Stamp Issuers

Identify stamps, explore catalogs, and check values worldwide

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Stamp issuers are countries, territories, and postal authorities that have officially issued postage stamps throughout history.

This directory lists over 1,200 stamp issuers, including modern nations, historical states, colonial administrations, military occupations, and local or provisional postal authorities, helping collectors explore postal history and identify stamps by issuer.

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What You'll Find on Country Pages

  • • Popular stamp series and commemorative issues
  • • Catalog numbers (Scott, Michel, Stanley Gibbons)
  • • Typical value ranges and market trends
  • • Identification tips and visual characteristics

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a stamp issuer? ▼

A stamp issuer is a country, territory, administration, or authority that officially issued postage stamps. Issuers include modern countries, historical states, colonial administrations, military occupations, and local or provisional postal authorities.

Are stamp issuers the same as countries? ▼

No. While many stamp issuers are countries, not all issuers are countries. For example, entities such as Soviet Union, Helvetia, British India, Aegean Islands, or German New Guinea are considered stamp issuers, even though they may no longer exist as modern states.

How many stamp issuers are there? ▼

There are over 1,200 recognized stamp issuers worldwide when including:

  • modern countries
  • historical states
  • colonial territories
  • occupations and provisional administrations
This page lists stamp issuers alphabetically to help collectors explore them easily.
Why are historical and colonial issuers included? ▼

Historical and colonial issuers are an essential part of philately. Many valuable and collectible stamps were issued by administrations that existed only for a short time, such as wartime occupations, provisional governments, or colonial authorities.

How can I find stamps from a specific issuer? ▼

You can browse issuers alphabetically and open an issuer page to learn about:

  • postal history
  • issuing period
  • popular stamp series
  • identification tips
  • estimated stamp values
Each issuer page focuses on stamps issued by that authority.
Can I identify a stamp if I don’t know the issuer? ▼

Yes. If you are unsure which issuer your stamp belongs to, you can scan the stamp using a stamp identifier app, which can recognize the issuer based on design, text, and visual features.

Are all stamp issuers listed here official? ▼

This directory focuses on recognized philatelic issuers, including:

  • officially issued postage stamps
  • well-documented provisional or occupation issues
Some purely fictional or non-postal labels are excluded unless they are commonly referenced in philatelic catalogs.
Which stamp catalogs recognize these issuers? ▼

Most issuers listed here are recognized by major international stamp catalogs such as:

  • Scott
  • Michel
  • Stanley Gibbons
Catalog treatment may vary depending on the issuer’s status and period.
Do issuer pages include stamp values? ▼

Issuer pages provide general value ranges and collecting guidance, but exact prices depend on:

  • condition
  • rarity
  • demand
  • market trends
For precise valuation, individual stamps should be checked against current market listings.

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