logo 4 values at 425 F
Boats with UPU logo 4 values at 875 F
Marilyn Monroe 9 values at 275 F
Marilyn Monroe on a bicycle 1 value at 2000 F
Cartoons 6 values: 10-30-50-100-300-500 F
Various dogs with scout movement logo 9 values at 100 F

For information:

New pirated postage stamps purporting to be from the Republic of Niger:

PINOCCHIO 9 values at 200 F
AMERICAN ACTORS 9 values at 400 F
EAGLES 9 values: 100-150-250-350-400-450-200-300-500 F
BUTTERFLIES 9 values: 100-150-250-350-400-450-200-300-500 F
MUSHROOMS 9 values: 100-150-250-350-400-450-200-300-500 F
TORTOISES 8 values overprinted CHINA 99 World Philatelic Exhibition
EVENTS OF THE 20th CENTURY (1960-1969) 9 values at 500 F
EVENTS OF THE 20th CENTURY (1970-1979) 9 values at 500 F
EVENTS OF THE 20th CENTURY (1980-1989) 9 values at 500 F

More information about the illegal issues can be obtained directly from the UPU, Mrs. Maria Libera.