Compendium of postage stamp issuers (Ar

Each "article" in this category is a collection of entries about several stamp issuers, presented in alphabetical order. The entries are formulated on the micro model and so provide summary information about all known issuers.

See the Category:Compendium of postage stamp issuers page for details of the project.

Arad (French Occupation)

Hungarian stamps overprinted Occupation Française.

Dates

1919 only

Currency

100 filler = 1 korona

Refer

French Occupation Issues

Arbe

Stamps of Fiume overprinted Arbe during the last month (Nov-Dec 1920) of the Carnaro regency in Fiume. Arbe became the Yugoslav island of Rab. Fiume has been renamed Rijeka.

Dates

1920 only

Currency

100 centesimi = 1 lira

Refer

Fiume

Archipel des Comores

Refer

Comoro Islands

Argentina

Dates

1858 –

Capital

Buenos Aires

Currency

100 centavos = 1 peso

Main Article

Postage stamps and postal history of Argentina

Argentine Territories

Main Article

Includes

Buenos Aires;

Córdoba;

Corrientes

Tierra del Fuego

Armenia

Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, Armenia became an independent republic and started to issue its own stamps in 1992.

Dates

1992 –

Capital

Yerevan

Currency

(1992) 100 kopecks = 1 Russian ruble

(2002) 100 luma = 1 dram

Main Article

Postage stamps and postal history of Armenia

Includes

Armenia (pre-Soviet)

See also

Transcaucasian Federation;

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR)

Armenia (pre-Soviet)

Formerly part of Transcaucasian Russia, Armenia gained temporary independence after the 1917 Russian Revolution. During 1922–1924, Armenia formed part of the Transcaucasian Federation with Azerbaijan and Georgia. Used stamps of the USSR 1924–1991.

Dates

1919 – 1923

Capital

Yerevan

Currency

100 kopecks = 1 Armenian ruble

Refer

Armenia

Army Post

Refer

Egypt (British Forces)

Artsakh

Refer

Nagorno-Karabakh

Aruba

Aruba is a small, rocky and semiarid island in the Caribbean, about 165 miles north of Venezuela. It is one of the Leewards and is near the Dutch islands of Curaçao and Bonaire. Oil refining was its major industry until 1985 when the refinery was closed down. Attempts are now being made to promote tourism. The population is cosmopolitan with Dutch the official language. The island was occupied by Spain early in the 16th century. The Spaniards were driven out by the Dutch in 1634. Apart from a brief period of British rule during the Napoleonic Wars, it has remained a Dutch territory ever since, forming part of the Netherlands Antilles until 1986. The economic situation in the 1970s led to demands for separation. This was achieved on 1 January 1986 when Aruba was granted the status of internal autonomy within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The first stamps were issued on the same date. Aruba was scheduled for full independence in 1996.

Dates

1986 –

Capital

Oranjestad

Currency

100 cents = 1 gulden

Main Article

Postage stamps and postal history of Aruba

See also

Netherlands Antilles

Arwad

Refer

Ile Rouad

Ascension

Used GB stamps 1867–1922.

Dates

1922 –

Capital

Georgetown

Currency

(1922) 12 pence = 1 shilling; 20 shillings = 1 pound

(1971) 100 pence = 1 pound

Asch (Sudetenland)

There was an issue in Asch (now Aš) by Germans in September 1938, not unauthorized by Czechoslovak authorities which would soon lose control after the Munich agreement.

Refer

Czechoslovakia

Astypalaea

Island in the Dodecanese which belonged to Italy 1912–1945 and used general issues of Aegean Islands (Egeo) throughout that period. Also issued own stamps inscribed STAMPALIA, which is the Italian name of the island.

Dates

1912 – 1932

Currency

100 centesimi = 1 lira (Italian)

Refer

Aegean Islands (Dodecanese)

Ataman Semyonov Regime (Transbaikal)

This was based at Chita until it was overthrown by forces of the Far Eastern Republic.

Dates

1920 only

Capital

Chita

Currency

100 kopecks = 1 Russian ruble

Refer

Russian Civil War Issues

Aunus (Finnish Occupation)

The Russian town of Olonetz was occupied by Finland during the Russian Civil War. Finnish stamps were issued with an overprint of AUNUS.

Dates

1919 only

Currency

100 penni = 1 markka

Refer

Finnish Occupation Issues

Australia

Before 1913, the individual states had their own issues.

Dates

1913 –

Capital

Canberra

Currency

(1913) 12 pence = 1 shilling; 20 shillings = 1 pound

(1966) 100 cents = 1 dollar

See also

New South Wales;

Queensland;

South Australia;

Tasmania;

Victoria;

Western Australia

Australian Antarctic Territory

Dates

1957 –

Currency

(1957) 12 pence = 1 shilling; 20 shillings = 1 pound

(1966) 100 cents = 1 dollar

Austria

Dates

1850 –

Capital

Vienna

Currency

(1850) 60 kreuzer = 1 gulden

(1858) 100 kreuzer = 1 gulden

(1899) 100 heller = 1 krone

(1925) 100 groschen = 1 schilling

(1938) 100 pfennige = 1 Reichsmark (German)

(1945) 100 groschen = 1 schilling

(2002) 100 cent = 1 euro

See also

Lombardy & Venetia

Austria-Hungary

The Austrian Empire was formed in 1804 to anticipate the dissolution in 1806 of the ancient and maligned Holy Roman Empire by Napoleon. Austria, home of the Habsburg dynasty, had been the central part of the Holy Roman Empire. In the aftermath of Waterloo, Austria was one of the strongest nations in Europe and its foreign minister Metternich became the architect of the Concert of Europe which was able to maintain peace in a divided continent for several decades. Hungary, the land of the Magyars that lies to the east of Austria, was part of the Austrian Empire at that time but it constantly sought control of its own affairs. Austria faced a crisis after its defeat by Prussia in the Seven Weeks War of 1866. To consolidate his power, the Emperor Franz Josef negotiated in March 1867 the Ausgleich (Compromise) with the Magyar ruling classes. As a result, Hungary gained control of its internal affairs and the two states of Austria and Hungary were federated into what became commonly known as the Dual Monarchy. The words Kaiserliche und Königliche on Austrian stamps refer to the Empire of Austria and the Kingdom of Hungary, both titles being held by Franz Josef. The Dual Monarchy endured until the end of WWI. Austria and Hungary had separate postal administration from the time of the Ausgleich although it was not until May 1871 that Hungary could issue its first stamps. In the meantime, a set of "neutral" stamps were issued that showed a profile of Franz Josef and a value. The fact of the Dual Monarchy was emphasised in stamps issued abroad by Austro-Hungarian post offices or military forces. Hence, reference should be made to Austria and Hungary separately re home issues and to the various Austro-Hungarian entries for overseas issues.

Refer

Austria;

Austro-Hungarian Military Post;

Austro-Hungarian Occupation of Bosnia & Herzegovina;

Austro-Hungarian Post Offices in the Turkish Empire;

Hungary

Austrian Italy

Refer

Lombardy & Venetia

Austrian Levant

Refer

Austro-Hungarian Post Offices in the Turkish Empire

Austrian Territories acquired by Italy

Refer

Italian Austria

Austro-Hungarian Military Post

Stamps inscribed K-u-K FELDPOST were issued in Serbia (1916), Montenegro (1917), Romania (1917–1918) and Italy (1918).

Dates

1915 – 1918

Currency

100 heller = 1 krone (General Issues, Serbia, Montenegro);

100 centesimi = 1 lira (Italy);

100 bani = 1 leu (Rumania)

Main Article

Includes

Italy (Austrian Occupation);

Montenegro (Austrian Occupation);

Rumania (Austrian Occupation);

Serbia (Austrian Occupation)

Austro-Hungarian Occupation of Bosnia & Herzegovina

Refer

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Austro-Hungarian Post Offices in the Turkish Empire

Austria had various issues, some with overprinted values, for use in its offices throughout the Turkish Empire, including those in territory that now belongs to Greece. The offices in what is now Greek territory were at Prevesa (Epirus); Jannina (Epirus); Port Lagos (Thrace); Dedeagatz (Thrace); Volos (Thessaly); Kavalla (Macedonia); Vathy (Samos); Mytilene; Corfu; Salonika; Leros (Dodecanese); Rhodes. There were special issues for the Austrian offices in Crete.

Dates

1867 – 1915

Currency

(1867) 100 soldi = 1 gulden

(1886) 40 paras = 1 piastre

See also

Crete (Austro-Hungarian Post Offices)

AVIANCA

Private air company.

Dates

1950 – 1951

Currency

100 centavos = 1 peso

Refer

Colombian Territories

Azarbaycan

Refer

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan

Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, Azerbaijan became an independent state and has issued its own stamps, inscribed AZARBAYCAN, since 1992.

Dates

1992 –

Capital

Baku

Currency

100 qopik = 1 manat

Main Article

Postage stamps and postal history of Azerbaijan

Includes

Azerbaijan (pre-Soviet);

Nakhichevan

See also

Transcaucasian Federation;

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR)

Azerbaijan (pre-Soviet)

Formerly part of the Russian Empire, it became temporarily independent in May 1918 but was invaded by the Soviet Union in April 1920. Subsequently joined the Transcaucasian Federation prior to incorporation within the USSR, whose stamps it used from 1924 to 1991.

Dates

1919 – 1921

Capital

Baku

Currency

100 kopecks = 1 Azerbaijani ruble

Refer

Azerbaijan

See also

Transcaucasian Federation;

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR)

Azores (Acores)

Dates

1980 –

Capital

Ponta Delgada

Currency

100 centavos = 1 escudo

Includes

Azores (Portuguese Colonial Issues)

See also

Africa (Portuguese Colonies);

Azores Territories;

Portugal

Azores (Portuguese Colonial Issues)

Dates

1868 – 1931

Capital

Ponta Delgada

Currency

(1868) 1000 reis = 1 milreis

(1912) 100 centavos = 1 escudo

Refer

Azores

Azores Territories

Main Article

Includes

Angra;

Horta;

Ponta Delgada

See also

Azores

References

Bibliography

• Stanley Gibbons Ltd, various catalogues
• Stanley Gibbons Ltd, Europe and Colonies 1970, Stanley Gibbons Ltd, 1969
• Stuart Rossiter & John Flower, The Stamp Atlas, W H Smith, 1989
• XLCR Stamp Finder and Collector's Dictionary, Thomas Cliffe Ltd, c.1960

External links

• AskPhil – Glossary of Stamp Collecting Terms
• Encyclopaedia of Postal History