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As part of anti-slavery activities, French established posts on the Gabon estuary and founded Libreville as a settlement for freed slaves. The explorations of Brazza extended the territory. A governor was appointed in 1886. Gabon was absorbed into French Congo between 11 December 1888 and 1 July 1904 and became part of French Equatorial Africa (see below) after 1910. Gabon became autonomous in 1958 and independent within the French Community in 1960.

Earliest office set up at Libreville in 1862 routed mail via the British PO at Fernando Po.

Used French Colonies General Issues from c. 1862 (oblit. GAB in lozenge of dots applied at Libreville). Used stamps of French Congo (see below) from 1891-1904.

Used stamps of French Equatorial Africa (see below) 1936-59.

One of the more stable of the former French African Colonies. Multi-party elections were held in the autumn of 1990 and were won by the ruling Parti Democratique Gabonais (PDG) amid allegations of fraud. The PDG formed a coalition government and the presidential election of 1993 was won by the leader of the PDG. There was some rioting in Libreville in 1994, but these were peacefully resolved amd the recent 1996 elections confirmed the PDG in power.