First day of the commemorative stamp for the 150-year anniversary of the Universal Postal Union (UPU)

Post around the world

For 150 years, international postal traffic has been regulated by the Universal Postal Union (UPU). To celebrate this significant anniversary, Austrian Post is issuing a commemorative stamp.

The English and French names of the Universal Postal Union are "Universal Postal Union" and "Union postale universelle," respectively, which is where the abbreviation UPU comes from. It was founded on 9 October 1874 in the Swiss capital of Bern through the Treaty of Bern, originally under the name "General Postal Union." It was renamed in 1878, and Bern remains the organisation's headquarters to this day. Since 1948, the UPU has been a specialised agency of the United Nations. To commemorate its establishment in 1874, 9 October is celebrated annually as World Post Day.

Austria-Hungary was one of the 22 founding members of the UPU, which now has 192 member states. The Universal Postal Convention governs international cooperation between postal organisations and sets the framework for cross-border postal traffic. This includes, among other things, determining the postage fees owed to the domestic postal service for the transport of letters and parcels abroad. Since its founding in 1874, the Universal Postal Congress has convened at varying intervals – currently every four years – to discuss and make strategic decisions. In 1891 and 1964, the Congress was held in Vienna.
The stamp design features illustrated vehicles from drafts by the Viennese graphic artist Heinrich Blechner for the commemorative stamp "75 Year-Anniversary of the Universal Postal Union," created in 1949 but never issued.

When? 
23 October 2024, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., presentation at 10:00 a.m.

Where? 
Federation of Austrian Philately Associations, Getreidemarkt 1, 1060 Vienna

Group picture:
Picture of presentation: © Ö. Post AG

Group picture, left to right:
Helmut Kogler (President, Federation of Austrian Philately Associations), Susanna Hiegesberger (stamp archive curator, Austrian Post)