E U R O P E 59
Aland
Åland Post has operated separately from the postal service of Finland since 1993.
Albania
Albanian postal history, established formally on December 5, 1912
Andorra French Post
The French postal history in Andorra is defined by its role as co-prince, with La Poste operating in the country since the late 19th century.
Armenia
Following the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union, HayPost CJSC was established as the national operator.
Austria
1490: Emperor Maximilian I established a rapid courier service connecting Innsbruck with cities like Mechelen and Brussels.
Belgium
We offer a range of specialized services tailored to meet your individual needs.
Bosna i Hercegovina BH post
With the independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina f in early 1992, the need for a state-owned postal company arose, and thus the present-day company BH Pošta was founded, headquartered in Sarajevo.
Bosna i Hercegovina HP Mostar
Since January 1rst 2003. Croatian Post Mostar is an independent postal administration.
Bosna iHercegovina Rep. Srpska
Poste Srpske operates as an independent entity since January 1st 1997.
Belarus
We offer a range of specialized services tailored to meet your individual needs.
Bulgaria
First postage stamps were issued on May 1, 1879, marking the foundation of the national postal service after Ottoman rule.
Cyprus
Republic of Cyprus (1960–Present): Following independence, the Department of Postal Services was formed.
Crna Gora
It was created on 31 December 1998
Česka
1993: Following the dissolution of Czechoslovakia, the current Czech Post was established on January 1.
Danmark
Began on December 24, 1624, when King Christian IV established a national postal service
Estonia
After regaining independence, the postal system was re-established. In 2014, Eesti Post
France
Established by King Louis XI in 1477 for Royal messages, the system opened to public use in 1576, with the first national tariffs appearing in 1627.
Faroe Islands
1919: The first local Faroese postage stamp, a provisional issue, was created.
Finland
First Stamps (1856): The first postage stamps were introduced in 1856, featuring hand-stamped coats of arms.
Gibraltar
Early Years (1700s–1850s): Following British capture in 1704, mail was managed via military packet boats. Official handstamps, known as "Arcs," were introduced in 1807.
Greece
Establishment (1828): Founded by Ioannis Kapodistrias to create a central postal system during the revolution against Ottoman rule.
Greenland
First Stamps (1938): On December 1, 1938, Greenland issued its first postage stamps featuring King Christian X and a polar bear
Guernesy
1794: Official postal service established under the Postage Act, with the first postmaster, Ann Watson, appointed.
Hrvatska
1848: The first national postal administration, the Supreme Croatian-Slavonian Postal Administration, was established in Zagreb.
Ireland
17th Century: Organized postal services emerged, with routes connecting Dublin to major towns.
Island
Iceland (1776–1873): Regular mail service was established by charter in 1776, with the first postage stamps issued in 1873, featuring a crowned numeral design with the inscription "ÍSLAND".
Italia
The first stamps were produced by Matraire, followed by British firm De La Rue in 1863. Italy joined the Universal Postal Union in 1875.
Kosovo
March 15, 2000: Post of Kosovo issued its first stamps.
Latvija
Latvijas Pasts was established in 1992, joining the Universal Postal Union in 1994.
Liechtenstein
Early Mail Routes (15th Century–1817): Located on the courier route from Milan to Lindau, with early stations in Balzers and Schaan.
Litva
Early Postal Service (1562–1795): Founded by King Sigismund Augustus, regular mail links connected Vilnius to Western Europe.
Luxembourg
1842: Foundation of the Postal Administration, establishing a structured national network.
Hungary
Established on May 1, 1867, the Magyar Királyi Posta (Hungarian Royal Post) issued its own stamps starting in 1871.
Makedonija
The Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (IMRO) issued seven bilingual stamps in 1906 featuring the Bulgarian heraldic lion.
Malta
1530s–1700s: Early mail was handled by private ships traveling between Malta and Sicily, with the earliest documented letter sent in 1532.
Man
On July 5, 1973, the Isle of Man Post Office was officially created.
Moldavia
1858–1860s: The Principality of Moldova issued the first postage stamps, Cap de Bour (Aurochs Head), on July 15, 1858, ahead of many neighboring nations.
Monaco
Early Period (1700s–1814): Stampless covers used handstamps from Monaco and Fort d'Hercule (1793–1814).
Netherland
A national postal system was established on January 1, 1799, in The Hague to centralize service and rates.
Norway
1814: The service was officially separated from Swedish post despite the union, establishing 25 main post offices and many smaller ones.
Deutchland
1490–1867: Thurn-und-Taxis Period: Founded by Franz von Taxis under Emperor Maximilian I, this established a reliable, hereditary postal network across the Holy Roman Empire
Poland
1558: King Sigismund II Augustus formally established a permanent royal postal system, appointing Prospero Provano to manage it.
Portugal
1520: King Manuel I creates the Correio Público (Public Mail), appointing Luís Homem as the first Correio-Mor (Postmaster General).
Romania
Postal services were rudimentary, often relying on courier systems between major regions like Moldavia and Wallachia, with intense study in recent years covering 1830–1869.
Russia
Established regular mail routes under Peter I, with rapid expansion in the 18th century. In 1746, courier services began carrying parcels, and by 1781, home delivery for money was introduced.
San Marino
We offer a range of specialized services tailored to meet your individual needs.
Northen Maredonija
We offer a range of specialized services tailored to meet your individual needs.
Slovakia
We offer a range of specialized services tailored to meet your individual needs.
Slovenija
1833: Opening of the first local San Marino post office.
SMOM
The Knights Hospitaller managed courier services for diplomatic and trade correspondence, with a formal Commissariat of Posts established in 1708 in Valletta.
Srbija
1840: First official post office opened in Belgrade after liberation from Ottoman rule.
Spain
16th Century: The Tassis family held a royal monopoly over postal services, establishing early routes.
Sweden
Establishment (1636): The Förordning om Postbådhen (Mail Carrier Ordinance) officially created the postal service.
Swiss
1849: The Federal Act on the Organization of the Postal Administration established a centralized system, replacing 17 different, often expensive, postal organizations.
Cyprus Turkish Post
Intercommunal troubles led Turkish Cypriots to introduce their own handstamps on Jan 6, 1964 ("KIBRIS TURK POSTALARI").
Ukraina
Ukrposhta, the national postal operator, has served Ukraine since its 1991 independence.
UN Geneva
Initially named the United Nations European Office, it was officially renamed the United Nations Office at Geneva in 1966.
Vatican
While the Vatican has a long pre-1929 history of papal mail, modern postal operations began shortly after the state was founded. The Italian government donated initial equipment.
United Kingdom
1516: Establishment: Henry VIII created the post, with Brian Tuke as the first "Master of the Postes".
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