Northern Rhodesia was a British protectorate in south central Africa, originally created in 1911 from the combination of the North West Rhodesia and North East Rhodesia areas of Rhodesia by the British South Africa Company. It was administered by the British government after 1923, eventually becoming independent as the nation of Zambia on 24 October 1964.

The name came from Cecil Rhodes, the British empire-builder who was the most important figure in European expansion into southern Africa. Rhodes pushed British influence into the region by obtaining mineral rights from local chiefs under questionable circumstances.

Northern Rhodesia joined the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland when it was created in 1953, but when the Federation dissolved at the end of 1963, Northern Rhodesia reverted to its former status until achieving independence later in 1964.

In 1935 Lusaka replaced Livingstone as the capital.

Postage stamps

The British government issued postage stamps for Northern Rhodesia beginning on 1 April 1925, using a design featuring a giraffe and elephant and the usual profile of King George V, and inscribed "NORTHERN RHODESIA". The same design was used in 1938 but with a profile of George VI, and again in 1953 when Elizabeth II became Queen.

Northern Rhodesia resumed issuing its own stamps on 1 December 1963, with a definitive series all featuring the same design, the colony's coat of arms and a three-quarter portrait of the Queen. These were superseded by issues by Zambia in the following year.

Nearly all of the stamps of Northern Rhodesia are inexpensively available, with the exception of the 7s6d and 20s of 1925, which are now worth about US $100.