Are Namibian stamps public domain?

It depends on the date. In the archive's reading, Namibian stamps are state works protected for 50 years after the year of publication, so those issued in 1975 or earlier are public domain in 2026. The line moves forward one year each January.

Are South West Africa stamps public domain?

Those issued in 1975 or earlier are, as of 2026, in the archive's reading. The archive applies Namibia's 50-year rule for state works to South West Africa stamps from before independence in 1990, and the South African government tag that Wikimedia Commons says may apply to them also counts 50 years from publication.

When will Namibia's 1990 independence stamps be public domain?

On January 1, 2041, in the archive's reading. Namibian stamps are protected for 50 years from the end of the year of publication, so a stamp issued in 1990 is protected through December 31, 2040.

Namibia

Are Namibia stamps public domain?

Namibian stamps issued in 1975 or earlier are public domain in 2026, in the archive's reading of Wikimedia Commons, which treats stamps as state works protected for 50 years after publication. The line moves forward one year each January. The archive applies the same rule to stamps issued as South West Africa before independence.

Why 1975?

Namibia's copyright act of 1994 (Act 6 of 1994) gives the state copyright in works made by it or under its direction, and protects them for 50 years from the end of the year of first publication. Commons applies that term to stamps.¹ In the archive's reading, a stamp issued in 1975 was protected through December 31, 2025, and became free on January 1, 2026. Commons also asks that a Namibian file be free in the United States before upload, and its note on stamps does not address American status.¹

Postal history and copyright

Germany made the territory a colony in 1884. From 1920 South Africa administered it under a mandate, and Namibia became independent on March 21, 1990.¹ Wikipedia says the last South West Africa set, 15 mineral designs from 1989, came out for Namibia in 1990 with most designs kept and the name changed.² For stamps from before independence, Commons says a South African license tag may apply. That tag covers South African government works published more than 50 years ago, the same length of term.¹³⁴ Commons' stamp note dates independence to June 12, 1968, which does not match the March 21, 1990 date in the same page's background section. The note also says the post office became the company NamPost in 1992, without saying whether that changes the rule for later stamps; the archive applies the 50-year term throughout.¹

References 4

↑ Copyright rules for Namibia. Wikimedia Commons, September 16, 2026. Accessed October 8, 2026.
↑ Postage stamps and postal history of Namibia. Wikipedia, April 20, 2026. Accessed October 8, 2026.
↑ Wikimedia Commons license tag (Namibia). Wikimedia Commons, July 16, 2019. Accessed October 8, 2026.
↑ Copyright rules for South Africa. Wikimedia Commons, December 30, 2025. Accessed October 8, 2026.

Copyright law in Namibia

Namibia’s own stamps follow the rule below. The historical issuers named here are read under the country’s general copyright law. A design answers Likely yes or Likely no only when every term that could apply agrees, and Unclear when they disagree.

Named designer: 50 years after the designer’s death
Anonymous: 50 years from issue
Work of the state: 50 years from issue
Note: Stamps are state works, protected 50 years from issue. A stamp from before independence may fall under South Africa's rules for government work.

Historical issuers read under this law: German South West Africa.

Read from Wikimedia Commons, copyright rules for Namibia, revision 1277368635, checked October 8, 2026

The rule by period

PeriodRule

Any datePublic domain 50 years after the end of the year of issue.In the archive's reading, a stamp becomes free on January 1 of the 51st year after its year of issue, for Namibian and South West African issues alike.

The same rule covers South West Africa.

Namibia stamps and the public domain: questions

Are Namibian stamps public domain?: It depends on the date. In the archive's reading, Namibian stamps are state works protected for 50 years after the year of publication, so those issued in 1975 or earlier are public domain in 2026. The line moves forward one year each January.
Are South West Africa stamps public domain?: Those issued in 1975 or earlier are, as of 2026, in the archive's reading. The archive applies Namibia's 50-year rule for state works to South West Africa stamps from before independence in 1990, and the South African government tag that Wikimedia Commons says may apply to them also counts 50 years from publication.
When will Namibia's 1990 independence stamps be public domain?: On January 1, 2041, in the archive's reading. Namibian stamps are protected for 50 years from the end of the year of publication, so a stamp issued in 1990 is protected through December 31, 2040.