| Uganda Missionaries | |
|---|---|
 A pair of Uganda Missionaries showing a typed-over correction by Millar | |
| Country of production | British Protectorate ofUganda |
| Location of production | Kampala,Kingdom of Buganda |
| Date of production | March 14, 1895 |
| Nature of rarity | Very rare |
| No. in existence | Unknown |
| Face value | 50cowries |
| Estimated value | $3347.60 |
TheUganda Cowries, also known as theUganda Missionaries, were the first adhesivepostage stamps ofUganda. Because there was no printing press in Uganda, the stamps were made on atypewriter by the Rev. E. Millar of theChurch Missionary Society, in March 1895, at the request of C. Wilson, an official of theImperial British East Africa Company. After Millar received a much-needed new ribbon, the color of the typewritten characters changed from black to a violet color. The stamps were valid for postage within theKingdom of Buganda; in adjoining kingdoms and provinces they were used only for communications between officials of the Church Missionary Society.[1]
The values of the stamps varied, but all were denominated incowries (monetaryseashells), at 200 cowries per rupee or 12½ cowries = 1d. The design was simple, showing just the initials of the jurisdiction and a number for the denomination. The paper used was extremely thin. The stamps have beenforged[2] Only a small number of the genuine stamps seem to have survived.[3] Pen initialed, surcharged values exist; of theseRobson Lowe commented, "All are rare. We do not recall selling a copy in over 25 years."[4]
Wilson's embryonic postal system for Uganda commenced operations on March 20, 1895. A single letterbox was set up inKampala, at Wilson's office, offering twice-daily letter service toEntebbe andGayaza for postage of 10 cowries. Other destinations had different rates. For addresses beyond Entebbe or Gayaza the mails were collected less frequently. Letters with European addresses were dispatched once a month, and they arrived at their destinations some three months later.
This postal service of Uganda may have been preceded by a postal service of the Kingdom of Unyoro (Bunyoro), which applied a handstamp inArabic script.[citation needed]
Military Forces[clarification needed] assumed the operation of the mails in June 1896. The Uganda Missionaries were then followed by a typeset issue from a printing press in November 1896, after theBritish Foreign Office had gained control of the government. Arecess printed issue fromDe La Rue & Co. appeared in 1898, featuring a detail fromAngeli's portrait ofQueen Victoria of 1885.[5]