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: 2023 December 20.

1945

May 2
  • Manchukuo issues its last postage stamps. [1367.826]
(month unknown)
  • Croatia ceases to issue its own postage stamps, having joined Yugoslavia. [707.576]
  • Dhar State of India issues its last postage stamps. [1841.934]
  • Slovakia issues its last postage stamps (until 1993). [278.1165]
  • France issues first non-overprint postage stamps for use in French West Africa. [1843.1356]
  • France issues last postage stamps for use in its colonies. [1843.1291]
  • Reconstituted Czechoslovakia resumes issuing postage stamps. [1843.695]
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. [700.637] [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 18
  • Sarawak issues its last postage stamps, before being ceded to the British Crown. [278.1017]

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May 25
  • The independent Kingdom of Trans-Jordan issues its first postage stamps. [1135] [1367.121]
May 28
  • The USA issues its last postage stamps for use in the Philippines. [278.241]
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, 500,000 million million (500,000,000,000,000,000) pengo. [1135] [1841.735]
  • Last postage stamps for use in Nabha State of India are issued. [1841.925]
July 4
  • The independent Republic of the Philippines issues its first postage stamps. [278.241] [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

April 16
  • The United Kingdom issues its first postage stamps for use in Sarawak. [278.1017]
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 2
  • France issues last postage stamps for use in French Guiana. [1843.1297]
  • France issues last postage stamps for use in the colony of Martinique. [1367.848]
June 10
  • Australia issues first postage stamps for use in Norfolk Island. [1135] [1367.1507]
June 24
  • Newfoundland issues its last regular mail postage stamp, for the 450th anniversary of John Cabot's discovery of Newfoundland. [1135]
(month unknown)
  • Last postage stamps for use in Patiala State of India are issued. [1841.926]
  • Indore State of India issues its last postage stamps. [1841.936]
  • Bundi State of India issues its last postage stamps. [1841.930]
  • Kishangarh State of India issues its last postage stamps. [1841.940]
  • France issues first stamps for use in Saar under French administration. [278.767]
September 1
  • North Borneo issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
October 1
  • The Dominion of Pakistan issues its first postage stamps, using overprints of India. [278.1] [1135]
October 31
  • The Kingdom of Romania issues its last postage stamps. [278.489]
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]
December 1
  • Bahawalpur state of Pakistan issues its first postage stamps. [278.33] (August 15 [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]
January 25
  • The People's Republic of Romania issues its first postage stamp. [278.489]
February 14
  • Last day of validity of postage stamps of Morvi State of India. [1841.941]
  • Last day of validity of postage stamps of Jasdan State of India. [1841.939]
April 1
  • France issues first postage stamps for use in the French Protectorate of Saar. [278.767]
  • Bahawalpur issues its own first postage stamps. [1135]
May 16
  • Israel issues its first postage stamps, depicting coins. [1116.73] [1135] [1841.1126]
June 22
  • First postage stamps are issued for use in Tokelau Islands. [285.546] [1135]
June 30
  • Last day of validity of postage stamps for Barwani State of India [1841.927]
(month unknown)
  • Morvi State of India issues its last postage stamps. [1841.941]
  • Last postage stamps for use in Chamba State of India are issued. [1841.921]
  • Rajasthan State of India issues its first postage stamps. [1841.942]
  • The United Kingdom issues last postage stamps for use in Straits Settlements. [285.216]
  • Netherlands issues first postage stamps for use in Indonesia. [1367.1289]
July 1
  • First issue of postage stamps for Ryukyu Islands under US administration. [700.204]
July 9
  • Pakistan issues its first non-overprint postage stamps. [278.1]
August 1
  • The Republic of (South) Korea issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
September 1
  • The United Kingdom issues first postage stamps for use in Singapore. [278.1144] [1135]
  • First postage stamps are issued for use in the America, British, and French occupation sectors of Berlin. [1841.175]
September 19
  • The Democratic People's Republic of Korea issues its first postage stamps. [1367.239]
September 25
  • Netherlands issues last postage stamps for use in Netherlands Indies. [1367.1289]
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

June 13
  • France issues last stamps for use in Indo-China. [1841.950]
June 29
  • Last day of validity of postage stamps of Travancore State of India. [1841.945]
(month unknown)
  • Newfoundland issues its last postage stamps (postage due). [707.57]
  • Last postage stamps for use in Gwalior State of India are issued. [1841.922]
  • Bhopal State of India issues its last postage stamps. [1841.929]
  • Jaipur State of India issues its last postage stamps. [1841.938]
  • Rajasthan State of India issues its last postage stamps. [1841.942]
  • Travancore State of India issues its last postage stamps. [1841.945]
July 1
  • United States of Travancore-Cochin issues its first postage stamps. [1135] [1841.945]
July 13
  • Ceylon joins the Universal Postal Union. [1135]
July 26
  • Netherlands issues last postage stamps labelled Curaçao, also first stamps labelled Netherlands Antilles. [1135] [1367.1263]
August 1
  • Jordan (previously Trans-Jordan) issues its first postage stamps. [1367.21]
August 15
  • Final postage stamps of the Allied occupation of Germany are issued. [1841.157]
September 7
  • The Federal Republic of Germany issues its first postage stamps. [1135] [1841.102]
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]
October 10
  • Bahawalpur state of Pakistan issues its last postage stamps. [278.33]
October
  • Spain issues first postage stamps for use in Spanish West Africa. [285.188]
December 24
  • Israel joins the Universal Postal Union. [1135]

1950

January 1
  • The Republic of China issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
January 16
  • The autonomous state of Cyrenaica issues its first and last postage stamps. [707.705] [1135]
January 17
  • The United States of Indonesia issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
January 26
  • The Republic of India issues its first postage stamps. [1135] [1841.856]
March 24
  • Italy issues first postage stamps for use in Somalia. [285.17] [1135]
March 31
  • Last day of validity of postage stamps of Rajasthan State of India. [1841.942]
May 15
  • Comoro Islands issues its first postage stamps. [707.473] [1135]
June 5
  • Spain issues last postage stamps for use in Spanish West Africa. [285.188]
(month unknown)
  • Cochin State of India issues its last postage stamps. [1841.933]
  • Hyderabad State of India issues its last postage stamps. [1841.936]
  • Saurashtra State of India issues its last postage stamps. [1841.944]
  • Netherlands issues first postage stamps for use in Netherlands New Guinea, depicting Queen Juliana. [1367.1292]
August 17
  • The Republic of Indonesia issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
November 16
  • United Nations gets US government approval to issue postage stamps. [1]
December 15
  • The People's Republic of Albania issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
December 17
  • The US Treasury Department bans the purchase and import of North Korea stamps. [1135]

1951

February 16
  • The United Kingdom issues last postage stamps for Saint Kitts-Nevis. [287.797]
June 6
  • Viet Nam issues its first postage stamps. [285.978]
(month unknown)
  • Cambodia issues its first postage stamps. [707.1]
  • Travancore-Cochin State of India issues its last postage stamps. [1841.946]
August 17
  • Vietnam issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
October 21
  • South Vietnam joins the Universal Postal Union. [1135]
October 24
  • United Nations Postal Administration issues its first postage stamps. [1] [700.211] [834.8]
November 13
  • The Kingdom of Laos issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
November
  • The Kingdom of Cambodia issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
December 21
  • Kampuchea/Cambodia joins the Universal Postal Union. [1135]
December 24
  • The Kingdom of Libya issues its first postage stamps, using overprinted stamps of Cyrenaica. [1135] [1367.501]

1952

January 1
  • The United Kingdom issues first postage stamps for use in Tristan da Cunha, overprints of Saint Helena. [285.598] [1135] (February 1 [1166.230])
February 6
  • England replaces King George VI stamp series with Queen Elizabeth II. [1]
April 15
  • Libya issues its first specifically-made postage stamps. [1367.501]
May 20
  • Laos joins the Universal Postal Union. [1135]
June 4
  • Libya joins the Universal Postal Union. [1135]
June 14
  • First joint issue of postage stamps for Saint Christopher, Nevis, and Anguilla. [287.797] [1135]
October 30
  • Australia issues first postage stamps for the Territory of Papua and New Guinea. [278.93] [1135]
November 21
  • First US postage stamp in two colors (rotary process) introduced. [1]

1953

June 2
  • The United Kingdom issues first non-overprinted postage stamps for use in Tristan da Cunha, 3-penny denomination for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. [285.598] [1166.230]

1954

February 22
  • Leeward Islands issues its last postage stamps. [1367.446]
March 1
  • Gold Coast issues its last postage stamps. [1841.303]
June 6
  • France issues last postage stamps for use in French India. [1843.1302]
June 15
  • Viet Nam issues its last postage stamps as an Associated State of the French Union. [285.978]
July 1
  • First joint issue of postage stamps inscribed "Rhodesia and Nyasaland", for use in Northern Rhodesia, Southern Rhodesia, and Nyasaland Protectorate. [278.475] [1135]

1955

January 1
  • Bhutan issues its first postage stamps. [1]
July 20
  • The Republic of Viet Nam issues its first postage stamps. [285.978] (1954 [1135])
July 25
  • France issues last postage stamps for use in the French Protectorate of French Morocco. [1843.1308]
  • France issues last postage stamps for use in Tunisia. [285.611]
August 1
  • Last postage stamps of the British Crown Colony of Cyprus. [707.686]
August 16
  • The Republic of Cyprus issues its first postage stamps. [707.686]
September 1
  • Qu'aiti State in Hadhramaut issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
October 12
  • Monaco joins the Universal Postal Union. [1135]
October 28
  • France issues first postage stamps for use in the French Southern and Antarctic Islands, using overprint of Madagascar. [1135] [1843.1337]
November 8
  • Spain issues last postage stamps for use in Spanish Morocco. [285.180]
December 7
  • The Dominion of Pakistan issues its last postage stamps. [278.1]

1956

January 2
  • The United Kingdom issues last postage stamps for use in Sierra Leone. [278.1104]
March 1
  • The independent Kingdom of Tunisia issues its first postage stamps. [285.611] [1135]
March 23
  • The Islamic Republic of Pakistan issues its first postage stamps. [278.1]
April 7
  • Spanish Morocco ceases issuance of postage stamps. [1135]
April 25
  • France issues first non-overprint postage stamps for use in the French Southern and Antarctic Islands. [1843.1337]
May 6
  • France issues last postage stamps for use in the French Protectorate of Saar. [278.769]
(month unknown)
  • Last stamps of Cameroun under French mandate are issued. [707.29]
July 1
  • Stamps of the Leeward Islands become invalid. [1135]
July 27
  • Sudan joins the Universal Postal Union. [1135]
August 17
  • Newly independent Kingdom of Morocco resumes issuing its own postage stamps (last were in 1913). [1135] [1367.1121]
August 23
  • The Kingdom of Morocco issues its first postage stamps in Spanish currency. [1135]
October 11
  • Nepal joins the Universal Postal Union. [1135]
October 15
  • Morocco joins the Universal Postal Union. [1135]
November 1
  • Tunisia joins the Universal Postal Union. [1135]
December 14
  • Laos issues its first postage stamps as an independent state. [1135]

1957

January 11
  • New Zealand issues first postage stamps for the Ross Dependency. [1135] [1367.1397]
March 6
  • Ghana issues its first postage stamps. [1135] [1841.245]
March 12
  • Last postage stamps of Madagascar (continuing as Malagasy Republic). [1367.651]
March 27
  • The Australian Antarctic Territory issues its first postage stamps. [700.630] [1135]
April 1
  • The United Kingdom issues first postage stamps for use in Qatar, overprints of UK stamps. [278.457] [1135]
  • Germany begins issuing postage stamps for use in the Saar. [278.769]
May 5
  • Federation of Malaya issues its first postage stamps. [1135] [1367.693]
June 8
  • The independent Republic of Togo issues its first postage stamps. [285.508] [1135]
July 5
  • The kingdom of Tunisia issues its last postage stamps. [285.611]
July 15
  • Ecuador issues first postage stamps for use in the Galapagos Islands. [1135] [1843.956]
August 8
  • The republic of Tunisia issues its first postage stamps (previously was a kingdom). [285.611] [1135]
October 10
  • Ghana joins the Universal Postal Union. [1135]
November
  • The British post office begins experiments with automatic electronic sorting, facing, and cancelling mail. Vertical graphite lines are applied on the backs under the gum of definitive issues in 1/2- through 4 1/2-penny denominations. The stamp on an envelope can then be detected by use of an electrical charge. [1091.18]
November 19
  • Great Britain introduces postage stamps with graphite lines on backs as part of an automatic mail sorting experiment, in Southampton. [1135]

1958

January 17
  • Malaysia joins the Universal Postal Union. [1135]
February 12
  • The United Arab Republic issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
March 21
  • The USA issues its last postage stamps for use in Western Samoa. [278.969]
March 22
  • Egypt issues its first United Arab Republic postage stamps. [1843.964]
(month unknown)
  • Independent state of Cameroun issues first postage stamps. [707.29]
August 18
  • Great Britain post office issues first regional postage stamps (Bailiwick of Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Principality of Wales). [1] [834.22] [1135]
October 15
  • First postage stamps issued for Christmas Island, using stamps of Australia overprinted with name and value. [707.404] [1135] [1152.1200]
November 3
  • French Polynesia issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
December 10
  • France issues last postage stamps for use in French Equatorial Africa. [1843.1293]
  • Malagasy Republic issues its first postage stamps. [1135] [1367.651]

1959

January 3
  • Ecuador issues last postage stamps for use in the Galapagos Islands. [1843.957]
January 5
  • Republic of Guinea issues its first postage stamps, overprints of French West Africa stamps. [1135] [1841.571]
February 1
  • Britain issues first postage stamps made specifically for use in Kuwait. [1367.348]
March 21
  • France issues last postage stamps for use in French West Africa. [1843.1357]
May 6
  • Germany issues last postage stamps for use specifically in Saar. [278.769]
  • People's Republic of Guinea joins the Universal Postal Union. [1135]
June 1
  • Spain issues last postage stamps for use in Spanish Guinea. [285.175]
June
  • The British post office abandons use of graphite lines on backs of stamps for automatic electronic sorting. [1091.18]
(month unknown)
  • Upper Volta, now a republic, resumes issuing postage stamps. [700.1239]
  • Republic of Chad issues its first postage stamps. [707.185]
  • Republic of Congo issues first postage stamps. [707.497]
July 30
  • Frederick H. Douglas of New Jersey sells at John A. Fox auction a USA 1918 24-cent Jenny invert airmail postage stamp, mint never hinged, for $6100 to Raymond H. Weill, acting as agent for J. A. Graves. [1220.76]
October 1
  • Republic of Ivory Coast issues its first postage stamps. [1135] [1841.1257]
November 7
  • Mali Federation issues its first postage stamps. [1135] [1367.769]
November 17
  • Kingdom of Morocco issues its first postage stamps for use throughout kingdom. [1135]
November 18
  • Great Britain issues stamps with phosphor bands as part of automatic sorting procedure. [1135]
November 28
  • The Gabon Republic issues its first postage stamps, 15fr and 25fr depicting Prime Minister Leon Mba. [1841.2]
  • Congo Republic issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
December 1
  • Central African Republic issues its first postage stamps. [707.142] [1135]
December 10
  • Republic of Upper Volta issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
December 18
  • Republic of Niger issues its first postage stamps. [1135] [1367.1450]
End of 1945-1959. Next: 1960.

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1653-1859 1860-1874 1875-1889 1890-1904 1905-1924 1925-1944 1945-1959 1960-1969 1970-1984 1985-2009
2010-end


A list of references to all source material is available.

Last updated: 2023 December 20.
Copyright © 2011-2024 Ken Polsson (email: ken@kpolsson.com).
URL: http://kpolsson.com/stamphis/
Link to Ken P's home page.

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