List of entities that have issued postage stamps (F–L)
This is a list of entities that have issued postage stamps at some point since stamps were introduced in 1840. The list includes any kind of governmental entity or officially approved organisation that has issued distinctive types of stamp. These include post offices in foreign countries and postal services organised by military occupations, international organisations, colonies, provinces, city-states and some revolutionary movements. The list includes members of the Universal Postal Union that are also listed at postal organisations.
Many of these entities are historic and some were very short-lived indeed. Philatelists and stamp collectors often refer to the entities that no longer issue stamps as dead countries.
The dates are the generally agreed-upon dates of first and last stamp issues. "Date of issue" is taken to mean the date when a particular type or variation was issued but its usage would often continue for many years. For example, although an entity may have issued its last stamp in 1951, actual usage may have continued until 1960: in that case, 1951 is the last stamp issue date.
Besides the period of which stamps were issued in the name of a particular entity, the list under that entity also bears any other name in which stamps had been issued for territory, name of any other entity which had had its stamps used in that territory, or new names which had subsequently replaced the name of that entity, together with their respective periods.
List
The list has been comprehensively revised to include extra entities and to direct the links away from the country articles to the philatelic articles.Falkland Islands
- Falkland Islands 1878 –
Falkland Islands Dependencies
- Falkland Islands Dependencies 1946 –
Faroe Islands
- Faroe Islands
- Faroe Islands 1975 –
Fiji
- Fiji 1870 –
Finland
- Finland 1856 –
- Åland Islands 1984 –
- Finnish Post Abroad
- Aunus 1919 only
- Eastern Karelia 1941–1944
- Karjala 1922
Fiume
- Arbe 1920 only
- Fiume 1918–1924
- Fiume 1945–1947
- Veglia 1920 only
France
- France 1849 –
- French Somali Coast 1902–1967
- Guadeloupe 1884–1947
- Martinique 1886–1947
- Reunion 1885–1974
- St Pierre et Miquelon 1885–1978
French Colonies
- Algeria 1924–1958
- Benin 1892–1899
- Chad 1922–1937
- Dahomey 1899–1944; 1960–1975
- Dakar – Abidjan 1959 only
- Djibouti 1893–1902
- Fezzan and Ghadames 1943–1951
- French Colonies 1859–1886
- French Committee of National Liberation 1943–1945
- French Congo 1891–1906
- French Equatorial Africa 1936–1958
- French Guiana 1886–1947
- French Guinea 1892–1944
- French Indian Settlements 1892–1954
- French Morocco 1914–1956
- French Oceanic Settlements 1892–1956
- French Polynesia 1958 –
- French Protectorate, Morocco 1914–1915
- French Soudan 1894–1944
- French Southern and Antarctic Territories 1955 –
- French Territory of Afars and Issas 1967–1977
- French West Africa 1944–1959
- Gabon 1886–1937
- Inini 1932–1946
- Ivory Coast 1892–1944
- Mali Federation 1959–1960
- Mauritania 1906–1944
- Mayotte 1997–
- Middle Congo 1907–1937
- New Caledonia 1860 –
- Niger 1921–1944
- Obock 1892–1894
- Oubangui – Chari 1922–1937
- Oubangui – Chari – Tchad 1915–1922
- Senegal 1887 –
- Senegambia and Niger 1903–1906
- Tahiti 1882–1915
- Togo 1921–1957
- Upper Senegal and Niger 1906–1921
- Upper Volta 1920–1933
- Vietnam 1945–1954
- Wallis and Futuna Islands 1920 –
French Post Offices Abroad
- French post offices abroad
- Alexandria 1899–1931
- Andorra 1931 –
- Arad 1919 only
- Beirut 1905 only
- Castelrosso 1920–1921
- China 1894–1922
- Cilicia 1918–1921
- Crete 1902–1913
- Dedeagatz 1893–1914
- Egypt 1899–1931
- Ethiopia 1906–1908
- French Volunteers against Bolshevism 1941–1944
- Japan 1865–1880
- Kavalla 1893–1914
- Klaipėda 1923 only
- Korce 1917–1919
- Madagascar 1885–1896
- Majunga 1895 only
- Memel 1920–1923
- Morocco 1862–1914
- Port Lagos 1893–1898
- Port Said 1899–1931
- Syria 1919–1924
- Tangier 1918–1942
- Saar 1920–1935
- Tientsin 1903–1922
- Vathy 1893–1914
- Zanzibar 1889–1904
- French post offices in the Turkish Empire 1885–1923
- Postage of the Free French Forces in the Levant 1942–1946
Gabon
- Gabon 1959 –
Gambia
- Gambia 1869 –
Georgia
- Georgia 1993 –
- Georgia 1919–1923
German Colonies
- Caroline Islands 1899–1914
- German East Africa 1893–1916
- German New Guinea 1898–1914
- German Samoa 1900–1914
- German South West Africa 1888–1915
- German Togo 1897–1914
- Kamerun 1897–1915
- Kiautschou 1901–1914
- Mariana Islands 1899–1914
- Marshall Islands 1897–1916
German Post Abroad
- Albania 1943–1944
- Alsace 1940–1941
- Alsace-Lorraine 1870–1871
- Belgium 1914–1918
- China 1898–1917
- Dalmatia 1943–1945
- Dorpat 1918 only
- Eastern Command Area 1916–1918
- Estonia 1941 only
- German Ninth Army Post 1918 only
- Postage of German Occupation Forces 1914–1918
- German Occupation Issues 1939–1945
- German post offices in the Turkish Empire 1884–1914
- Laibach 1943–1945
- Latvia 1941 only
- Lithuania 1941 only
- Lorraine 1940–1941
- Luxembourg 1940–1944
- Macedonia 1944 only
- Montenegro 1943–1945
- Morocco 1899–1917
- Ostland 1941–1945
- Poland 1915–1918
- Poland 1939–1945
- Romania 1917–1918
- Serbia 1941–1944
- Ukraine 1941–1944
- Western Command Area 1916–1918
- Zante 1943–1945
- Zanzibar 1890–1891
German States
- Baden 1851–1871
- Bavaria 1849–1920
- Bergedorf 1861–1867
- Bremen 1855–1867
- Brunswick 1852–1868
- Hamburg 1859–1867
- Foreign post offices in Hamburg
- Hanover 1850–1866
- Heligoland 1867–1890
- Holstein 1850, 1864–1867
- Lübeck 1859–1868
- Mecklenburg-Schwerin 1856–1868
- Mecklenburg-Strelitz 1864–1868
- North German Confederation 1868–1871
- Oldenburg 1852–1867
- Prussia 1850–1867
- Saxony 1850–1868
- Schleswig 1864–1868
- Schleswig-Holstein 1850–1868
- Postage of Thurn and Taxis 1849–1866
- Postage of Thurn and Taxis 1852–1867
- Württemberg 1851–1924
Germany
- East Germany 1949–1991
- Germany 1991 –
- Germany 1945–1949
- Imperial Germany 1872–1919
- Third Reich 1933–1945
- Weimar Republic 1919–1932
- West Berlin 1948–1991
- West Germany 1949–1991
Germany (Allied Occupation)
- American, British and Russian Zones 1946–1948
- Anglo-American Zones 1948–1949
- Anglo-American Zones 1945–1946
- Baden 1947–1949
- Postage of Berlin-Brandenburg in the Russian Zone 1945 only
- French Zone 1945–1946
- Postage of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in the Russian Zone 1945–1946
- Postage of North West Saxony in the Russian Zone 1945–1946
- Postage of the Rhineland-Palatinate in the French Zone 1947–1949
- Russian Zone 1948–1949
- Saar 1945–1947
- Saxony 1945–1946
- Postage of South East Saxony in the Russian Zone 1945–1946
- Thuringia 1945–1946
- Württemberg 1947–1949
Ghana
- Ghana 1957 –
- Gold Coast 1875–1957
Gibraltar
- Gibraltar 1886 –
Gilbert and Ellice Islands
- Gilbert and Ellice Islands 1911–1975
- Gilbert Islands 1976–1979
- Kiribati 1979 –
- Tuvalu 1976 –
Greece
- Epirus 1914–1916
- Greece 1861 –
- Ikaria 1912–1913
- Samos 1912–1915
Greek Post Abroad
- Albania 1940–1941
- Dodecanese Islands 1947 only
- Greek Post Offices in the Turkish Empire 1861–1881
- Kavalla 1913 only
- Khios 1913 only
- Lemnos 1912–1913
- Lesbos 1912–1913
Greenland
- Greenland 1938 –
Grenada
Guatemala
- Guatemala 1871 –
Guinea
- Guinea 1959 –
Guinea–Bissau
- Guinea–Bissau 1974 –
Guyana
- Guyana 1966 –
Haiti
- Postage stamps and postal history of Haiti 1881 –
Honduras
- Honduras 1866 –
Hong Kong
- Hong Kong 1862 – 1997
- Hong Kong, China 1997 -
Hungary
- Hungary 1871 –
Iceland
- Iceland 1873 –
India
- Postage stamps and postal history of India 1852 –
- Postage stamps and postal history of the Indian states
Indian Convention States
- Chamba 1886–1948
- Faridkot 1879–1887
- Gwalior 1885–1948
- Jind 1874–1885
- Nabha 1885–1948
- Patiala 1884–1947
Indian Native States
- Alwar 1877 only
- Bamra 1888–1890
- Barwani 1921–1938
- Bhopal 1876–1949
- Bhor 1879–1901
- Bijawar 1935–1937
- Bundi 1894–1948
- Bussahir 1895–1896
- Charkari 1894–1940
- Cochin 1892–1949
- Dhar 1897–1898
- Dungarpur 1932–1948
- Duttia 1893–1899
- Hyderabad 1869–1948
- Idar 1939–1950
- Indore 1886–1950
- Jaipur 1904–1948
- Jammu and Kashmir 1866–1894
- Jasdan 1942 only
- Jhalawar 1887–1900
- Kishangarh 1899–1947
- Las Bela 1897 only
- Morvi 1931–1948
- Nandgaon 1892–1895
- Nawanager 1877–1895
- Orchha 1913–1939
- Poonch 1876–1894
- Rajasthan 1948–1950
- Rajpipla 1880–1886
- Scinde 1852–1854
- Shahpura 1914–1920
- Sirmoor 1879–1902
- Soruth 1864–1949
- Travancore 1888–1949
- Travancore – Cochin 1949–1951
- Wadhwan 1888–1892
Indian Overseas Forces
- China Expeditionary Force 1900–1923
- Congo 1962 only
- Gaza 1965 only
- Indian Expeditionary Forces 1914–1922
- Indo–China 1954–1968
- Korea 1953 only
- Mosul 1919 only
Indo–China
- Annam 1936 only
- Annam and Tongking 1888–1892
- Cambodia 1951 –
- Cambodia 1936
- Cochin–China 1886–1889
- Indo–China 1889–1949
- Kampuchea 1980–1989
- Khmer Republic 1971–1975
- Laos 1951 –
- NFLSV 1963–1976
- North Vietnam 1946–1976
- South Vietnam 1955–1976
- Vietnam 1976 –
Indo–Chinese Post in China
- Canton 1901–1922
- China 1900–1922
- Hoi–Hao 1902–1922
- Kouang–Tcheou 1898–1943
- Mong–Tseu 1903–1922
- Pakhoi 1903–1922
- Tchongking 1903–1922
- Yunnanfu 1903–1922
Indonesia
- Indonesia 1945 –
- Riau–Lingga Archipelago 1954–1965
International Organisations
- Postage of the Council of Europe 1950 –
- Postage of the International Court of Justice 1934–1958
- Postage of the International Education Office 1944–1960
- Postage of the International Labour Office 1923–1960
- Postage of the International Refugees Organisation 1950 only
- Postage of the International Telecommunications Union 1958–1960
- League of Nations 1922–1944
- UNESCO 1961–1981
- United Nations 1951 –
- Universal Postal Union 1957 –
- World Health Organisation 1948–1975
- Postage of the World Intellectual Property Organisation 1982 only
- Postage of the World Meteorological Organisation 1956–1973
Ionian Islands
- Ionian Islands 1859–1864
Iran
- Iran 1935 –
- Persian Socialist Republic 1919-1921
- Persia 1868–1935
Iraq
- Iraq 1923 –
- Mesopotamia 1917–1922
Ireland, Republic of
- Ireland 1922 –
Israel
- Israel 1948 –
Italian Colonies
- Aegean Islands 1912–1945
- Astypalaea 1912–1932
- Benadir 1903–1905
- Cyrenaica 1923–1952
- Eritrea 1893–1942
- Italian Colonies 1932–1934
- Italian East Africa 1938–1941
- Italian Somaliland 1905–1936
- Jubaland 1925–1926
- Kalimnos 1912–1932
- Karpathos 1912–1932
- Kasos 1912–1932
- Kastellórizo 1920–1932
- Khalki 1912–1932
- Kos 1912–1932
- Leros 1912–1932
- Lipsos 1912–1932
- Nisyros 1912–1932
- Patmos 1912–1932
- Rhodes 1912–1935
- Syme 1912–1932
- Telos 1912–1932
- Tripolitania 1923–1943
Italian Post Abroad
- Italian post offices in Africa
- Albania 1939–1943
- Benghazi 1901–1912
- Cephalonia and Ithaca 1941 only
- Italian post offices in China
- Constantinople 1908–1923
- Corfu 1923 only
- Corfu and Paxos 1941 only
- Italian post offices in Crete
- Dalmatia 1919–1923
- Durazzo 1902–1916
- Italian post offices in Egypt
- Ethiopia 1936 only
- Fiume and Kupa Zone 1941–1942
- Ionian Islands 1941–1943
- Italian Post Offices in the Turkish Empire 1873–1923
- Jannina 1909–1911
- Jerusalem 1909–1911
- Khania 1900–1912
- Lubiana 1941 only
- Montenegro 1941–1943
- Pechino 1917–1922
- Salonika 1909–1911
- Saseno 1923 only
- Scutari 1909–1915
- Smirne 1909–1911
- Tientsin 1917–1922
- Trentino 1918–1919
- Tripoli 1909–1912
- Valona 1909–1916
- Venezia Giulia 1918–1919
Italian States
- Modena 1852–1860
- Naples 1858–1861
- Neapolitan Provinces 1861–1862
- Papal States 1852–1870
- Parma 1852–1860
- Piedmont 1851–1862
- Romagna 1859–1860
- Sardinia 1851–1863
- Sicily 1859–1860
- Tuscany 1851–1860
- Two Sicilies 1858–1861
Italy
- Campione d'Italia 1944 only
- Italian Social Republic 1944–1945
- Italy 1862 –
Ivory Coast
- Côte d'Ivoire 1959 –
Jamaica
- Jamaica 1860 –
Japan
- Japan 1871 –
- Ryukyu Islands 1948–1972
Japanese Post Abroad
- Brunei 1942–1945
- Burma 1942–1945
- Central China 1941–1944
- Honan 1941
- Hong Kong 1945 only
- Hopei 1941
- Inner Mongolia 1941–1943
- Japanese Taiwan 1945 only
- Java 1943–1945
- Kelantan 1942–1945
- Korea 1900–1901
- Kwangtung 1942–1945
- Malaya 1942–1945
- Manchukuo 1932–1945
- Mengkiang 1942–1945
- Nangking and Shanghai 1941–1945
- North Borneo 1942–1945
- North China 1942–1945
- Japanese post in occupied China 1941–1942
- Sarawak 1942–1945
- Shansi 1941
- Shantung 1941
- South China 1942
- Sumatra 1943–1945
- Supeh 1941
- Philippines 1942–1945
- China 1900–1922
- Japanese Naval Control Area 1942–1943
Jordan
- Jordan 1920 –
- Palestine 1948–1950
- Transjordan 1920–1949
Kazakhstan
- Kazakhstan 1992 –
Kenya
- Kenya 1963 –
Kiribati
Korea
- Korea 1884–1910
- North Korea 1948 –
- South Korea 1946 –
- South Korea 1950 only
Kosovo
- Kosovo 2000 –
Kuwait
- Kuwait 1923 –
Kyrgyzstan
- Kyrgyzstan 1992 –
Labuan
- Labuan 1879 – 1906
- Malaysia 1963 –
- Straits Settlements 1867 – 1979
Laos
Latvia
- Cesis aka Wenden 1863–1901
- Latvia 1918–1940; 1991 –
Lebanon
- Greater Lebanon 1924–1926
- Lebanon 1924 –
Leeward Islands
- Anguilla 1967 –
- Antigua 1862 –
- Antigua and Barbuda 1981 –
- Barbuda 1922 –
- British Virgin Islands 1968 –
- Danish West Indies 1855–1917
- Dominica 1874 –
- Leeward Islands 1890–1956
- Montserrat 1876 –
- Nevis 1980 –
- Nevis 1861–1890
- St Christopher 1870–1890
- St Christopher Nevis and Anguilla 1952–1980
- St Kitts 1980 –
- St Kitts Nevis and Anguilla 1967–1971
- St Kitts–Nevis 1903–1980
- Virgin Islands 1866–1968
Lesotho
- Basutoland 1933–1966
- Lesotho 1966 –
Liberia
- Liberia 1860 –
Libya
- Ottoman Empire postal administration
- Foreign postal services in Libya during the Ottoman Empire postal administration
- Italian Occupation: postal administration 1911–1943
- British Administration: postal administration in Tripolitania and Cyrenaica 1942–1951
- French Administration: postal administration in Fezzan 1943–1951
- Cyrenaica Independent Kingdom: postal administration 1950–1951
- Kingdom of Libya: postal administration 1951–1969
- General Posts and Telecommunications Company 1969 –
- L.A.R. Libyan Arab Republic 1969–1977
- S.P.L.A.J. Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya 1977–1988
- G.S.P.L.A.J. The Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya 1988 –
Liechtenstein
- Liechtenstein 1912 –
Lithuania
- Lithuania 1918–1940; 1990 –
Luxembourg
- Luxembourg 1852 –