Compendium of postage stamp issuers (Ar–Az)

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 rouble; (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 rouble
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 rouble
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 kreutzer = 1 florin; (1858) 100 kreutzer = 1 florin; (1899) 100 heller = 1 crown; (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 florin; (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 rouble
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