RWANDA – Illegal Issues of Postage Stamps

Dear Sir/Madam

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

"We would ask you to draw to the attention of all member countries of our Union, and all our philatelic partners within the World Association for the Development of Philately, the urgent need to take all possible steps to bring an end to the campaign of denigration and debasement to which not only our country but, as we have observed, numerous other countries are being subjected, in the form of the production and dissemination of illegal postage stamps. Such stamps are an offence to our country, to philately and to the Union as a whole.

"Our administration has learned of the existence on the philatelic market of numerous series of miniature sheets of postage stamps with various designs, bearing the inscription "RWANDA". We wish to state that these postage stamps are illegal and have been issued without our knowledge. Their circulation has already done serious moral and economic harm to the Rwandan postal services, and continues to do so.

"Following initial inquiries, we now have proof that a certain company registered in Belgium distributed the stamps in question. Legal action has already been initiated to trace the forgers and bring them to justice. Our efforts to trace the printers are continuing.

"The most outrageous aspect for our country and our administration is the fact that certain miniature sheets illustrate pornographic scenes. This is all the more reprehensible in as much as it is prohibited to use the Post to convey pornographic materials. All these illegal stamps have been issued in contravention of the Universal Postal Convention (especially articles 6 and 25), its Letter Post Regulations and the legislation of the Republic of Rwanda.

"The stamps have no postal prepayment value, and nor do they have any value for philatelists collecting our country's stamps. The existence of such postage stamps has discredited our postal service in the eyes of philatelists the world over.

"Consequently, we would ask all postal administrations not to accept mail items bearing these illegal stamps, should they appear on correspondence reaching them from Rwanda. Such items should be returned to us.

"We would also ask for extra vigilance on the part of all postal administrations, which are requested to pass on to us, and to the International Bureau, any information they may have regarding the distribution of such postage stamps within their country. Administrations are also asked to inform all their philatelic partners.

Yours faithfully,

K.J.S. McKEOWN
Director of Communication and Postal Markets

NB.– The values shown on the postage stamps that make up the miniature sheets described below are high in comparison with the basic postage rates in use in Rwanda. The high rates indicated are designed to deceive purchasers. Furthermore, the currency of Rwanda is the FRW, not the F as indicated.

1 & 2 Two miniature sheets comprising nine postage stamps illustrating various pornographic and erotic scenes. The values are in vertical columns of 100F, 200F and 300F.

3 One miniature sheet comprising nine postage stamps illustrating various models of double-decker buses. The values are in vertical columns of 100F, 200F and 300F.

4 One miniature sheet comprising six postage stamps illustrating various varieties of roses. The values are in vertical columns of 100F, 200F and 300F.

5 A miniature sheet comprising nine postage stamps illustrating various models of hot air balloons (including a dragon, a dinosaur, an elephant, a house and faces). The values are in vertical columns of 100F, 200F and 300F.

6 One miniature sheet comprising nine postage stamps illustrating various cars (old models). At the bottom of each postage stamp, there are lively crowd scenes. The values are in vertical columns of 100F, 200F and 300F.

7 One miniature sheet comprising nine postage stamps illustrating different views of a motorcycle in action during a race. The values are in vertical columns of 100F, 200F and 300F.

8 One miniature sheet comprising nine postage stamps illustrating trains (various models and views). These stamps are dated 1999 in the top left-hand corner. The values are in the top right-hand corner, in a horizontal sequence: 100F, 150F, 200F, 250F, 300F, 350F, 400F, 450F and 500F.

9 One miniature sheet comprising nine postage stamps commemorating the "Millennium" (at the top of the miniature sheet) and "Leaders of XI – XIXth Century" (at the bottom of the sheet). Each postage stamp illustrates a monarch or head of state from the 11th to 19th centuries. Each postage stamp identifies, on the left-hand side, in English text running vertically, the name of the historical figure and the century in question. The values are in vertical columns of 100F, 200F and 300F.

10 One miniature sheet comprising nine postage stamps commemorating the "Millennium" (at the top of the miniature sheet) and "Architecture of XI – XIXth Century" (at the bottom of the sheet), illustrating monuments and buildings from the 11th to 19th centuries. (Each postage stamp identifies, on the left-hand side, in English text running vertically, the name of the monument or building and the century in question). The values are in vertical columns of 100F, 200F and 300F.

11 One miniature sheet comprising nine postage stamps commemorating the "Millennium" (at the top of the miniature sheet) and "Art of XI – XIXth Century" (at the bottom of the sheet), illustrating various works of art from the 11th to 19th centuries. (Each postage stamp identifies, on the left-hand side, in English text running vertically, the name of the work of art and the century in question). The values are in vertical columns of 100F, 200F and 300F.

12 One miniature sheet comprising nine postage stamps commemorating the "Millennium" (at the top of the miniature sheet) and "famous people of XI – XIXth Century" (at the bottom of the sheet), illustrating various figures from the 11th to 19th centuries. (Each postage stamp identifies, on the left-hand side, in English text running vertically, the name of the event or historical figure and the century in question). The values are in vertical columns of 100F, 200F and 300F.

13 One miniature sheet comprising nine postage stamps commemorating the "Millennium" (at the top of the miniature sheet) and with the inscription "Music stars of XXth Century" (at the bottom of the sheet), illustrating various famous singers of the 20th century. The singer or group is identified in English, either with an inscription in English in the top left-hand corner, running vertically or horizontally, or with the reproduction of a poster or a record sleeve. The values are in vertical columns of 100F, 200F and 300F.

14 One miniature sheet comprising nine postage stamps commemorating the "Millennium" (at the top of the miniature sheet) and with the inscription "Movie stars of XXth Century" (at the bottom of the sheet); dated 1999 in the bottom left-hand corner, with the inscription "Senior" on the right. Various figures from American and French films (dead and alive) are illustrated with photographs. Each star is identified in English with an inscription in the top left-hand corner, running vertically. The values are in vertical columns of 100F, 200F and 300F.

15 One miniature sheet comprising nine postage stamps commemorating the "Millennium" (at the top of the miniature sheet) and with the inscription "Movie stars of XXth Century" (at the bottom of the sheet); dated 1999 in the bottom left-hand corner, with the inscription "Medium" on the right. Various figures from American films are illustrated with photographs. Each star is identified in English with an inscription in the top left-hand corner, running vertically. The values are in vertical columns of 100F, 200F and 300F.

16 One miniature sheet comprising nine postage stamps commemorating the "Millennium" (at the top of the miniature sheet) and with the inscription "Movie stars of XXth Century" (at the bottom of the sheet); dated 1999 in the bottom left-hand corner, with the inscription "Junior" on the right. Various figures from American films are illustrated with photographs. Each star is identified in English with an inscription in the top left-hand corner, running vertically. The values are in vertical columns of 100F, 200F and 300F.

17 One miniature sheet comprising nine postage stamps commemorating the "Millennium" (at the top of the miniature sheet) and with the inscription "Music stars of XXth Century" (at the bottom of the sheet); dated 1999 in the bottom left-hand corner, with the inscription "Medium" on the right. Various American singers are illustrated with photographs. Each star is identified in English with an inscription in the top left-hand corner, running vertically. The values are in vertical columns of 100F, 200F and 300F.

18 One miniature sheet comprising nine postage stamps commemorating the "Millennium" (at the top of the miniature sheet) and with the inscription "Music stars of XXth Century" (at the bottom of the sheet); dated 1999 in the bottom left-hand corner, with the inscription "Junior" on the right. Various American singers are illustrated with photographs. Each star is identified in English with an inscription in the top left-hand corner, running vertically. The values are in vertical columns of 100F, 200F and 300F.

19 One miniature sheet comprising nine postage stamps commemorating the "Millennium" (at the top of the miniature sheet) and with the inscription "Engines of XXth Century" (at the bottom of the sheet); dated 1999 in the bottom left-hand corner. Various means of transport are depicted in photographs. The particular vehicles are identified in English with an inscription in the top left-hand corner, running vertically. The values are in vertical columns of 100F, 200F and 300F.

20 One miniature sheet comprising nine postage stamps each featuring different positions in chess (at the bottom centre of the sheet); dated 1999 in the top left-hand corner. The values are in vertical columns of 100F, 200F and 300F. Note that a particular motif is reproduced on the upper and lower margins of each vertical column of postage stamps.

20a The same sheet as in 20, but with each postage stamp overprinted with a crown and an inscription in Russian.

21 One miniature sheet comprising six postage stamps illustrating various varieties of fungi. The values are in the top right-hand corner, in a horizontal sequence: 100F, 150F, 200F, 250F, 300F and 400F. Note that a particular motif is reproduced on the right and left margins of each horizontal row of postage stamps.

22 One miniature sheet comprising six postage stamps illustrating various breeds of cat. The values are in the top right- or left-hand corner, in a horizontal sequence: 100F, 200F, 300F, 400F, 500F and 600F. Note that a particular motif is reproduced on the right and left margins of each horizontal row of postage stamps.

23 One miniature sheet comprising nine postage stamps each illustrating a different butterfly. In the top left-hand corner, there is the Latin name of the butterfly, and in the bottom right-hand corner the year 1999. The values are in vertical columns of 100F, 200F and 300F.

Dear Sir/Madam

The postal administration of RWANDA asks me to inform you that an issue of postage stamps entitled "papillons" (butterflies) was illegally issued in 1999 in the name of Rwanda.

The postal administration of Rwanda specifies that only the "Mémoire du génocide rwandais" (Remembrance of the Rwandan Genocide) set was issued in 1999 and asks me to inform UPU member countries that all other stamps issued in 1999 are illegal and cannot be accepted as a means of postal prepayment.

Yours faithfully,

M S RAMAN
Assistant Director-General

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