Stamp-French-West-Africa-Wildlife-Chimpanzee-1955
Stamp-French-West-Africa-Wildlife-Pangolin-1955

We tend to think of wildlife protection as being a fairly contemporary phenomenon. But here are two early fine stamps, issued May 2, 1955, by French West Africa for the International Wildlife Protection Exhibition in Paris that month.

The 5 fr. blackish-brown stamp featured a chimpanzee and was designed by G. Bétemps. The 8 fr. Brown and blue-green stamp featured a scaly ant-eater (Giant Pangolin, designed and engraved by Cottet. They were both recess printed. Unwatermarked. Perf. 11.