ROMSO Cyprus Knowledge Base

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The Universal Postal Union (UPU) was founded in 1874. Since 1947, the UPU is an international intergovernmental organization, a special UN agency with its seat in Bern, Switzerland.

Until 1949, postage stamps dedicated to the UPU could be issued only by the UPU Congress. The first omnibus series dedicated to the UPU was published in 1949-1953 in connection with an important international event - a special meeting in Bern on the 75th anniversary of the UPU. Almost every country issued stamps, and since then stamps have been issued by many countries for all UPU congresses.

Postage stamps commemorating the 75th anniversary of the UPU are collected in the omnibus series of 1949-1953 “75th Anniversary of the Universal Postal Union”, understood broadly as “special issues on important events, even if they were not expected to have a similar pattern.”

The countries of the omnibus series "75th Anniversary of the Universal Postal Union", released in 1949-1953, according to the Michel catalog, are divided into parts of the world and then ordered alphabetically. Numbers, release dates and stamp names are also taken from the Michel catalog.

There are 181 countries in total. The series does not include stamps dedicated to the anniversary, but not issued, non-postal and service. Some countries whose postage stamps are not included in the omnibus series "75th anniversary of the Universal Postal Union":
Afghanistan; Ireland; Spanish Sahara; Canada; Democratic People's Republic of Korea; Libya; Mongolia; Nepal; Pakistan; Saudi Arabia; Sudan; Thailand; Yemen.

Australia, Oceania and Antarctica
Only 12 countries.

Australia

Australia issued the single stamp on 10 October 1949. Michel No. 198 features a riding postman and an airplane.

Dependencies of the Falkland Islands
The dependent territories of the Falkland Islands issued a series of four stamps on October 10, 1949:
Michel No. 14 – Hermes, Globe and Transport
Michel No. 15 - two hemispheres of the Earth, an aircraft and a steamer;
Michel No. 16 – Hermes over the globe
Michel No. 17 is a monument to the UPU, Bern, Switzerland.

New Caledonia

New Caledonia issued a single stamp on July 4, 1949. Michel No. 348 features representatives of different nations in front of the globe and Lockheed's Constellation.

The New Hebrides
The New Hebrides issued a series of eight stamps on October 10, 1949, of one drawing, differing in color and language in the inscriptions Michel No. 133-140: No. 133-136 in English, No. 137-140 in French. The stamps depict a monument to the UPU, Bern, Switzerland.

Gilbert and Ellis Islands
The Gilbert and Ellis Islands issued a series of four stamps on October 10, 1949:
Michel No. 54 – Hermes, Globe and Transport
Michel No. 55 - two hemispheres of the Earth, an aircraft and a wheeled steamer;
Michel No. 56 – Hermes over the globe
Michel No. 57 is a monument to the UPU, Bern, Switzerland.

Pitcairn Islands
The Pitcairn Islands issued a series of four stamps on October 10, 1949:
Michel No. 15 – Hermes, globe and transport
Michel No. 16 - Two Hemispheres