Explore the full postal history of the French Empire, one of the major colonial powers from the 17th to the 20th century. France established a vast global empire, with a significant presence in Asia and Africa, reflected in its extensive colonial postal network. In Asia, French influence culminated in the creation of French Indochina—comprising modern-day Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia—established in the late 1800s and lasting until the mid-20th century. French colonial post offices operated across the region, issuing distinctive stamps that symbolized imperial authority and cultural presence. In Africa, French control extended over large parts of West and North Africa, including Algeria (from 1830), Senegal, Mali, Ivory Coast, and Madagascar. Stamps were printed by the French national printing office and featured both metropolitan and colonial themes.