Chronology of Postage Stamps

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References are numbered in [brackets], which are listed here. A number after the dot gives the page in the source.

Last updated: 2022 June 28.

1900

January 1
  • Korea joins the Universal Postal Union. [1135]
March 1
  • German Samoa issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
  • Crete issues its own first postage stamps. [707.574] [1135]
March
  • Northern Nigeria issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
April 16
  • US Post Office issues first books of postage stamps. [1]
April 17
  • British Post Office switches the half-pence Jubilee stamp from vermilion to green, first British stamp conforming to the UPU color convention. [729.38]
May
  • Mariana Islands issues its first postage stamps, using overprinted stamps of Germany. [1135]
June 14
  • Postage stamps of the USA replace Hawaiian stamps. [1135]
June 18
  • Transvaal issues postage stamps under British occupation. [1135]
(month unknown)
  • Puerto Rico issues its last postage stamps. [700.204]
  • First postage stamps of Cameroun under German dominion are issued. [707.27]
  • First postage stamps for Caroline Islands are issued, on stamps of Germany overprinted "Karolinen". [707.129]
  • First postage stamps for Kiauchau are issues, on stamps of Germany, Offices in China. [1367.170]
  • First stamps of the Federated Malay States are issued. [1367.692]
July 16
  • Postage stamps of Straits Settlements are authorized for use in Federated Malay States during a shortage. [1135]
August 10
  • Orange River Colony issues its first postage stamps, using overprinted stamps of Cape of Good Hope. [1135]

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November
  • Cayman Islands issues its first postage stamps. [707.130] [1135]

1901

January
  • Caroline Islands issues its first postage stamps. [707.129]
  • First postage stamps made specifically for Kiauchau are issued. [1367.170]
January 22
  • After 63 years England stops sale of Queen Victoria postage stamps series and begins King Edward VII series. [1]
March
  • Southern Nigeria issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
(month unknown)
  • Congo issues its last postage stamps. [700.811]
  • Germany issues the first Caroline Islands-specific postage stamps, 3-80pf values. [1255.734]
July 1
  • British New Guinea issues its own first postage stamps. [1135]

1902

January 4
  • Niue issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
April 2
  • Württemberg gives up postal independence. [1138.901]
May 5
  • Penrhyn Island issues its first postage stamps, using overprinted stamps of New Zealand. [1135]
June 16
  • US Senators receive from French engineer Phillippe Bunau-Varilla a 1902 2-cent postage stamp of Nicaragua depicting the March 24 volcano eruption, with an argument that Nicaragua was unstable geological terrain, unsuitable for a canal. (the subsequent vote is 42-34 in favor of the Panama route.) [1119.111]
July
  • French Somali Coast issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
September 30
  • Cuba issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
October 4
  • Cuba joins the Universal Postal Union. [1135]

1903

February 3
  • Orange River Colony issues its first postage stamps. [730.47]
June 1
  • British Somaliland joins the Universal Postal Union, and issues its first postage stamps, using overprinted stamps of India. [1135]
June 12
  • New Zealand issues first postage stamps for Aitutaki, overprinted on stamps of New Zealand. [700.284] [1135]
(month unknown)
  • Antigua resumes issuing its own postage stamps. [700.426]
  • Korea issues its last stamps as Japan takes over its postal administration (and annexes the country in 1910). [1367.179]
July
  • Senegambia and Niger issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
October 12
  • First postage stamps of Benadir, a colony of Italy on the east coast of Africa. [285.15]
October
  • Italian Somaliland issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
November 16
  • The Republic of Panama issues its first postage stamps. [1135]

1904

June 11
  • Panama joins the Universal Postal Union. [1135]
(month unknown)
  • The first postage stamps for Canal Zone under USA control are issued, using overprinted stamps of Panama. [700.188]
  • Cape of Good Hope issues its last postage stamps. [707.117]

1905

  • The last postage stamps of Angra (of Azores) are issued. [700.412]
  • The last postage stamps for Labuan are issued. [1367.381]
  • Lagos issues its last postage stamps. [1367.382]
July 1
  • Japan issues postage stamp for use in Japan and Korea and offices in China. Denomination is 3 sen. [1260.59]
December 29
  • First postage stamps for Italian Somalia, as overprints on Benadir. [285.15]

1906

  • First postage stamps for Brunei are issued, overprinted on stamps of Labuan. [700.1139]
September 9
  • Maldive Islands issues its first postage stamps, overprinted on stamps of Ceylon. [1135] [1367.731]
October 11
  • Brunei issues its first internationally-valid postage stamps. [1135] (1907 [700.1140])
November 8
  • Papua issues its first postage stamps, overprinted on British New Guinea stamps. [1135]

1907

February 14
  • British Solomon Islands issues its first postage stamps. [285.1] [1135]
(month unknown)
  • New South Wales issues its last postage stamps. [700.568]
  • British Central Africa issues its last postage stamps. [700.1126]
July 22
  • Nyasaland Protectorate issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
September
  • British Solomon Islands Protectorate joins the Universal Postal Union. [1135]
October 1
  • Universal Postal Union Treaty of Rome revisions come into effect, changing basic weight of letter from 1/2 ounce to one ounce. Postage rate in US dollars is set at 5 cents for one ounce or less, 3 cents for each additional ounce. [1130.43]
  • Additions to the Universal Postal Union: Algeria, Australia, New Zealand, and US possessions. [1135]

1908

February 18
  • First US postage stamps in coils are issued. [1]
June
  • Java issues its first postage stamps, overprints of stamps of Netherlands Indies. [1135]
July 22
  • Nyasaland Protectorate issues its own first postage stamps. [1135]
October 29
  • New Hebrides issues its first postage stamps in English. [1135]
November 1
  • Ethiopia joins the Universal Postal Union. [1135]
November 21
  • New Hebrides issues its first postage stamps in French. [1135]

1909

January 1
  • First postage stamps for Belgian Congo are issued, using overprinted stamps of Congo. [1135] (1908 [700.811])
(month unknown)
  • Queensland issues its last postage stamps. [700.572]
  • Belgian Congo issues its first postage stamps. [700.812]
  • Maldives issues its own first postage stamps. [1367.731]

1910

June 1
  • South Africa issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
(month unknown)
  • Last postage stamps of Crete. [707.574]
  • Trengganu issues its first postage stamps. [1367.705]
July 12
  • Caroline Islands issues its last postage stamps. [707.129]
November 4
  • The Union of South Africa issues its first postage stamp, denominated 2 1/2 pence. [1135]

1911

January 1
  • Gilbert and Ellice Islands issues its first postage stamps, using overprinted stamps of Fiji. [1135]
January
  • Kelantan state of Malaya issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
February 18
  • First official flight of mail, about 6500 stamped and cancelled mail, carried by Frenchman Henri Péquet in a Sommer Biplane from the Industrial and Agriculture Exhibition at Allahabad in the United Provinces of Agra and Ovdh, India, five miles across the Yamuna River to Naini Junction. [1015.242] [1127.224] [1135] [1494.14]
March 1
  • New Hebrides joins the Universal Postal Union. [1135]
(month unknown)
  • Kelantan issues its first postage stamps. [1367.697]
October
  • Solomon Islands joins the Universal Postal Union. [1135]

1912

January 29
  • Liechtenstein issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
February 1
  • Liechtenstein issues its own postage stamps. [810.43]
(month unknown)
  • Anjouan issues its last postage stamps. [700.425]
  • South Australia issues its last postage stamps. [700.575]
  • Tasmania issues its last postage stamps. [700.577]
  • Western Australia issues its last postage stamps. [700.582]
  • Italy issues first postage stamps for use in Libya, as overprints of Italy stamps. [1367.500]
  • Austria issues first postage stamps for use in Liechstenstein. [1367.537]
  • Kedah issues its first postage stamps. [1367.696]
July 1
  • Victoria issues its last postage stamps. [700.579]
July
  • The Malayan state of Kedah issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
December 14
  • The Republic of China issues its own first postage stamps, depicting Sun Yat-sen. [1135]
December
  • Tibet issues its own first postage stamps. [1135]

1913

January 2
  • Australia issues its first postage stamps. [700.585] [1032.43]
May 25
  • The Mexican state of Sonora issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
June
  • The first postage stamps for Albania are issued, using overprints on stamps of Turkey. [700.294]
June 16
  • Albania issues its first postage stamps, using overprinted stamps of Turkey. [1135]
July 1
  • The US Post Office makes parcel post stamps valid for any postage. [1135]
July
  • Albania issues its first postage stamps. [700.294]
November
  • The last postage stamps of Albania are issued. [700.294]

1914

February
  • Epirus issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
March 1
  • The Republic of China issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
March 31
  • Bavaria issues the world's first photogravure-printed postage stamps, depicting King Ludwig III. [1135]
(month unknown)
  • Last postage stamps of Cameroun under German dominion are issued. [707.27]
  • Four-year old girl May Pierstorff is mailed about 100 miles from Grangeville to Lewiston, Idaho, USA, by train, for cost of 53 cents. [1150.717]
August 1
  • Morocco issues its first postage stamps, using overprinted stamps of France. [1135]

1915

June 30
  • In the United Kingdom, all postage stamps issued under Queen Victoria cease to be valid for postage. [1154.938]
(month unknown)
  • Danish West Indies issues its last postage stamps. [700.194]
July 1
  • San Marino joins the Universal Postal Union. [1135]
August 15
  • First postage stamps are issued for Bushire under British occupation, using overprinted stamps of Iran. [700.1291]
September
  • Last postage stamps for Bushire are issued. [700.1291]
September 16
  • Mexico resumes stamp issues following revolutionary period. [1135]

1916

January 1
  • Brunei joins the Universal Postal Union. [1135]
January 12
  • Rouad Island issues its first postage stamps, using overprinted stamps of France. [1135]
May 29
  • First and last postage stamps issued for Kionga, as overprints of stamps of Lourenco Marques. [1367.170]
(month unknown)
  • First postage stamps for Cape Juby are issues, using overprinted stamps of Rio de Oro. [707.115]
  • Last postage stamps for Kiauchau are issued. [1367.170]
July
  • Christmas Island issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
August
  • Mecca in Hejaz issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
October 23
  • Nauru issues its first postage stamps, using overprinted stamps of Great Britain. [1135]

1917

May 16
  • Italy issues the world's first airmail stamps. [1135]
November 2
  • Effective this date, US postage letter rate is increased from 2 cents to 3 cents, with 1 cent as a war tax. [1135]

1918

February 10
  • Palestine issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
February 12
  • Finland joins the Universal Postal Union. [1135]
May 13
  • First US airmail stamps issued (24 cents). [1]
(month unknown)
  • German Austria issues its first postage stamps. [700.635]
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina issues its last postage stamps (until 1993). [700.993]
  • Czechoslovakia issues its first postage stamps. [707.707]
July
  • Ukraine issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
September 1
  • Iraq issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
November 18
  • Estonia issues its first postage stamps. [1132.288]
November 22
  • Estonia issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
December 18
  • Czechoslovakia issues its first postage stamps, depicting Hradcany Castle. [1135]
December 19
  • Latvia issues its first postage stamps. [1135] (December 18 [1367.411])
December 27
  • Lithuania issues its first postage stamps, denominated 10 and 15 skatiku. [1135] [1367.563]

1919

January 3
  • Faroe Islands issues its first postage stamps, using bisected Danish 4-ore stamps. [1135]
May 1
  • Poland joins the Universal Postal Union. [1135]
June 14
  • The Republic of Hungary issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
(month unknown)
  • First postage stamps for Armenia are issued, using overprinted stamps of Russia. [700.537]
  • Austria-Hungary issues its last postage stamps. [700.635]
  • Azerbaijan (republic) issues its first and last postage stamps. [700.709]
  • Batum issues its first postage stamps. [700.794]
  • First postage stamp are issued for Cilicia under French control, using stamps of Turkey overprinted "CILICIE". [707.410]
  • First stamps issued for Rarotonga (Cook Islands), as stamps of New Zealand overprinted "RAROTONGA". [707.527]
November 15
  • Iceland joins the Universal Postal Union. [1135]
November 16
  • The Monarchy of Hungary issues its first postage stamps. [1135]

1920

March 21
  • North Ingermanland issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
May 18
  • Czechoslovakia joins the Universal Postal Union. [1135]
June
  • Spain issues first postage stamps for La Agüera, overprinted on stamps of Spain. [700.284]
(month unknown)
  • Aitutaki issues its first own postage stamps. [700.284]
  • The first and last postage stamps for Allenstein are issued, using overprinted stamps of Germany. [700.370]
  • Batum issues its last postage stamps. [700.794]
  • First postage stamps are issued for Upper Volta, using stamps of Upper Senegal and Niger overprinted "HAUTE-VOLTA". [700.1239]
  • First postage stamps are issued for Castellorizo, on stamps of French Offices in Turkey. [707.129]
  • Central Lithuania issues its first postage stamps. [707.176]
  • Liechtenstein begins issuing its own postage stamps. [1367.537]
August 23
  • First stamps issued by Rarotonga (Cook Islands), inscribed "Rarotonga". [707.527] [1135]
September 1
  • Palestine issues its first postage stamps under civilian government. [1135]
September 8
  • US Air Mail service begins (New York City to San Francisco). [1]
September
  • Far Eastern Republic in Siberia issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
November
  • First postage stamps (overprints on Palestine stamps) issued for Transjordan under British mandate. [1135] [1367.119]
November 16
  • Postage meter first used in US in lieu of postage stamps. [1]
November 18
  • Arbe Island issues its first postage stamps, using overprinted stamps of Fiume. [1135]
  • Veglia Island issues its first postage stamps, using overprinted stamps of Fiume. [1135]
December 18
  • First US postage stamps printed without the words United States or US. [1]

1921

January 16
  • Yugoslavia issues its first general postage stamps. [1135]
(month unknown)
  • Italy issues first postage stamps specifically made for their Libya colony. [1367.500]
June
  • La Aguera issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
(month unknown)
  • Armenia issues its first postage stamps. [700.538]
  • German Austria issues its first postage stamps. [700.635]
  • First postage stamps for Cameroun under French mandate are issued, on overprinted stamps of Middle Congo. [707.28]
  • Last postage stamps are issued for Cilicia. [707.411]
  • Last postage stamps are issued for use in Lourenco Marques. [1367.80]
  • First postage stamps for Kenya are issued, inscribed "East Africa and Uganda Protectorates". [1367.165]
  • Switzerland begins issuing postage stamps for use in Liechstenstein. [1367.538]
December 1
  • US Post Office establishes philatelic agency. [1]
December 9
  • The Philatelic Agency of the US Post Office Department is established in Washington, DC. [1135]
December 21
  • The Kingdom of Hejaz issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
December 24
  • Yugoslavia joins the Universal Postal Union. [1135]

1922

January 1
  • Philippines joins the Universal Postal Union. [1135]
January 31
  • Karelia issues its first postage stamps. [1135] [1367.145]
February 17
  • The provisional government of the Irish Free State issues postage stamps of Great Britain, overprinted. [1135] [1187.163]
March 1
  • Albania joins the Universal Postal Union. [995.36] [1135]
April 6
  • In France, the French Government sells at auction the unique British Guiana 1856 1-cent postage stamp on magenta paper, which was confiscated from the Reichspost Museum in Berlin, Germany. Hugo Griebert, on behalf of American Arthur Hind, buys the stamp for 300,000 francs plus 17.5 percent tax (7343 British pounds, US$32,500). This is a world auction record for a postage stamp. [674.86] [1135] [1170.61] [1268.7]
June
  • The Spanish possession of La Agüera issues its first and last postage stamps. [700.284]
(month unknown)
  • Armenia issues its last postage stamps. [700.539]
  • Austria (republic) issues its first postage stamps. [700.636]
  • Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic issues its first postage stamps. [700.709]
  • Central Lithuania issues its larst postage stamps. [707.177]
  • First postage stamps for Chad are issued using stamps of Middle Congo overprinted "TCHAD". [707.185]
  • First postage stamps inscribed "Kenya and Uganda" are issued. [1367.165]
July 7
  • Estonia joins the Universal Postal Union. [1135]
July 13
  • First postage stamps released for use in Barbuda, stamps of Leeward Islands overprinted "BARBUDA". [700.782] [1135]
November 1
  • The first postage stamps for joint use in Kenya and Uganda are issued. [1135]
November 2
  • First postage stamps for Ascension are issued, using overprinted stamps of Saint Helena. [700.556] [1135]
December 6
  • The Irish Free State issues its own first postage stamp, denominated 2-pence, depicting a map of the coutry. [1135] [1187.163]

1923

January 2
  • South West Africa issues its first postage stamps, using overprinted stamps of South Africa. [1135]
April 1
  • Kuwait issues its first postage stamps, using overprinted stamps of India. [1135]
April
  • Transcaucasian Federation issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
(month unknown)
  • Castellorizo issues its first postage stamps. [707.130]
  • Britain issues first postage stamps for use in Kuwait, as "KUWAIT" overprints on India postage stamps. [1367.347]
July 6
  • Stamps of the Transcaucasian Federation are replaced by those of the USSR. [1135]
September 6
  • Ireland joins the Universal Postal Union. [1135]
October 24
  • Tripolitania issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
  • The Italian Colony of Cyrenaica issues its first postage stamps, using stamps of Italy overprinted "CIRENAICA". [707.705]

1924

January 1
  • Lebanon issues its first postage stamps under French mandate. [1135]
March 13
  • Mexican state of Yucatan issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
April 1
  • Southern Rhodesia issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
(month unknown)
  • The first postage stamps for Algeria are issued, using overprinted stamps of France. [700.337]
  • Ascension issues its first postage stamps. [700.556]
  • Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic issues its last postage stamps. [700.709]
  • France issues first postage stamps for Grand Liban, using overprinted stamps of France. [1367.425]
August
  • Mongolia issues its first postage stamps. [1135]

1925

March
  • The Sultanate of the Nejd issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
April 1
  • Northern Rhodesia issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
(month unknown)
  • First postage stamps for Alaouites are issued, overprinted on stamps of France. [700.293]
  • First stamps of Cameroun under French mandate are issued. [707.28]
  • France issues first specific postage stamps for Grand Liban. [1367.425]
July 29
  • Oltre Giuba issues its first postage stamps. [1135]

1926

February
  • The Kingdom of Hejaz-Nejd issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
June 1
  • The Italian Colony of Cyrenaica issues its own first postage stamps. [707.705]
(month unknown)
  • Algeria issues its first postage stamps. [700.337]
October
  • Tuva issues its first postage stamps. [1135]

1927

January 1
  • Saudi Arabia joins the Universal Postal Union. [1135]
June 1
  • Palestine issues its first postage stamps under British mandate from League of Nations. [1135]
(month unknown)
  • First specific Transjordan postage stamps issued. [1367.120]
  • First postage stamps of the Republic of Lebanon issued, as overprints on Grand Liban stamps. [1367.425]
July 1
  • Republic of Lebanon issues its first postage stamps under League of Nations mandate to France. [1135]

1928

March 28
  • The first postage stamps for Andorra under Spanish control are issued, using overprinted stamps of Spain. [700.371] [1135]
April 1
  • Afghanistan joins the Universal Postal Union. [1135]
(month unknown)
  • Canal Zone issues its own first postage stamps. [700.191]
  • Upper Volta issues its first postage stamps. [700.1239]

1929

April 22
  • Iraq joins the Universal Postal Union. [1135]
June 1
  • Vatican City joins the Universal Postal Union. [1135]
August 1
  • Vatican City issues its first postage stamps, denominated 5 centime through 10 lira, depicting crossed keys emblem and Pope Pius XI. [1135]
November 1
  • Lundy Island, part of the British Isles, issues its own postage stamps to pay for private mail delivery for the island. [1] [962.909] [993.843] [1135]
November 25
  • Andorra (Spanish administration) issues its first postage stamps. [700.371]
  • Andorra issues its own first postage stamps in Spanish. [1135]

1930

January 1
  • Yemen joins the Universal Postal Union. [1135]
February 11
  • The Republic of Lebanon issues its own first postage stamps. [1367.425]
March 31
  • In the United Kingdom, all postage stamps issued under King Edward VII cease to be valid for postage. [1154.938]
(month unknown)
  • The last postega stamps for the Alaouites are issued. [700.293]

1931

March 5
  • South West Africa issues its own first postage stamps. [1135]
April 1
  • Indian feudatory state of Morvi issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
June 16
  • The first postage stamps for Andorra under French control are issued, using overprinted stamps of France. [700.379] [1135]
(month unknown)
  • Upper Volta issues last postage stamps (until 1959). [700.1239]
  • Chad issues its first postage stamps, and its last as a French colony. [707.185]
  • First postage stamps are issued for Latakia, as overprints on stamps of Syria. [1367.411]
July
  • Latakia issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
November 12
  • Last postage stamps issued for Rarotonga. [707.528]

1932

March 16
  • Resumption of Cook Islands postage stamps bearing that name, since 1919. [707.528] [1135]
April 1
  • Independent Kingdom of Iraq issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
April 7
  • Inini issues its first postage stamps, using overprinted stamps of French Guiana. [1135]
June 16
  • French administration of Andorra issues its own first postage stamps. [700.379] [1135]
(month unknown)
  • Castellorizo issues its last postage stamps. [707.130]
  • Italy issues first postage stamps made for Somalia. [285.17]
July 26
  • Manchoukou issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
December 12
  • Bechuanaland Protectorate issues its first postage stamps. [700.796]

1933

January 2
  • Swaziland issues its own first postage stamps. [1135]
(month unknown)
  • Last postage stamps are issued for Latakia. [1367.411]
August 10
  • First stamps of Bahrain are issued, using stamps of India overprinted "BAHRAIN". [700.739] [1135]
December 1
  • Basutoland issues its first postage stamps. [700.793] [1135]

1934

January 1
  • Saudi Arabia issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
February 10
  • Byrd souvenir sheet issued, New York City; first unperforated ungummed US stamp. [1]
(month unknown)
  • Last stamps of the Federated Malay States are issued. [1367.693]
August 2
  • The Republic of Syria issues its first postage stamps. [1135]

1935

February 15
  • The Philippines issues its last set of postage stamps as a United States territory. [797.22]
March 1
  • Saar issues its last stamps, as it joins Germany. [1135]
May 1
  • First joint stamp issue for Kenya, Tanganyike, and Uganda. [1135]
May
  • First postage stamps inscribed "Kenya Uganda Tanganyika" are issued. [1367.166]
July 1
  • Indian feudatory state of Bijawar issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
August 7
  • Western Samoa issues its own first postage stamps. [1135]
December 1
  • Austria has world's first Day of Postage Stamp. [1]

1936

March 16
  • French Equatorial Africa issues its first postage stamps, using overprinted stamps of Gabon. [1135]

1937

February 28
  • Postage stamps of Latakia are withdrawn, as area begins use of stamps of Syria. [1135]
April 1
  • First postage stamps for Burma are issued, using stamps of India overprinted "BURMA". [700.1266] [1135]
  • Aden becomes British crown colony, and issues its first postage stamps. [1] [700.248] [1135] [1377.1]
April 15
  • French Equatorial Africa issues its own first postage stamps. [1135]
(month unknown)
  • Austria issues its last postage stamps (until 1945). [700.636]

1938

February 7
  • Italian East Africa issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
April 14
  • First postage stamps for Alexandretta under French control are issued, using overprinted stamps of Syria. [700.337]
(month unknown)
  • Burma issues its first postage stamps. [700.1267]
October 31
  • Last day of validity of Austrian stamps. [1135]
November 10
  • The last postage stamps for Alexandretta are issued. [700.337]
November 15
  • Burma issues its own first postage stamps. [1135]
December 1
  • Greenland Post Office becomes a member of the Universal Postal Union. [1226.105]
  • Greenland issues its first non-parcel postage stamps. [1135]
Year
  • About 2550-2600 different postage stamps were produced worldwide during the year. [500.XX6]

1939

January 18
  • Slovakia issues its first postage stamps, using overprinted stamps of Czechoslovakia. [1135]
February 21
  • Indian feudatory state of Idar issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
March 15
  • Carpatho-Ukraine issues its first and only postage stamps. [1135]
July 15
  • Bohemia and Moravia issues its first postage stamps. [1135]

1940

February 8
  • Niger issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
May 13
  • Thailand issues its first postage stamps with its new country name. [1419.4]
(month unknown)
  • Latvia issues its last postage stamps as it is incorporated into the USSR (until independence in 1991). [1367.413]
  • Lithuania issues its last postage stamps as it is incorporated into the USSR (until independence in 1990). [1367.566]
August 1
  • Responsibility for Estonia postal services is transferred to Moscow. [1132.288]
August 7
  • Largest amount paid for a postage stamp (US$45,000 for 1-cent 1856 British Guiana). [1]
August 15
  • Estonia issues its last postage stamps as independent country. [1135]
October 15
  • Pitcairn Island issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
December 10
  • First postage stamps for Northern Epirus using Greek stamps overprinted (in Greek) "Greek Administration". [984.249]

1941

January 31
  • Estonia postage stamps are demonetized. [1132.288] [1135]
March 1
  • Last postage stamps for Northern Epirus using Greek stamps overprinted (in Greek) "Greek Administration". [984.250]
April 12
  • Croatia issues its first postage stamps. [707.575] [1135]
(month unknown)
  • Finnish military administration issues postage stamps for use in occupied Eastern Karelia. [1367.145]

1942

March 23
  • Ethiopia resumes issuing its own postage stamps. [1168.213]
(month unknown)
  • The Kathiri State of Seigun of Aden issues its first postage stamps. [700.248]
  • The Quaiti State of Shihrand and Mukalla of Aden issues its first postage stamps. [700.249]
July
  • The Kathiri State of Seiyun issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
  • The Qu'aiti State of Shihr and Mukalla issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
September 18
  • Lebanon issues its first postage stamps as an independent state. [1135]

1943

December 20
  • Italian Socialist Republic issues its first postage stamps, using Italian stamps overprinted "GNR". [1135]

1944

February 12
  • Grahamland issues its first postage stamps, using overprinted stamps of the Falkland Islands. [1135]
February
  • The South Shetland Islands issues its first postage stamps, using overprinted stamps of the Falkland Islands. [1135]
February 21
  • South Orkneys issues its first postage stamps, using overprinted stamps of the Falkland Islands. [1135]
April 3
  • South Georgia issues its first postage stamps, using overprinted stamps of the Falkland Islands. [1135]
(month unknown)
  • Last Transjordan (under British mandate) postage stamps issued. [1367.121]
November 20
  • Muscat issues its first postage stamps, using overprinted stamps of India. [1135]

1945

  • Austria resumes issuing its own postage stamps. [700.637]
  • Croatia ceases to issue its own postage stamps, having joined Yugoslavia. [707.576]
September 2
  • The Democratic Republic of Vietnam issues its first postage stamps, using overprinted stamps of French Indo-China. [1135]
November 4
  • Formosa issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
November
  • Java issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
November 24
  • Austria resumes issuing postage stamps. [1135]

1946

February 1
  • The Falkland Islands Dependencies issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
March 12
  • First postage stamps are issued for use in northern Korea, occupied by Soviet Union military. [1367.239]
May 1
  • Korea resumes issuance of postage stamps, initially under US Military rule. [1367.180]
May 15
  • Syria joins the Universal Postal Union. [1135]
May 25
  • The independent Kingdom of Trans-Jordan issues its first postage stamps. [1135] [1367.121]
June 19
  • The Philippines issues its last postage stamps under US control. [700.202]
(month unknown)
  • Hungary issues the world's highest denominated postage stamps, 500 million million (500,000,000,000,000) pengo. [1135]
July 4
  • The Philippine Republic issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
July 31
  • On last day of hyperinflation in Hungary, a 5-millió adópengö postage stamp costs 10 octillion pengö (10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000). [977.249]

1947

May 13
  • The Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic joins the Universal Postal Union. [1135]
  • The Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic joins the Universal Postal Union. [1135]
May 16
  • Jordan joins the Universal Postal Union. [1135]
June 10
  • Norfolk Island issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
June 24
  • Newfoundland issues its last postage stamp, for the 450th anniversary of John Cabot's discovery of Newfoundland. [1135]
August 15
  • Bahawalpur issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
September 1
  • North Borneo issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
October 1
  • The Dominion of Pakistan issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
November 1
  • Last postage stamps of Kingdom of Trans-Jordan are issued. [1367.121]
November 10
  • Pakistan joins the Universal Postal Union. [1135]
November 21
  • The Dominion of India issues its first postage stamps. [1135]

1948

January 1
  • Cape Juby issues its last postage stamps. [707.115]
January 6
  • Burma issues its first postage stamps as an independent state. [1135]
April 1
  • Bahawalpur issues its own first postage stamps. [1135]
May 16
  • Israel issues its first postage stamps. [1] [1116.73] [1135]
June 22
  • Tokelau issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
July 1
  • First issue of postage stamps for Ryukyu Islands under US administration. [700.204]
August 1
  • The Republic of South Korea issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
September 1
  • Singapore issues its own first postage stamps. [1135]
September 19
  • The Democratic People's Republic of Korea issues its first postage stamps. [1367.239]
December 1
  • The Malay state of Penang issues its first postage stamps. [1135] [1367.700]
  • The Malay state of Perlis issues its first postage stamps. [1135] [1367.703]
  • The Malay state of Malacca issues its first postage stamps. [1135] [1367.698]

1949

  • Newfoundland issues its last postage stamps. [707.57]
July 1
  • United States of Travancore-Cochin issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
July 13
  • Ceylon joins the Universal Postal Union. [1135]
July 26
  • Netherlands Antilles issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
August 1
  • Jordan (previously Trans-Jordan) issues its first postage stamps. [1367.21]
September 7
  • The Federal Republic of Germany issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
October 4
  • Burma joins the Universal Postal Union. [1135]
October 8
  • The People's Republic of China issues its first postage stamps. [707.332] [1135]
October 9
  • Spanish West Africa issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
  • The German Democratic Republic issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
December 24
  • Israel joins the Universal Postal Union. [1135]
End of 1900-1949. Next: 1950.

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1653-1899 1900-1949 1950-1989 1990-end


A list of references to all source material is available.

Other web pages of interest:

  • Postage Stamp Design Errors
  • Stamps on Postage Stampa
  • The Silly World of Postage Stamps
  • Ken P's Coin/Stamp/Bill Novelties
  • Polsson's Garage Sale - Postage Stamps
  • Chronology of World Coins
  • Chronology of World History
  • This Day in History
    Last updated: 2022 June 28.
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