Burundi Mint Stamps - Burundi Used Stamps - Burundi Newest Stamps
Burundi was established as an independent state in 1962. In October 1993 widespread ethnic violence between Hutu and Tutsi factions erupted after a presidential assassination. Ten years later an international power sharing agreement was established that led to a transition government. A cease fire negotiated by South Africa between Hutu and Tutsi began in September 2006 but still faces many challenges.
The first independent Burundi stamps were the overprints on Rwanda issued in 1962. The overprint stamps are listed in Scott with varieties but are undervalued. In the 1960’s Burundi designs were entrusted to a philatelic expert in New York who issued a series of attractive Beatles stamps, animal stamps, Olympic stamps and other topical issues. He arranged for imperforates to be printed that were actually valid for postage and listed by Michel Catalog.
Innovative 1970 designs for Copernicus, animals and Olympics led to increased interest in Burundi stamps.
The emergence of an early World Wildlife Fund issue overprint in 1983 led to Africa’s most expensive stamps Scott #589A-601A Scott listed at $1000.00.