Cameroons was a British Mandate territory in West Africa, now divided between Nigeria and Cameroon. League of Nations mandates were territories established under Article 22 of the Covenant of the League of Nations, 28 June 1919. ... West Africa is the region of western Africa that is generally considered to include the countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte dIvoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo. ...

The area of present-day Cameroon was claimed by Germany as a protectorate during the "Scramble for Africa" at the end of the 19th century. During World War I, it was occupied by British and French troops, and later mandated to each country by the League of Nations in 1922. The French mandate was known as Cameroun and the British territory was administered as two areas, Northern Cameroons and Southern Cameroons. For the rule of Oliver Cromwell, see The Protectorate. ... The Scramble for Africa was the period between the 1880s and the start of World War I, when colonial empires in Africa proliferated more rapidly than anywhere else on the globe. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... Clockwise from top: Trenches in frontline, a British Mark I Tank crossing a trench, the Royal Navy battleship HMS Irresistible sinking after striking a mine at the battle of the Dardanelles, a Vickers machine gun crew with gas masks and a Sopwith Camel biplane. ... Mandate can mean: An obligation handed down by an inter-governmental body; see mandate (international law) The power granted by an electorate; see mandate (politics) A League of Nations mandate To some Christians, an order from God; see mandate (theology) The decision of an appeals court; see mandate (law) The... The League of Nations was an international organization founded after the Paris Peace Conference of 1919. ... 1922 (MCMXXII) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... The Republic of Cameroon is a unitary republic of central Africa. ...

Unused 2d postage stamp of Cameroons

French Cameroun became independent in January 1960, and Nigeria was slated for independence later that same year, which raised question of what to do with the British territory. After some discussion (which had been going on since 1959), a plebiscite was agreed to, and held in February 1961. The Muslim-majority Northern area opted for union with Nigeria, and the Southern favored Cameroon/Cameroun. Scan by User:Stan Shebs of a Cameroons 2d stamp, 600px across This image of a postage stamp may be copyrighted and/or have other restrictions on its reproduction imposed by the issuing authority. ... Scan by User:Stan Shebs of a Cameroons 2d stamp, 600px across This image of a postage stamp may be copyrighted and/or have other restrictions on its reproduction imposed by the issuing authority. ... 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A referendum (plural: referendums or referenda) or plebiscite is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. ... 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... A Muslim (Arabic: مسلم) (sometimes also spelled Moslem) is an adherent of Islam. ...

Northern Cameroons became a region of Nigeria May 31, 1961, while Southern Cameroons became part of Cameroon on October 1. May 31 is the 151st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (152nd in leap years), with 214 days remaining, as the last day of May. ... October 1 is the 274th day of the year (275th in Leap years). ...

In the meantime, the area was administered as a United Nations Trust Territory. United Nations Trust Territories were the successors of the League of Nations mandates and came into being when the League of Nations ceased to exist in 1946. ...

Postage stamps

Threepence stamp used at Kumba, now in Cameroon

The territory had long used postage stamps of Nigeria, but in order to avoid the appearance of bias, the government issued the current Nigerian stamps overprinted with CAMEROONS / U.K.T.T. in red. These went on sale October 1, 1960. Although available in both northern and southern areas, most usage was in the southern area, northerners continuing to use Nigerian stamps. These stamps became invalid in each area when its separate existence ended. Scan by User:Stan Shebs of a Cameroons 3d stamp used at Kumba, 250px across This image of a postage stamp may be copyrighted and/or have other restrictions on its reproduction imposed by the issuing authority. ... Scan by User:Stan Shebs of a Cameroons 3d stamp used at Kumba, 250px across This image of a postage stamp may be copyrighted and/or have other restrictions on its reproduction imposed by the issuing authority. ... Kumba is a city in western Cameroon. ... This 1974 stamp from Japan depicts a Class 8620 steam locomotive. ... An overprint is the addition of text (and sometimes graphics) to the face of a postage stamp after it has been printed. ... October 1 is the 274th day of the year (275th in Leap years). ... 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ...

The stamps are readily available to collectors today, the lowest values all selling at minimum price used or unused, with the 1-pound stamp of the series selling for about five US$.

Shilling stamp used at Mubi, now in Nigeria

(Note that the illustrated shilling value is postmarked August 31, 1961. This is not technically a valid usage, since the Northern Cameroons town of Mubi had become part of Nigeria two months earlier, but the stamp underneath the overprint was still a normal Nigerian stamp, and so either the clerks at the post office didn't notice the overprint, or else they simply let the stamp pass through.) Scan by User:Stan Shebs of a Cameroons 1sh stamp used at Mubi, 250px across This image of a postage stamp may be copyrighted and/or have other restrictions on its reproduction imposed by the issuing authority. ... Scan by User:Stan Shebs of a Cameroons 1sh stamp used at Mubi, 250px across This image of a postage stamp may be copyrighted and/or have other restrictions on its reproduction imposed by the issuing authority. ...

External link

• Discussion of politics of the time