Obock Overprinted for Djibouti

This stamp is a primary example of the transitional postal period between 1893 and 1894. Originally issued as a 5-centime green stamp from the "Commerce and Navigation" series for Obock, it was later struck with a bold, black "DJ" overprint. This modification was a provisional measure to authorize its use in the burgeoning port of Djibouti before dedicated stamps for that territory were available. It serves as a physical record of the shifting administrative focus in the Horn of Africa as the French colonial capital moved from the territory of Obock to Djibouti.