Stamp Set Appraisal

Mauritania Postage Stamp Set: Rider on Camel

This item is a strip of six vintage postage stamps from Mauritania, featuring a consistent design of a person riding a dromedary camel. Each stamp is rectangular with perforated edges, indicative of standard postage stamp design. The dominant impression for each stamp is a central vignette of a rider, likely a Tuareg or similar North African figure, with dark skin and distinct facial features, adorned in traditional robes, seated atop a single-humped camel. The background for the rider and camel appears to depict a barren, sandy landscape, characteristic of a desert environment. Above the central image, the word "MAURITANIE" is prominently displayed, along with a stylized 'R' in a circle to the upper right corner, and possibly a symbol resembling an encircled 'A' or similar emblem to the upper left. The denomination of each stamp is located at the bottom right corner, with values of "2c", "3c", "4c", "5c", "10c", and "15c" visible. The word "POSTES" is printed along the bottom edge, indicating their function as postal stamps. Each stamp features a different primary color for the camel and rider, ranging from a grayish-black (2c), blue (3c), reddish-brown (4c), orange-brown (5c), dark brown (10c), to a reddish-purple (15c), creating a visually appealing gradient across the set. The perforations appear consistent across all stamps, suggesting they were part of a continuous sheet. The condition seems generally good, with clear printing and no apparent significant tears or creases, although minor signs of age or handling might be present upon closer inspection, such as slight toning or minor wear on the perforations. The stamps likely date from the period when Mauritania was under French colonial influence, given the French denomination 'c' for centimes and the term 'POSTES'. The craftsmanship appears to be of standard philatelic quality for its era, with intricate details in the engraving of the camel and rider.