In brief…(303) WPU, the Universal Postal Union, celebrates its 150th anniversary

Some time ago, in Kort 296, I noted that the 150th anniversary of the WPU, the Universal Postal Union, would certainly be celebrated by post by a number of countries. In the meantime, the United Nations (May 30) and Belgium (June 10) have presented themselves. But what is the significance of the Universal Postal Union? In the past, every country had to conclude separate stamp treaties with countries to which they wanted to send mail or from which they wanted to receive mail. That was very cumbersome. Heinrich von Stephan, the Prussian Minister for Posts, founded the Universal Postal Union in 1874 through the Treaty of Bern. The Universal Postal Union subsequently became a specialized organization of the United Nations in 1948. Its main objective is the promotion of global postal traffic. On May 30, the United Nations Postal Administration celebrated the 150th anniversary of the Universal Postal Union with the issuance of three sheets containing ten stamps of $0,68, ten of CHF 1,20, and ten of €0,95, respectively. All sheets were issued in an edition of 11.000 copies. On June 10, Belgium issued a sheet containing five identical stamps with the value indication "1 world". The sheet featuring part of the world map at the bottom has an edition of 15.510. To stay with our southern neighbors for a moment, Belgium issued the most beautiful aviation stamp in 2022. It concerns a sheet (MiNr. 5154) with five stamps depicting aircraft on a humanitarian mission. Norway won silver with the stamp commemorating the 150th birthday of Roald Amundsen featuring a Zeppelin in the background (MiNr. 2067), and bronze went to Croatia with a stamp depicting the Korda Olluje Aerobatics Team (MiNr. 1584).