Compendium of postage stamp issuers (Al–Aq)

Each "article" in this category is in fact a collection of entries about several stamp issuers, presented in alphabetical order. The entries themselves 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.

Alexandropoulos
Now called Alexandroupoli, a city in Thrace, north-eastern Greece, formerly known as Dedêagatz aka Dédéagh. A French post office issued French stamps there from 1893 to 1913 when it was part of the Ottoman Empire. These were overprinted Dédéagh.

When Greek forces invaded Thrace in 1913 during the Second Balkan War, Bulgarian stamps in use there were overprinted with a Greek inscription and currency value.


 * Refer
 * Dedêagatz (French Post Offices);
 * Dedêagatz (Greek Occupation)

Algeria
Former French colony which used stamps of France 1849–1924 and 1958–62.
 * Dates
 * 1962 –


 * Capital
 * Algiers


 * Currency
 * 100 centimes = 1 dinar


 * Main Article
 * Postage stamps and postal history of Algeria


 * Includes
 * Algeria (French Colony)

Algeria (French Colony)
Used French stamps 1849–1924 and 1958–62. Independent republic with own issues from 1962.
 * Dates
 * 1924 – 1958


 * Capital
 * Algiers


 * Currency
 * 100 centimes = 1 franc


 * Refer
 * Algeria

Allemagne Duitschland
Overprint on Belgian stamps issued by forces occupying part of western Germany in the aftermath of the First World War.
 * Refer
 * Germany (Belgian Occupation)

Allenstein
A region of East Prussia (German territory) that was disputed at the end of the First World War. A plebiscite was held to decide if it should be in Germany or Poland. German stamps were issued during the period of the plebiscite with an overprint of PLEBISCITE OLSZTYN ALLENSTEIN. The vote was in favour of Germany but the region was incorporated within Poland after the Second World War and is now called Olsztyn.
 * Dates
 * 1920 only


 * Currency
 * 100 pfennige = 1 mark


 * Refer
 * Plebiscite Issues

Allied Military Government for Trieste (AMG-FTT)
Allied Military Government issues for the Free Territory of Trieste following the Second World War.
 * Refer
 * Trieste

Allied Military Government for Venezia Giulia (AMG-VG)
Allied Military Government issues for Venezia Giulia following the Second World War.
 * Refer
 * Venezia Giulia & Istria

Allied Occupation Issues
Various issues by allied occupation forces.
 * Refer
 * Germany (Allied Occupation);
 * Thrace (Allied Occupation);
 * Togo (Anglo-French Occupation)

Alsace (German Occupation)
During the German occupation in the Second World War, the authorities issued German stamps overprinted ELSASS.
 * Dates
 * 1940 – 1941


 * Currency
 * 100 pfennige = 1 mark


 * Refer
 * German Occupation Issues (WWII)

Alsace-Lorraine
Area of eastern France taken over by Germany in the Franco-Prussian War. During 1870–1871, there was a single issue for the whole territory. Stamps of Germany replaced this and were used 1872–1918. The area was returned to France after World War I. French stamps have been used since 1918 except for the German occupation in World War II (1940–1944) when separate issues were made for Alsace and Lorraine.
 * Dates
 * 1870 – 1871


 * Capital
 * Strasbourg


 * Currency
 * 100 centimes = 1 franc


 * Main Article
 * Postage stamps and postal history of Alsace-Lorraine


 * See also
 * Alsace (German Occupation);
 * Lorraine (German Occupation)

Alwar
Alwar was a feudatory state in Rajputana, northern India.
 * Dates
 * 1877 only


 * Currency
 * 12 pies = 1 anna; 16 annas = 1 rupee


 * Refer
 * Indian Native States

AM Post
Overprint used by Anglo-American forces in Germany after the Second World War.
 * Refer
 * Anglo-American Zones (Military Government)

America
In postal as in other terms, generally refers to the US, rather than to the continent.
 * Refer
 * United States of America (USA)

American, British & Russian Zones (General Issues)
These issues were introduced in February 1946 to replace the joint British and American military issue and the various Russian provincial issues. The French Zone continued to issue separately. When currency reform took place in June 1948, the Russian Zone again began separate issues. The British and American Zones continued to use the same stamps until foundation of the German Federal Republic in September 1949.
 * Dates
 * 1946 – 1948


 * Currency
 * 100 pfennige = 1 Reichsmark


 * Refer
 * Germany (Allied Occupation)


 * See also
 * Anglo-American Zones (Civil Government);
 * Anglo-American Zones (Military Government);
 * Russian Zone (General Issues)

American Samoa
No issues. USA stamps have been in use since the territory was taken over in 1900.
 * Refer
 * Samoa

American Zone
No separate issues. From 1945–1949, always used the same stamps as the British Zone.
 * Refer
 * American, British & Russian Zones (General Issues);
 * Anglo-American Zones (Civil Government);
 * Anglo-American Zones (Military Government)

AMG-FTT
Overprint used by Allied Military Government of the Free Territory of Trieste following the Second World War.
 * Refer
 * Trieste

AMG-VG
Overprint used by Allied Military Government of Venezia Giulia following the Second World War.
 * Refer
 * Venezia Giulia & Istria

Amirantes
A group of islands in the Indian Ocean, lying south west of the Seychelles.
 * Refer
 * British Indian Ocean Territory;
 * Zil Elwannyen Sesel

Amur Province
Amur is an inland province of eastern Siberia, lying due north of Manchuria. In February 1920, a communist regime was set up. There was one issue of stamps with five values: 2, 3, 5, 15 and 30 rubles. The inscription (translated) reads Amur Province Postage Stamp. In April 1920, Amur was incorporated into the Far Eastern Republic.
 * Dates
 * 1920 only


 * Capital
 * Blagoveshchensk


 * Currency
 * 100 kopecks = 1 Russian ruble


 * Refer
 * Russian Civil War Issues


 * See also
 * Far Eastern Republic

Andorra
Operates a dual postal system with both Spanish and French offices issuing their own stamps.
 * Capital
 * Andorra La Vella


 * Main Article
 * Postage stamps and postal history of Andorra


 * Includes
 * Andorra (French Post Offices);
 * Andorra (Spanish Post Offices)

Andorra (French Offices)
Stamps issued by French post offices in Andorra.
 * Dates
 * 1931 –


 * Currency
 * (1931) 100 centimes = 1 franc
 * (2002) 100 cent = 1 euro


 * Refer
 * Andorra

Andorra (Spanish Offices)
Stamps issued by Spanish post offices in Andorra.
 * Dates
 * 1928 –


 * Currency
 * (1928) 100 centimos = 1 peseta
 * (2002) 100 cent = 1 euro


 * Refer
 * Andorra

Anglo-American Zones (Civil Government)
Various issues common to these zones from the reform of currency in June 1948 until the foundation of the Federal Republic in September 1949.
 * Dates
 * 1948 – 1949


 * Currency
 * 100 pfennige = 1 DM


 * Refer
 * Germany (Allied Occupation)


 * See also
 * American, British & Russian Zones (General Issues)

Anglo-American Zones (Military Government)
A single issue with 35 values was used in both zones until the General Issues types (also used in the Russian Zone) appeared in February 1946. The Military Government issue was inscribed AM POST DEUTSCHLAND (AM = Allied Military).
 * Dates
 * 1945 – 1946


 * Currency
 * 100 pfennige = 1 RM


 * Refer
 * Germany (Allied Occupation)


 * See also
 * American, British & Russian Zones (General Issues)

Anglo-French Occupation of Togo
Issues by military forces occupying Togo, then a German colony, in the First World War.
 * Refer
 * Togo (Anglo-French Occupation)

Angola
Former Portuguese colony, independent since 1975.
 * Dates
 * 1870 –


 * Capital
 * Luanda


 * Currency
 * (1870) 1000 réis = 1 mil réis
 * (1913) 100 centavos = 1 escudo
 * (1932) 100 centavos = 1 angolar (currency)
 * (1954) 100 centavos = 1 escudo
 * (1977) 100 lweis = 1 kwanza


 * Main Article
 * Postage stamps and postal history of Angola


 * See also
 * Africa (Portuguese Colonies)

Angora (Ankara)
Sited in Anatolia, Angora (now Ankara) is the present capital city of Turkey. The European part of Turkey, including the then capital of Constantinople, was under Allied occupation 1918–1923 following the defeat of Turkey in World War I. A provisional nationalist government was established by Kemal Atatürk at Angora, which he declared to be the new capital. Having expelled the Greek invaders of Asia Minor (1921–1922) and averted a war with Britain (1923), Atatürk was able to proclaim the new republic of Turkey on 28 October 1923 with himself as president. Ankara was confirmed as the capital despite the reinstatement of Constantinople (now Istanbul) as Turkish territory. During the period of the provisional government (1920–1923), various overprints were issued at Angora. In 1922, two sets of definitives were issued (cat. nos A79-A90 and A119-A124). These were replaced by the general Turkish issue (cat. nos 974-1012) of November 1923.
 * Dates
 * 1920 – 1923


 * Currency
 * 40 paras = 1 piastre


 * Refer
 * Turkey

Angra
Angra is one of the three administrative districts of the Azores, the others being Horta and Ponta Delgada. All are Portuguese territory. Portuguese stamps have always been used in Angra (i.e., since 1853). From 1868 to 1931, and since 1980, stamps of Azores have also been in use. The Angra stamps were two issues based on Portuguese definitives but with an inscription of ANGRA. Similar types were used in other Portuguese colonies.
 * Dates
 * 1892 – 1905


 * Currency
 * 1000 réis = 1 mil réis


 * Refer
 * Azores Territories

Anguilla
Previously used stamps of Great Britain 1858–1960; Nevis 1861–1970; St Christopher 1870–1890; Leeward Islands 1890–1956; St Kitts-Nevis 1903–1952; and Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla 1953–1969. The most northerly of the Leeward Islands, Anguilla was first colonised by English settlers in 1650. During Britain's wars with France in the 18th century, it was attacked twice by French forces (1745 and 1796) but they were repelled on both occasions. Anguilla was administered as part of the St Kitts-Nevis group but this was strongly resisted and Britain had to quell an independence movement in 1967. Anguilla finally became a separate entity on 19 December 1980, though it remains a British dependency.
 * Dates
 * 1967 –


 * Capital
 * The Valley


 * Currency
 * 100 cents = 1 dollar


 * Main Article
 * Postage stamps and postal history of Anguilla


 * See also
 * St Christopher Nevis & Anguilla;
 * Leeward Islands

Anjouan
One of the larger Comoro Islands along with Grande Comore, Mayotte and Mohéli. Became a French protectorate in 1866, since when its history has been shared by the other islands in the Comoros group. Anjouan is now part of the Comoros Republic. Anjouan had three issues with 30 stamps in all. The inscription used was SULTANAT D'ANJOUAN.

All stamps were the French Colonies "Tablet" types.
 * Dates
 * 1892 – 1914


 * Currency
 * 100 centimes = 1 franc


 * Refer
 * Madagascar & Dependencies


 * See also
 * Comoro Islands

Ankara
Anglicised name of Angora.
 * Refer
 * Angora

Annam (Indochina)
Annam was the central province of Vietnam, lying between Tongking and Cochin China. One regional issue with 11 values was produced when the province was part of French Indochina. At the same time, there was a regional issue for Cambodia.
 * Dates
 * 1936 only


 * Capital
 * Binh Dinh


 * Currency
 * 100 cents = 1 piastre


 * Refer
 * Indochina Territories


 * See also
 * Cambodia (Indochina)

Annam and Tongking
Refers to combined issues by French colonies of Annam and Tongking.
 * Dates
 * 1888 – 1892


 * Capital
 * Hanoi


 * Currency
 * 100 centimes = 1 franc


 * Main article
 * Postage stamps and postal history of Annam and Tongking


 * See also
 * Indochina Territories

Antigua
Main island in the Antigua and Barbuda group.
 * Dates
 * 1862 –


 * Capital
 * St John's


 * Currency
 * (1862) 12 pence = 1 shilling; 20 shillings = 1 pound
 * (1951) 100 cents = 1 dollar


 * Main article
 * Postage stamps and postal history of Antigua


 * Refer
 * Antigua & Barbuda

Antigua and Barbuda
Antigua and Barbuda is the official name of an island group in the Leeward Islands which comprises Antigua, Barbuda and Redonda. It was first colonised by English settlers in 1632. During the 18th century, African slaves were imported to work on the sugar plantation and, as in other Caribbean islands, this created a predominantly black population. Slavery was ended in 1834. The country became independent of Britain on 1 November 1981.
 * Dates
 * 1981 –


 * Capital
 * St John's (Antigua)


 * Currency
 * 100 cents = 1 dollar


 * Main Article
 * Postage stamps and postal history of Antigua and Barbuda


 * Includes
 * Antigua;
 * Barbuda


 * See also
 * Leeward Islands

Antioquia
Colombian territory which formerly had its own issues.
 * Dates
 * 1868 – 1906


 * Capital
 * Medellín


 * Currency
 * 100 centavos = 1 peso


 * Main Article
 * Postage stamps of Antioquia


 * Refer
 * Colombian Territories

A.O.
Belgian Congo Red Cross issue overprint which means Afrique Orientale. Issued 15 May 1918 in Ruanda-Urundi under Belgian mandate.

AOF
An acronym for Afrique Occidentale Française and used as an overprint on stamps of French West Africa.
 * Refer
 * French West Africa