title: Postage stamps and postal history of Guinea-Bissau
text: # Postage stamps and postal history of Guinea-Bissau
  
  This is a survey of the postage stamps and postal history of Guinea-Bissau, formerly known as Portuguese Guinea.
  
  Guinea-Bissau is located in West Africa. It is bordered by Senegal to the north, and Guinea to the south and east, with the Atlantic Ocean to its west.
  
  ## Portuguese Guinea
  
  Stamps of Cape Verde were used in what is now Guinea-Bissau from 1877. The first stamps of Portuguese Guinea were issued 1881, overprinting stamps of Cape Verde. The first series of definitives was issued in 1886.
  
  In 1913, the Vasco da Gama commemorative series of Macau, Timor and Portuguese Africa were surcharged in new currency for Portuguese Guinea. The Ceres series was issued in Portuguese Guinea from 1914.
  
  ## Independence
  
  The first stamps of independent Guinea-Bissau were issued in 1974.
  
  