Stamp Investment Tip: French Morocco 1949 Scenes (Scott #B38-41/CB31-34, B41a/CB34a))

  In 1949, the French issued a compound semi-postal and airmail semi-postal set for French Morocco, picturing scenes of their colony (Scott #B38-41/CB31-34). In addition, they issued two souvenir sheets containing the stamps of each set (Scott #B41a/CB34a). The funds from the non-postal premiums were used to fund projects promoting Franco-Moroccan cooperation. 75,000 of the sets and 15,000 of the souvenir sheets were issued, and Scott '13 prices the sets unused at $17.60  and the sheets at $52.50.

Now an independent kingdom of about 32 million people, Morocco has enjoyed annual GDP growth averaging about 5% over the past 5 years. The services sector, especially tourism, accounts for over half of GDP, and other industries include mining, manufacturing, and agriculture. Since the early 1980s the Moroccan government has pursued an economic program toward accelerating real economic growth,reforming the financial sector and privatizing state enterprises.

Better issues of the French Protectorate period have a potential dual market. Currently they are mainly sought by collectors of French Colonies. I expect that they will rise significantly as the stamp market develops within Morocco itself.

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