2024The 150th Anniversary of the Universal Postal Union - First Day Cover

In 2024, the Universal Postal Union is commemorating its 150th anniversary. Everything started on 15th September 1874 when the International Postal Congress met in Bern with participants who represented 22 countries. The goal of the Congress was the standardisation of the various postal systems that existed at the time, as each country had its own postal system and price list. This fragmentation complicated the transportation and delivery of international postal items. At the end of the Congress, on 9th October, the “Bern Treaty” was signed which laid the foundations of the General Postal Union. This treaty, that established the 2nd oldest specialised organisation associated with the United Nations, was concluded between Germany, Austria-Hungary, Belgium, Denmark, Egypt, Spain, the United States of America, France, Great Britain, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey. As the number of member states rapidly increased, in 1878, the General Postal Union was renamed the Universal Postal Union.