A concise postal history of French Annam protectorate and Tongking protectorate, former territories of colonial French Indochina, that were located in present-day Vietnam. Dates 1888 - 1892 Stamp issues Overview The protectorate government over Annam and Tonkin issued only a single series of stamps. On 21 January 1888 the protectorates overprinted "A & T" or "A – T" (an abbreviation for the French protectorates of Annam and Tonkin) on nine different French colonial commerce type stamps. These overprints included a surcharge of either 1 centime or 5 centimes. The surcharges that were added to these postage stamps come in different types with various letters and numerals and a variety of errors are known to exist. By the year 1892 the regular issue postage stamps of French Indochina had replaced the overprint issues of Annam & Tonkin. List Dates 1888 - 1892 Currency 100 centimes = 1 franc Refer Indo-China Territories Geography Tongking, also spelt Tonkin, is the northern part of Vietnam. Annam comprises most of central Vietnam. Capital Hanoi Frontiers Tongking is bounded by China (north); Gulf of Tongking (east); Annam (south); Laos (west). Annam is bounded by Tongking (north); Cochinchina (south); South China Sea (east); Cambodia and Laos (west). Language Vietnamese and French. Religion Mahayana Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism History 1885 Annam & Tongking became French protectorates following war with China. 1887 Included in Indochina with Cambodia and Cochinchina. 1888 (21 January) One issue was released with 9 stamps. These stamps were French Colonial Commerce types overprinted A&T plus a surcharge of either 1 or 5 centimes. 1892 The issue was replaced by stamps of Indochina. 1893 Laos was added to the union. 1949 (14 June) Annam & Tongking became part of the new colony of Vietnam. References Sources Stanley Gibbons Ltd: various catalogues Rossiter, Stuart & John Flower. The Stamp Atlas. London: Macdonald, 1986. Encyclopaedia of Postal History French Indochina Philately of Vietnam