Fortieth Anniversary of Djibouti City - 5 franc

This large-format horizontal commemorative issue celebrates the urban development and strategic growth of the territory, displaying an expansive aerial panorama titled "Djibouti 1938". The central architectural vignette records the grid-patterned coastal layout of the capital city, mapping out its commercial quarters, administrative buildings, and deep-water port installations projecting directly into the Gulf of Tadjoura. This central landscape is flanked symmetrically by two traditional nomadic warriors holding lances and shields, while the lower margins incorporate localized scripts including Amharic and Arabic typography alongside the official commemorative header. Historically, this stamp documents the fortieth anniversary of Djibouti's designation as the official capital of the colony, broadcasting the settlement's rapid transformation from an isolated sand spit into a vital international coaling station, transshipment hub, and major gateway to the Horn of Africa.