First Stamps From- Europeon Countries

First Stamps  From- Europeon Countries

Aland	Albania	Alderney	Andorra	Austria	Austria (UN Vienna)
Belarus	Belgium	Bohemia & Moravia	Bosnia & Herzegovina	Bulgaria	Crete
Croatia	Cyprus	Czech Republic	Czechoslovakia	Denmark	Estonia
Faroe Islands	Finland	France	France (Colonies)	Georgia	Germany
Gibraltar	Great Britain	Great Britain (Colonies)	Greece	Greenland	Guernsey
Hungary	Iceland	Ireland	Isle of Man	Italy	Jersey
Kosovo	Latvia	Liechtenstein	Lithuania	Luxembourg	Macedonia
Malta	Malte (Ordre de)	Moldova	Monaco	Montenegro	Netherlands
Norway	Poland	Portugal	Romania	Russia & USSR	Saar
San Marino	Serbia	Slovakia	Slovenia	Spain	Sweden
Switzerland	Switzerland (UN Geneva)	Turkey	Ukraine	Vatican	Yugoslavia

Stamps

First Stamps - Aland

1984 - 90 Aland island

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First Stamps - Albania

1913 Albania - Stamps of Turkey Handstamped on Issue of 1908 stamp #1

1913 EAGLE OVERPRINTS A fine used group of original handstamps on Turkish stamps, comprising 1913 2pa (x2) in violet, 10pa (expertized Diena), 20pa, 1pi (x3 shades) & 2pi all in black and 1913 10pa in black with "Behie" opt.

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First Stamps - Alderney

1983 Alderney - Aurigny

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First Stamps - Andorra

1928 Andorra - Spanish Administration - Stamps of Spain, 1922-26, Overprinted in Red or Black stamp #1

1929 Andorra - Spanish Administration - Set stamps #13-24

1931 Andorra - French Administration Short set stamps #1-4

There are stamp-issuing countries all over the world that are administered by two different postal systems.

For example, tiny Andorra, a principality in an isolated area in the Pyrenees Mountains, is bordered by France to the north and west and by Spain to the south and east. The sixth smallest nation in Europe, the entire country takes up only 180 square miles.

Joint rule of Andorra dates back to the 13th century, when a dispute about Andorra resulted in mediation that gave sovereignty over the area to the French Count of Foix and the Spanish Bishop of Urgel.

In 1993, Andorra became a parliamentary democracy, but its dual status remains with co-princes, the president of France and the Bishop of Urgel, as heads of state, although these days the offices are largely ceremonial. Andorra has no postal system of its own. Its postal affairs are jointly overseen by France and Spain, and each country issues stamps for Andorra.

Within the country, the French mailboxes are yellow and the Spanish mailboxes are blue. You have to use the stamps issued by France for letters placed in the yellow mailboxes and the stamps issued by Spain for letters placed in the blue mailboxes. At least today all stamps are denominated in euros, which makes for slightly less confusion than in the past, when two different currencies were in use as well.

Spain first issued stamps for Andorra in 1928 and France followed in 1931. Stamps from the first issues, a 2-centimo Spanish stamp overprinted "Andorra" (Scott 1) and a French 1-centime stamp overprinted "Andorre" (1) are shown in Figure 1.

Both postal administrations continue to issue stamps for Andorra.

buy or sell a Stamps of Spanish Andorra

buy or sell a Stamps of French Andorra

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First Stamps - Austria

1850 Austria - Coat of Arms

Following the establishment of the German-Austrian Postal Union of 1850, Austria introduced stamps in denominations of 1, 2, 3, 6 and 9 kreuzers for use throughout the Habsburg dominions.

They were engraved by H. Tautenhayn and typographed at the State Printing Works, Vienna, where most Austrian stamps since that date have been printed.

The stamps of this issue were at first printed on a rough hand-made paper, varying in thickness and having a watermark in script letters K.K.H.M., the initials of Kaiserlich Konigliches Handels-Ministerium (Imperial and Royal Ministry of Commerce), vertically in the gutter between the panes. Parts of these letters show on margin stamps in the sheet. From 1854 a thick, smooth machine-made paper without watermark was used.

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First Stamps - Austria (UN Vienna)

 

1978 Austria (UN Vienna) - Donaupark Vienna - Aerial View

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First Stamps - Belarus

Belorussia - had a series of stamps issued by General Bulak-Balakhovitch in 1920

White Russia - or sometimes called Belorussia - had a series of stamps issued by General Bulak-Balakhovitch in 1920, but there is no evidence of their postal use, and neither is there evidence of them ever being issued to the public.

Scott currently ignores these stamps. In 1940 they were listed in Stanley Gibbons' catalogue as follows: WHITE RUSSIA Type 1. Designed by R. Sarinsch and printed at the Latvian State Printing Office, Riga. 1920. Type 1. (a) Imperf. 1) 5k. green; 2) 10k. scarlet; 3) 15k. violet; 4) 50k. blue; 5) 1r. brown. (b) Perf. 11 1/2. 6) 5k. green; 7) 10k. scarlet; 8) 15k. violet; 9) 50k. blue; 10) 1r. brown. The 15k. varies in many details from the design of Type 1. It is doubtful if these stamps were ever used for postal purposes. By 1974, Stanley Gibbons' position had changed, thus: WHITE RUSSIA Stamps in the above type, 5, 10, 15, 50k and 1r., both imperf. and perf. were prepared for use by a force raised by Gen. Bulak-Balakhovitch in 1920. We have never seen genuinely used copies and have no evidence of their issue.

Stanley Gibbons refers briefly to them in their section on Civil War issues, and Michel makes a one line reference.

These beautiful stamps were printed by the Latvian Government Printing Office in Riga for Bulak-Balakhovich. The stamps were to be delivered to Mozyr, for the Belorussian Peoples Republic. The Government was absorbed just as the stamps were delivered. Some devotees of the era claim that legitimate covers exist. These stamps are legitimate and should be considered prepared but not issued or possibly briefly issued. They are not 'bogus' 'cinderellas' or 'White Russia'.

1992 Belarus - Cross of Ephrosinia of Polotsk stamp #1

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First Stamps - Belgium

  

1849 Belgium - King Leopold I stamps #1- 2- 2a

Leopold I. Watermerk: twee ineengevlochten hoofdletters 'L' in kader. Het watermerk staat niet altijd centraal Op 6 mei 1840 zagen de eerste postzegels in Engeland het dankzij de volharding van Rowland Hill, wiens familienaam legendarisch is geworden. De Belgische Post stuurde een inspecteur, Louis Bronne, naar onze buren om deze nieuwe betalingswijze te bestuderen. Hij beval dan ook aan een lagere uniforme taks te innen, de post dagelijks te bestellen - daadwerkelijk in 1841 - en de postdiensten te reorganiseren om het hoofd te bieden aan de constante toename van het opgehaalde, vervoerde en uitgereikte volume post. Zijn eerste voorstel deed echter vrezen dat de financiële verliezen te hoog zouden oplopen en daarom werd de invoering uitgesteld. Niettemin drongen de handelaars erop aan dat het geheel van de post minder, maar vooral op uniforme wijze zou worden belast. Na veel interventies in het parlement werd de wet op 24 december 1847 gestemd. Artikel 4 van deze wet voorziet in het gebruik van postzegels op zendingen, Dit was het begin van een noodzakelijke hervorming om de handel en industrie te stimuleren, maar ook om mensen van bescheiden rang in staat te stellen te corresponderen met hun familie. Deze belangrijke tariefhervorming van 1 juli 1849 - publicatiedatum van het koninklijk besluit dat de wijze van uitvoering van de wet van 24 december 1847 bepaalt - verduisterde enigszins de geboorte van de postzegel. Deze hervorming was gebaseerd op twee hoofdmaatregelen: - de vereenvoudiging van de frankeerkosten voor brieven: twee afstands- en gewichtsschalen werden gebruikt voor de berekening: 10 centime als de afstand tussen het kantoor van herkomst en bestemming niet meer dan 30 km bedroeg en 20 centime voor alle andere afstanden in het land. Deze tarieven bleven geldig tot in 1919. - de invoering van de frankering vooraf, met als logisch gevolg de invoering van postzegels. Voordien werd het briefport voldaan door de geadresseerde. Het gebruik van postzegels stimuleerde het postverkeer. In 1839 haalde het Belgische postbestuur slechts 7.037.443 brieven op, of minder dan 2 per persoon.Twee jaar na de hervorming, telde men 9 miljoen brieven en in 1860 werden 17,5 miljoen brieven verstuurd. Uiteraard is dit niet te vergelijken met de 3 miljard stuks die in 1998 werden uitgereikt. De vervaardiging van deze twee postzegels werd georganiseerd door Jacob Wiener (1815-1899), een gedreven graveur afkomstig uit het Rijnland die bekendheid verwierf door zijn vaardigheid in het graveren van medailles. Het was echter een medewerker van de Engelse firma Perkins & Bacon, Robinson, diepdrukgraveur van boekillustraties en portretten, die de moederplaat heeft gegraveerd en de destijds zeer in trek zijnde schilder van Brusselse afkomst, Charles Baugniet, die het portret van de koning heeft getekend. Het drukken vond plaats in een werkplaats, geïnstalleerd in een van de bijgebouwen van het oude spoorwegstation van Brussel (Groendreef), volgens de diepdruktechniek. Dit is een procédé in meerdere fasen. In de eerste fase wordt in een metalen plaat op ware grootte, in reliëf en omgekeerd, de postzegel gegraveerd. Als de plaat verhard is d.m.v. een chemisch procédé, gaat men vervolgens over tot de aanmaak van het molet, een cilinder die eveneens wordt verhard in reliëf en met de goede kant naar boven de originele gravure zal opnemen. Ten slotte wordt dit molet over een drukplaat "gerold" (moleteren) die eveneens wordt verhard. Bij het drukken wordt de plaat met drukinkt bedekt en daarna zodanig afgewist dat er alleen nog in de holten inkt achterblijft. Vervolgens wordt er een vooraf bevochtigd vel papier op aangedrukt. Als de inkt opdroogt zet deze zich vast op het papier en vormt er een licht reliëf dat overeenstemt met de trekken van de gravure. Het papier, van veranderlijke dikte, werd met de hand vervaardigd en het watermerk was samengesteld uit twee ineengevlochten letters "L". Gedrukt op 5.250.000 exemplaren, bestond de zegel van 10 centime in veel nuances: donkerbruin, zwartbruin, grijsbruin, acajoubruin, enz. Wat de zegel van 20 centime betreft varieert het kleurenpalet van melkachtig blauw tot zwartblauw. Van 1849 tot 1860 werd er voor meer dan 24 miljoen frank van verkocht. Later had de progressieve toename van het aantal correspondentiestukken de invoering van andere zegels tot gevolg, m.n. de waarden van 30 centime en 1 frank. De filatelie kon ontstaan

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First Stamps - Bohemia & Moravia

1939 Bohemia & Moravia set stamps #1-19

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First Stamps - Bosnia and Herzegovina

1879 Bosnia and Herzegovina -Coat of Arms stamps #1-10

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First Stamps - Bulgaria

1879 Bulgaria - Lion of Bulgaria stamps #1-5

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First Stamps - Crete

1898 British Sphere of Administration District of Heraklion (Candia) #1-2-2a-3-3a

Russian Sphere of Administration District of Rethymnon

1899 Russian Post Offices in Crete #10, 13

Postage Stamps of Italian Post Offices by Tony Clayton - Crete (La Canea)

An Italian Post Office was opened in La Canea on the 16th January 1900

1900 - 1901 Italy, Offices in Crete #1-2

1902 France, Offices in Crete #1

buy or sell a Stamps of Crete

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First Stamps - Croatia

1941 Croatia - Complete Set #1-8

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First Stamps - Cyprus

1880 Cyprus #1-2

1974 Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Complete Set #1-7

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First Stamps - Czech Republic

1993 Czech Republic #2877

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First Stamps - Czechoslovakia

1918 Czechoslovakia - Hradcany at Prague #1-10

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First Stamps - Denmark

1851 Denmark First printing (Ferslew) #1-2

Denmark adopted adhesive stamps in April, 1851, when the 4 rigsbankskilling stamp was issued. A 2 rbs value, for Copenhagen local letters, was issued later the same month.

The stamps were engraved on steel by M. W. Ferslew and typographed by H. H. Thiele of Copenhagen. It is thought that the first printing of these stamps may have been produced by Ferslew himself, since the colour of the background wavy lines varies considerably.

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First Stamps - Estonia

1918 Estonia #1-4

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First Stamps - Faroe Islands

1919 Faroe Islands #1

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First Stamps - Finland

Issues under Russian Empire

1856 Finland - Coat of Arms #1-2

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First Stamps - France

1849-50 France - Ceres #1-9

buy or sell a Stamps of France

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First Stamps - France (Colonies & DOM-TOM)

1859-65 French Colonies - Eagle and Crown #1

Alexandretta - Issues from 1938 to 1938Algeria - French Department - Issues from 1924 to 1958 Andorra - French Post Offices - Issues from 1931 to 2001 Andorra - Spanish Post Offices - Issues from 1928 to 2000 Cameroun - French Occupation - Issues from 1915 to 1921 Cameroun - French Trust Territory - Issues from 1917 to 1959 Cameroun - Mandated Territory - Issues from 1924 to 1946 Chad - Chad Republic - Issues from 1959 to 1960 Chad - French Colony - Issues from 1922 to 1931 Cilicia - Issues from 1919 to 1921 Comoro Islands - Anjouan - Issues from 1892 to 1912 Comoro Islands - General Issues - Issues from 1854 to 1975 Comoro Islands - Great Comoro -Issues from 1897 to 1912 Comoro Islands - Mayotte - Issues from 1892 to 1912 Comoro Islands - Mohéli - Issues from 1906 to 1912 Congo - Congo Republic - Issues from 1959 to 1960 Congo - French Congo - Issues from 1891 to 1903 Congo - Middle Congo - Issues from 1907 to 1933 Dahomey & Dep/Vichy Govt - Issues from 1941 to 1942 Dahomey & Deps/French Colony - Issues from 1899 to 1940 Dahomey/Autonomous Republic - Issues from 1913 to 1960 Dahomey/Benin/French Prots - Issues from 1892 to 1894 Fezzan - Civil Administration - Issues from 1950 to 1951 Fezzan - Ghadamès - Issues from 1949 to 1949 Fezzan - Military Administration - Issues from 1943 to 1949 Free French Forces in the Levant - Issues from 1942 to 1943 French Equatorial Africa - Issues from 1936 to 1958 French Guiana/Fr Overseas Dep - Issues from 1946 to 1947 French Guiana/Free French Admin - Issues from 1944 to 1945 French Guiana/French Colony - Issues from 1886 to 1939 French Guiana/Inini - Issues from 1932 to 1939 French Guiana/Iss of Co des Transport - Issues from 1921 to 1921 French Guiana/Vichy Government - Issues from 1941 to 1941 French Guinea - Issues from 1892 to 1940 French Guinea/Vichy Government - Issues from 1913 to 1942 French Indian Settlements - Issues from 1892 to 1954 French Morocco - Post Offices - Issues from 1891 to 1911 French Morocco - Protectorate - Issues from 1914 to 1955 French Morocco - Sherifian Post - Issues from 1912 to 1913 French P.O.'s in China - Issues from 1894 to 1922 French P.O.'s in Crete - Issues from 1902 to 1903 French P.O.'s in Egypt - Alexandria - Issues from 1899 to 1928 French P.O.'s in Egypt - Port Said - Issues from 1899 to 1927 French P.O.'s in Ethiopia - Issues from 1906 to 1906 French P.O.'s in Tangier - Issues from 1918 to 1928 French P.O.'s in Turkish Emp/Dedeagatz - Issues from 1893 to 1902 French P.O.'s in Turkish Emp/General Issues - Issues from 1885 to 1923

French P.O.'s in Turkish Emp/Kavalla - Issues from 1893 to 1902French P.O.'s in Turkish Emp/Occ Of Castelrosso - Issues from 1920 to 1920 French P.O.'s in Turkish Emp/Port Lagos - Issues from 1893 to 1893 French P.O.'s in Turkish Emp/Vathy (Samos) - Issues from 1893 to 1893 French P.O.'s in Zanzibar - Issues from 1894 to 1904 French Poly/Oceanic Settlements - Issues from 1892 to 1956 French Polynesia - Issues from 1958 to 2001 French Polynesia - Tahiti - Issues from 1882 to 1915 French Sthrn & Antarctic Territories - Issues from 1881 to 2001 French Sudan/A. French Sudan - Issues from 1894 to 1900 French Sudan/B. Senegambia & Niger - Issues from 1903 to 1903 French Sudan/C. Upper Senegal & Niger - Issues from 1906 to 1915 French Sudan/D. French Sudan - Issues from 1917 to 1942 French Territory of Afars & Issas - Issues from 1967 to 1977 French Territory of Afars & Issas - Djibouti - Issues from 1893 to 1902 French Territory of Afars & Issas - Obock - Issues from 1892 to 1894 French Territory of Afars & Issas - Somali Coast - Issues from 1902 to 1967 French West Africa - Issues from 1944 to 1959 Gabon - French Colony - Issues from 1886 to 1932 Gabon - Gabonese Republic - Issues from 1959 to 1960 Guadeloupe - French Colony - Issues from 1876 to 1945 Guadeloupe - French Overseas Dept - Issues from 1905 to 1947 Indo China - Issues from 1889 to 1949 Indo China - Annam & Tongking - Issues from 1888 to 1888 Indo China - Cochin China - Issues from 1886 to 1886 Indo China - P.O.'s In China - Canton - Issues from 1901 to 1919 Indo China - P.O.'s In China - Chungking - Issues from 1903 to 1919 Indo China - P.O.'s In China - General Issues - Issues from 1902 to 1904 Indo China - P.O.'s In China - Hoihow - Issues from 1901 to 1919 Indo China - P.O.'s In China - Kwangchow - Issues from 1841 to 1939 Indo China - P.O.'s In China - Mengtsz - Issues from 1903 to 1919 Indo China - P.O.'s In China - Pakhoi - Issues from 1903 to 1919 Indo China - P.O.'s In China - Yunnanfu - Issues from 1903 to 1919 Ivory Coast - Autonomous Republic - Issues from 1913 to 1960 Ivory Coast - French Colony - Issues from 1892 to 1942 Latakia - Issues from 1931 to 1931 Latakia - Alaouites - Issues from 1925 to 1929 Latakia - Rouad Island - Issues from 1916 to 1916 Lebanon - Mdated Territory Of Greater - Issues from 1924 to 1926 Lebanon - Rep Under French Mdate - Issues from 1926 to 1940 Madagascar - Diego - Saurez - Issues from 1890 to 1894 Madagascar - French Post Offices - Issues from 1889 to 1896 Madagascar - Madagasc & Dep - Issues from 1896 to 1957

Madagascar - Malagasy Republic - Issues from 1958 to 1960Madagascar - Nossi Be - Issues from 1889 to 1894 Madagascar - St. Marie de Madagasc - Issues from 1894 to 1894 Mali Federation - Issues from 1959 to 1960 Martinique - French Colony - Issues from 1886 to 1982 Martinique - French Overseas Dep - Issues from 1947 to 1947 Mauritania - Auto Islamic Rep - Issues from 1913 to 1960 Mauritania - French Civil Territory - Issues from 1906 to 1915 Mauritania - French Colony - Issues from 1922 to 1944 Mayotte - Issues from 1997 to 2001 Monaco - Post Service - Monaco - Issues from 1860 to 1881 Monaco - Post Service - Monte Carlo - Issues from 1874 to 1884 Monaco - Sardinian Postal Service - Issues from 1855 to 1855 Monaco Post Office - Issues from 1885 to 2001 New Caledonia - Issues from 1860 to 2001 New Hebrides - Issues from 1908 to 1980 Niger - Autonomous Republic - Issues from 1959 to 1960 Niger - Colony - Issues from 1925 to 1942 Niger - Territory - Issues from 1921 to 1922 Réunion - Colony - Issues from 1852 to 1945 Réunion - Overseas Department - Issues from 1946 to 1974 Senegal - Colony - Issues from 1887 to 1939 Senegal - Free Admins - Issues from 1914 to 1944 Senegal - Vichy Government - Issues from 1941 to 1942 St.Pierre et Miquelon - Collectivité Territoriale - Issues from 1986 to 2001 St.Pierre et Miquelon - Colony - Issues from 1885 to 1939 St.Pierre et Miquelon - Free Admins - Issues from 1932 to 1945 St.Pierre et Miquelon - Overseas Territory - Issues from 1946 to 1976 Syria - Military Occupation - Issues from 1919 to 1927 Syria - Republic under French Mandate - Issues from 1934 to 1940 Syria/Mdated Territory - Lebanon & Syria iss - Issues from 1923 to 1923 Syria/Mdated Territory - Syria issues - Issues from 1924 to 1931 Togo - Administration - Issues from 1921 to 1921 Togo - Anglo-French Occupation - Issues from 1914 to 1916 Togo - Autonomous Republic - Issues from 1955 to 1960 Togo - Mandated Territory - Issues from 1922 to 1944 Togo - Trust Territory - Issues from 1947 to 1954 Tunisia - Autonomus State - Issues from 1906 to 1956 Tunisia - French Protectorate - Issues from 1888 to 1955 Ubangi-Shari - Central African Rep - Issues from 1959 to 1960 Ubangi-Shari - General issues - Issues from 1922 to 1931 Ubangi-Shari - Ubangi-Shari-Chad - Issues from 1915 to 1922 Upper Volta - Autonomous Rep - Issues from 1920 to 1960 Upper Volta - Colony - Issues from 1920 to 1931 Wallis & Futuna Is. - Overseas Territory - Issues from 1962 to 2001 Wallis & Futuna Is. - Protectorate - Issues from 1920 to 1958

buy or sell a Stamps of France (Colonies & DOM-TOM)

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First Stamps - Georgia

Tiphlis Unique, or Tiflis stamp

1857

  

ტფილისის უნიკა

  

Paris copy - black and white version - copy of number 2 (1870 - 1880)

A 6k local stamp, imperforate and embossed without color on white paper, was issued in November, 1857, at Tiflis by authority of the viceroy. The square design shows a coat of arms.Philatelic name is very rare postage stamp, issued in the Russian Empire (in modern Georgia) for the city post in Tiflis (now Tbilisi) and Kojori in 1857. Term yield and symbolism suggest Tiphlis Unique as the first Russian stamp This is one of the oldest stamps of the Russian Empire. Now collectors are arguing about how much it could cost such a unique brand. While the average price set by collectors, is 8 million dollars. Only three specimens known.

1919 Georgia - National Republic - St. George #12-17

1920 Georgia - Queen Thamar #18-20

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First Stamps - Germany

1849 German State - Bavaria #1-2

1851 German State - Baden #1

1862 German State - Rural Postage Due Stamps # LJ1

1872 Germany - Imperial Eagle #1

Germany - Issues from 1872 to 1945Allied Occupation - Allied Military Post (British and American Zones) - Issues from 1945 to 1945 Allied Occupation - American, British and Russian Zones 1946-49 - Issues from 1946 to 1948 Allied Occupation - British and American Zones 1948-49 - Issues from 1948 to 1949 West Berlin - Issues from 1948 to 1990 German Democratic Republic (East Germany) - Issues from 1949 to 1990

German Federal Republic - Issues from 1949 to 2004Allied Occupation - French Zone - General Issues - Issues from 1945 to 1946 Allied Occupation - French Zone - Baden - Issues from 1947 to 1949 Allied Occupation - French Zone - Rhineland Palatinate - Issues from 1947 to 1949 Allied Occupation - French Zone - Wurttemburg - Issues from 1947 to 1949 Allied Occupation - French Zone - Russian Zone - Issues from 1948 to 1949

buy or sell a Stamps of Germany

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First Stamps - Gibraltar

1886 Gibraltar - Queen Victoria - Types of Bermuda Overprinted in Black #1-7

Gibraltar issued its first ever stamp in 1886 when the Colonial Government of Gibraltar assumed control of its Postal Services. As an interim measure, Bermuda stamp plates were overprinted with 'Gibraltar' using different colours. These were replaced by Gibraltar's own design in December of that same year.

Gibraltar's stamps were used with peseta values from 1889 to 1898 since trade was carried out in this currency.

Before 1886, British and Spanish stamps were used according to the type of mail and other arrangements. British stamps used in Gibraltar may be identified by the use of cancels containing the numeral A26 or the letter G in oval bars

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First Stamps - Great Britain

Penny Black - first postage stamp in the world. Penny Red

May 1, 1840. 1841

  

As most stamp collector already know the Penny Black is the world's first adhesive postage stamp and was issued by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland on May 1st 1840. Due to its significance this stamps is very popular. The Penny Black is not that rare a stamp, as there were 68,808,000 issued, yes 68 million! A substantial number of these have survived, largely because envelopes were not commonly used yet, letters being written, folded and sealed with wax, with the stamp and the address on the obverse. This meant that whenever a letter was filed in a lawyer's office, bank, etc., the whole thing would be kept. The stamps were printed in sheets of 240, from engraved steel plates, on gummed paper with a single small crown watermark on each stamp. They were imperforated and had to be cut out with scissors. Over time, due to excessive wear, eleven different printing plates were used , and it is possible in almost every case to work out which plate any individual stamp was printed from by little characteristics. Some plates are scarcer than others, plate 11 being the rarest, intended originally solely for the new red stamps, only 16800 stamps were printed from this plate. These are now very rare. A special postmark was also introduced to cancel the stamps. Popularly known as the Maltese Cross. It was to begin with, in black. But since it was difficult to see a black postmark on a black stamp the color was changed to red. Many used examples of the period have killer cancellations, so that it could not be used again. The postal authorities were clearly worried that people might "clean" the stamp so that it could be used again. The colour of the Penny Black was later changed to red for this very reason. Used examples with a light cancellation command a much higher premium on the market than heavily obliterated ones. A specimen of this stamp with a red Maltese cross cancellation sold at auction for more than $2.4 million.

Queen Victoria - Issues from 1840 to 1902King Edward VII - Issues from 1853 to 1911 King George V - Issues from 1911 to 1935 King George VI - Issues from 1936 to 1954 King Edward VIII - Issues from 1936 to 1937

Channel Islands - Issues from 1941 to 1948Queen Elizabeth II - Issues from 1952 to 2005 Regional Issues - Northern Ireland - Issues from 1958 to 2003 Regional Issues - Scotland - Issues from 1958 to 2004 Regional Issues - Wales - Issues from 1882 to 2003

buy or sell a Stamps of Great Britain

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First Stamps - Great Britain (Colonies & Protectorates)

Aden (1854 -1963)Antigua & Barbuda (1858 -1981) Bahamas (1859 -1973) Bahrain (...-1965) Barbados (...-1966) Basutoland (1933-1966) Batum (1919-1920) Bechuanaland (1882 -1966) British Guiana (...-1966) British Honduras (...-1970) British Levant British Solomon Islands (...-1978) Brunei (...-1984) Burma (...-1947) Ceylon (...-1947) Cyprus (...-1960) Dominica (...-1978)

Egypt (...-1922)Fiji (...-1970) Gambia (...-1964) Gilbert & Ellice Islands (...-1979) Gold Coast (...-1957) Grenada (...-1974) Heligoland (1867-1890) Hong Kong (1862 -1997) India (1852 -1947) Jamaica (...-1961) Kenya, Uganda & Tanganyika Leeward Islands 1061 Malaysia (...-1963) Maldives (...-1965) Malta (...-1964) Mauritius (...-1967) Nigeria (...-1960)

North Borneo (...-1963)Rhodesia (...-1980) Sarawak (...-1963) Seychelles (...-1976) Sierra Leone (...-1960) Singapore (...-1959) Somaliland (Protectorate ...-1959) South Africa (...-1961) South West Africa (1923-1990) St.Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla (...-1980) St.Lucia (...-1978) St.Vincent (...-1979) Sudan (...-1951) Swaziland (...-1967) Tonga (...-1970) Trinidad & Tobago (...-1961) Zanzibar (...-1963)

buy or sell a Stamps of Great Britain (Colonies & Protectorates)

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First Stamps - Greece

 

1861 Greece - Hermes (Mercury) #1-7

On October 1st, 1861 Greece released it’s first postage stamps, what’s known as the “Large Hermes Heads”. They are masterpieces, considered some of the finest stamps, not only in Greek philately, but in all philately. The seven stamps each feature the Greek god Hermes, known among other traits, as messenger to the Gods. It’s a perfect choice and one that recurs many times on stamps worldwide.

The Hermes Head stamp has it’s roots in France, the stamp design was done by Albert Barre. His design based on the French stamp featuring the goddess Demeter, and executed by his father, the engraver Jacques-Jean Barre. The seven values of the first stamps (Scott #1-7) were printed in Paris, and have become known as the “Paris Prints”. These were so finely executed that they are fairly easy to recognize, even to an untrained eye.

The printing plates were shipped to Greece, where printing resumed. The subsequent printings created a number of distinct varieties, which amuse, frustrate and otherwise occupy many collectors. Indeed, many devote themselves to the study of nothing but these stamps. Control numbers on the back of the stamps, paper varieties, color variations, plates flaws and forgeries all contribute to the mystique the Hermes Heads continue to have.

Among the most valuable is the “Solferino” a distinct color variety of the 40 lepta Hermes Head stamp. The stamp takes it’s name from the blood spilled on the sands at the battle of Solferino. Only 14 examples are known to exist and one is about to go to auction with an opening bid of 40,000 euro. Any takers?

An interesting aside…the Hermes Heads were not the first postage stamps used in Greece. The British having occupied the Ionian Islands, issued a set of three stamps in 1859. Five years later, in a gesture of goodwill they ceded the islands back to Greece and those stamps became invalid.

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OCCUPATION STAMPS

Stamps N1, N17 Issued under Greek Occupation Greek Occupation Stamps of 1911 - 23

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First stamps Epirus

LOCATION — Southeastern Europe comprising parts of Greece and Albania.

This territory formerly belonged to Turkey but is now divided between Greece and Albania. The northern part of the Greek section, now a part of Albania, set up a provisional government during 1912-13 and issued postage stamps but it collapsed in 1916, following Greek occupation. The name “Epirus” is taken from the Greek word meaning “Mainland.”

100 Lepta = 1 Drachma

Chimarra Issue

stamp # 1 - 1914 Double-headed Eagle, Skull and Crossbones

Provisional Government Issues

stamp # 5, 7, 15 - 1914 Infantryman with Rifle, Flag of Epirus

Koritsa Issue

stamp # 26 - 1914 Koritsa

Chimarra Issue

stamp # 38 - 1914 1911-23 Issues of Greece Overprinted

Stamps of the following designs were not regularly issued for postal purposes.

From 1914: 1st design, 3 varieties.

2nd design, 6 varieties. 3rd design, 7 varieties. 4th and 5th designs, 15 varieties.

From 1920: 6th design, 4 varieties.

buy or sell a Stamps of Greece

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First Stamps - Greenland

1938-46 Greenland - Christian & Polar Bear #1-9

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First Stamps - Guernsey

1958-69 Guernsey - Guernsey Lily and Crown of William the Conqueror #1-7

1969-70 Guernsey - William the Conqueror, Queen Elizabeth II and Map of Bailiwick & Creux Harbor, Sark #8-23

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First Stamps - Hungary

1871 Hungary - Franz Josef I #1-6

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First Stamps - Iceland

1873 Iceland #1-4

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First Stamps - Ireland

1922 Ireland #1-11

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First Stamps - Isle of Man

1958 Great Britain, Regional, Isle of Man #1-2

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First Stamps - Italy

1852 Italy MODENA - Coat of Arms #1-5

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First Stamps - Jersey

1941 Jersey - German Occupation Issue # 1-2

1964 Great Britain, Regional, Jersey #1

1969 Great Britain - Regional, Jersey - Bailiwick Complete Set #7-21

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First Stamps - Kosovo

United Nations - Kosovo Complete Set 1-5

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First Stamps - Latvia

1918 Latvia #1-2

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First Stamps - Liechtenstein

1912 Liechtenstein - Prince Johann II #1-3

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First Stamps - Lithuania

The first Lithuanian postage stamps were issued in December 1918. The first set of 10 and 15 skatikas stamps of “Lietuvos pašta” within a rectangle. The first edition was limited to 5000 set

1918 Lithuania - Dec. 27 #1-2

A larger second edition of six stamps (Mi 3-8) was printed December 31, 1918.

1918 Lithuania #3-8

A total of 768 stamps of different designs were issued by the Republic of Lithuania between 1918 and 1940, with more than 2,000 variations due to errors, misprints or perforations. The first airmail stamps were issued in 1921.

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First Stamps - Luxembourg

1852 Sept 15 Luxembourg - Grand Duke William III #1-3

Guillaume III had very few direct dealings with Luxembourg for most of his reign. On February 5, 1850, he appointed his brother, Prince Henri, as his lieutenant in the Grand Duchy, and Henri took on most of the responsibilities of a governor. Prince Henri became a very popular personality as he governed Luxembourg under this authority until his death on January 13, 1879.

Indeed, Guillaume III (or Willem III) is the same ruler as the one in The Netherlands at that time. He was the 963rd Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece in Spain in 1842, the 777th Knight of the Order of the Garter in 1882 and the 72nd Grand Cross of the Order of the Tower and Sword.

He died in Het Loo in 1890. Of William III's legitimate children, only three reached adulthood, two sons from his marriage to Queen Sophie and one daughter from his marriage to Queen Emma. Because Wilhelmina (his daughter) had not yet reached adulthood, Emma became regent for her daughter. She would remain regent until Wilhelmina's eighteenth birthday in 1898. Because the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg could only be inherited through the male line at the time, under Salic law, it went to Adolphe, the former Duke of Nassau.

The first Luxemburgian stamp was emitted in 1852, same as in the Netherland. The picture of Willem III, Guillaume III, is facing to the left on the Luxemburg stamp, and to the right on the Dutch stamp.

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First Stamps - Macedonia

First Macedonian stamp after independence

1992 Macedonia - Christmas 93 #3 To mark Christmas and New Year Design: The Genesis, 16th C. icon from The Slepce Monastery

1992 Macedonia - Cultural inheritance #1 The first definnite - issue Macedonian stamp to commemorate the 1st Anniversary of the Referendum for Independance of the Republic of Macedonia. Design: Peter and Makarios, detail from the iconostasis in St. John Bigorski, Debar area

1992 Macedonia - Christmas 93 #4 Design: Holy Virgin Pelagonitissa, icon from 1422 from The Zrze Monastery Designed by M.Dameski

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First Stamps - Malta

1860-63 Malta - Queen Victoria #1-3

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First Stamps - Malte (Ordre de)

ORDRE DE MALTE - rare bloc - superbe

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First Stamps - Moldova

1991 Moldova - Coat of Arms #1-3

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First Stamps - Monaco

1885 Monaco - Prince Charles III #1-10

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First Stamps - Montenegro

1874 Montenegro - Prince Nicholas I #1-7

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First Stamps - Netherland

1852 Netherlands - King William III # 1-3

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First Stamps - Norway

1855 Norway - Coat of Arms #1-1a - the so-called "double foot" on right hind leg of the lion

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First Stamps - Poland

1860 Poland - Coat of Arms - The Romanov eagle #1

The first Polish postage stamp was issued when Poland was a constitutional kingdom within the Russian empire. Under tsarist rule, Poland was allowed to form its own postal system and to issue its own stamps.

On early Russian stamps, the Romanov eagle was very common. The model for the first Polish stamp was of course that of the tsarist Russian stamps which were then in use. The denomination is 10 Kopecks. It was only valid in Russia and occupied Polish territory.

The Russian two-faced Romanov eagle has been the Russian coat of arms since the 15th century. The eagle was the symbol of the Roman empire. After the division of the Roman empire, the eagle became the symbol of the Byzantine. All heirs, from islamic Albanians to east orthodox Russians took over the symbol. In Greece, the eagle is used as a symbol for the orthodox church.

The bird symbol of the crown of the Russian tsar stands for a wide vision and the unprecedented opportunities of the world's biggest state and its relation with the church.

This stamp was used in Poland until 1863, when the January Uprising broke out against the tsarist Russian oppression. After 1863, regular Russian stamps were used in Poland until World War I.

There are two main varieties of Poland No. 1: pale and dark prints. Both pale and dark prints have colour varieties of pale blue/rose and dark blue/carmine shades.

Cancellations.The first Polish stamp was cancelled in various ways, mostly with a number within concentric circles. The number identifies the mailing office where the stamp was cancelled. 345 mailing offices can be identified on mail used during the Russian occupation of Poland. The numbers 1-322, 324-327, 329-330 and 332 were used on Poland number one. The mailing offices with the numbers 323, 328, 331 and 333-345 were opened in 1865, which is after the January Uprising. They were used on Russian stamps issued in Poland after Poland number one.

A numeral cancellation from Warsaw

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First Stamps - Portugal

1853 Portugal - Queen Maria II #1- 4

Portuguese stamp. In these first Portuguese stamps, Queen Maria II (Queen of Portugal 1834-1853) is represented, like many of the early stamps of this period was printed in unperforated sheets. Portugal by printing this stamp became the 45th country to actually use stamps. There were 4.888.729 stamps printed of this particular specimen.

It's also interesting that Queen Maria II died (giving birth to her 11th son) in the same year that these stamps were introduced so they weren't in circulation for very long.

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First Stamps - Romania

1858 Romania - Moldavia - Bull head #1-7

The most famous stamps of Romania are the famous “Bull’s Head” stamps of 1858. Actually, those stamps were issued by the Principality of Moldova (Moldavia). In 1859 Moldova was united with the Principality of Wallachia to form Romania. At that time Transylvania was still under Austro-Hungarian occupation. In 1916, Romania declared war against Germany and Austro-Hungary. After the war, Transylvania and Bucovina became part of Romania.

Before the Romanian postal administration was established (and a short period of time after that), Austrian, Russian, Greek, and French post offices existed in Romania. Austrian and French post offices used their own stamps. The last foreign post office in Romania was officially closed in 1869. Along the Danube River, the Austrian DDSG Company operated its own postal service, mostly for parcels rather than letters, and several stamps were issued. The railway hetween Constanta and Cernavoda was operated for a short period of time by a British company and also issued stamps (scarce, inscription 'LOCAL-POST D B S R Kustendje& Czernawoda', ). During WWI, part of Romania was occupied by German, Austrian, Bulgarian, and Turkish troops. Several sets of stamps were issued or overprinted. Genuine covers bearing these stamps are rare. At the end of WW1, Romanian troops administered Galitia (now in Ukraine) and several Austrian stamps were overprinted (these are rare on genuine cover).

In 1919, the Romanian city of Timisoara was under Serb and Romanian occupation, and Arad under French. Each administration issued its own stamps, the French ones being the rarest. Commercial covers bearing those issues are rare and seldom offered.

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First Stamps - Russia & USSR

 

stamp 1857 Russia - Empire Coat of Arms #1

The first postage stamp of the Russian Empire, shown above, was issued on December 10, 1857. The new stamps were typographed on wove paper, imperforate, and watermarked with a colorless numeral "1".

The design features a crowned, draped, oval containing the Imperial Arms with posthorns below. The oval contains Russian inscriptions: "ÏO×TOBAß MAPKA" meaning "postage stamp" at the top and "10 ÊÎÏ : 3À ËÎÒÚ" indicating "10 Kopecks for letters weighing up to one ounce". The denomination is also spelled out in larger letters below the oval, and there are denomination numerals at the far corners of the stamps.

Mint condition examples of the first Russian postage stamp are exceedingly rare, and many of the examples offered are pen-canceled stamps with the cancellations removed.

buy or sell a Stamps of Russia & USSR

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First Stamps - Saar

1920 Saar - German Stamps of 1906-19 Overprinted #1-16

The Saar Plebiscite Territory (Sarre in French), or Saar Occupation Territory (Saargebiet in German), was mandated to France following the end of World War I. The League of Nations mandate carried a provision that a plebiscite would be held within 15 years, to determine the national affiliation of the former German Imperial territory.

The first postage stamps for the Saar Plebiscite Territory were issued in 1920.

Between January and March of 1920, the locally available Germania and Representative Subject stamps of Germany, issued between 1906 and 1919, were overprinted Sarre, with a bar at the bottom obliterating the inscription "DEUTSCHES REICH".

There are three types of the overprint. In the images above, the types are mixed, but they can easily be picked out. The 2 Pf., 2 1/2 Pf., 3 Pf., 5 Pf., 7 1/2 Pf., 40 Pf., and 50 Pf. denominations exist with all three types. The 10 Pf., 15 Pf., 20 Pf., 25 Pf., 30 Pf., 35 Pf., 60 Pf., 75 Pf., and 80 Pf. denominations exist with only types I and III. The type II overprint is the scarcest of the three. The overprint types are as follows:

Type I -- Saare is in large letters and is 10.7 mm long.

Type II -- Saare is in large letters, as Type I. There is a tiny dash underneath the bar at the bottom.

Type III -- Saare is in smaller letters and is 10.5 mm long. There is a tiny dash underneath the bar at the bottom.

Most of the stamps in this group exist with inverted overprints, double overprints, and in pairs with one overprint missing. These varieties are moderately to very expensive. There are also many printing errors in the overprint letters and bar. For details, refer to the Michel Deutschland-Spezial Katalog volume I.

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First Stamps - San Marino

1877 San Marino #1-24

San Marino began issuing "its own" stamps only in 1877, after signing the postal agreement with the Kingdom of Italy which called for the cessation of the use of Italian postage on mail originating in the Republic. The first series of stamps reproduced the three towers of Mount Titano, simbol of the Country. The design was created by the firm, Fratelli Pellas of Genoa and the stamps were printed in Turin by the Officina Carta e Valori, on Italian watermarked paper.

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First Stamps - Serbia

1866 Serbia - Coat of Arms & Prince Michael Obrenovich III #1-6

Serbia newspaper stamps from 1866/9 and 1869/80 used on whole newspapers or complete fronts are rare. Six examples recorded over twenty years are considered, four of which are forgeries. The rates and usage are described, and the degrees of rarity are discussed, as is the reason for this situation which include the ephemeral nature of newspapers and the exigencies of war.

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First Stamps - Slovakia

1939 Slovakia - Stamps of Czechoslovakia 1928-39 Overprinted in Red or Blue #2-6

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First Stamps - Slovenia

1991-1992 Slovenia - Indepedence & Coat of Arms of Slovenia #100- 114

Tender plan of Slovene Parliament Building made by architect Jože Plečnik.

Illustration: Grega Košak. Coat of arms of Slovenia:

The Slovenian coat of arms consists of a red bordered blue shield on which there is a stylised white mount Triglav. Under Triglav there are two bending lines that represent the sea and rivers, and above Triglav there are three golden, six-pointed stars, forming a triangle. The stars are taken from the coat of arms of the counts of Celje.

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First Stamps - Spain

1850 Spain - Queen Isabella II #1-5

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First Stamps - Sweden

Swedish Treskilling Yellow keeps its title as the world's most expensive stamp after changing hands in Geneva. One of the world's rarest stamps has fetched a record price at auction in Switzerland, organisers told the BBC - 22 May 2010.However the buyers have chosen not to disclose how much they paid. All bidders in auction were sworn to secrecy The stamp Treskilling Yellow - a version of a 1855 three shilling stamp which was meant to be printed green - is believed to be the last of its kind. The stamp was last officially sold in Zurich in 1996 for 2.88 million Swiss francs (then about $2.3 million). The stamp been in the hands of a host of different figures, including a Romanian King. It is said to have been discovered in 1885 by a 14-year old schoolboy from Stockholm who found it while looking through his family's correspondence.

1855 Sweden #1-5

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First Stamps - Switzerland

Zurich Local stamp, 1843 Switzerland - Numerals of Value #1-2

The Swiss Cantonal Administration of Zurich (which first issued stamps in March 1843). Purists consider the Zurich stamps as 'locals', though others argue that they fit the main criteria of being postage stamps by prepaying the rate of postage in the form of a stamp to be affixed to the letter as proof that postage has been paid.

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First Stamps - Switzerland (UN Geneva)

UNITED NATIONS GENEVA (U.N./UN) 1969-70 Set #1-14

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First Stamps - Turkey

1863 Turkey - “Tughra,” Monogram of Sultan Abdul-Aziz #1-7

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First Stamps - Ukraine

1918 Ukraine - Republic’s Trident Emblem - Ukrainian Peasant - Allegorica Ukraine - Trident - Inscription of Value #1-5

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First Stamps - Vatican

1929 Vatican - Papal Arms - Pope Pius XI #1- 13

The Vatican post office has operated its own postal service and issued its own postage stamps since 1929.

The postal history of Vatican City begins shortly after its official foundation on 11 February 1929. Two days later, the Vatican post office began operating with supplies and equipment donated by the Italian government. Vatican City became a member of the Universal Postal Union on 1 June, and then on 29 July Vatican City and Italy signed a postal agreement, going into effect on 1 August, providing for the routing of its mail through Rome.

The first of August also saw the issuance of the first Vatican stamps (Italian stamps were used previously), in the "Conciliation" definitive series of 15 values. The low values, 5 to 75 centesmi, depicted the papal coat of arms, while the higher values (80 centesmi to 10 lira) featured a full-face portrait of the reigning Pope Pius XI.

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First Stamps - Yugoslavia

1918 Stamps of Bosnia and Herzegovina - 1910 - Overprinted or Surcharged in Black or Red

1918 CROATIA-SLAVONIA - Stamps of Hungary Overprinted in Blue #2L1

1919 SLOVENIA - Chain Breaker #3L2-4-5

1921 Yugoslavia - King Alexander - King Peter I #1, 10

Yugoslavija -80th birthday J.B.Tito 1972 - UNISSUED SET- extra rare, a few sets in a whole world

The story of the postage stamps and postal history of Yugoslavia officially begins with the formation of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes on 1 December 1918. Prior to this each of the constituent countries had their own postal systems and history (see Postage stamps and postal history of Bosnia & Herzegovina, Postage stamps and postal history of Croatia, Postage stamps and postal history of Serbia, etc).

Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia-Slavonia actually issued stamps for the new regime in November, before it was formally created. In the former case the Austrian-issued pictorial stamps of 1910 were overprinted, some in Latin characters reading "DRZAVA S.H.S. / 1918 1918 / Bosna j Hercegovina" and others in their Cyrillic equivalent. In Croatia-Slavonia, stamps of Hungary overprinted with "HRVATSKA / SHS" went on sale 18 November. In Slovenia, design work began at this time, with the first stamps of the Verigar issue going on sale 3 January 1919.

Croatia-Slavonia issued their own designs of stamps in 1919 as well, using various allegorical designs. Slovenia issued additional allegorical designs in 1919, along with high values depicting King Peter I.

The first stamps intended for use throughout the kingdom were issued 16 January 1921. The lower values depicted Crown Prince Alexander, and the higher values (1 dinar and up), King Peter. In January 1923, the higher values were replaced by the image of now-King Alexander. Variations on the design appeared in issues of 1924 (different portrait) and 1926 (facing right instead of left, typographed instead of engraved).