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Bosnia-Herzegovina

Before 1914

FIRST STAMPS Turkish and Austro-Hungarian.
FIRST STAMPS ISSUED 1 July 1879.

CURRENCY
1879, 100 kreuzer (or novics) = 1 gulden.
1900, 100 heller = 1 krone.

Two associated provinces of the Ottoman Empire in Europe. Came under Turkish control in the 15th century and remained part of the Empire until the end of the Russo-Turkish War in 1878.

A postal service had operated since the 1850s in this area and Turkish stamps were used.

During the Austrian occupation after 1878 military posts were in operation and in January 1879 a limited civilian service was introduced. At this time the stamps of Austria and Hungary were placed on sale but these were withdrawn when the stamps for the provinces were issued.

Bosnia-Herzegovina was annexed by Austria-Hungary on 6 October 1908. First stamps under the new regime were issued on 18 October 1910.

1914-18
At the end of the war, with the breakup of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Bosnia-Herzegovina became part of the kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. For further history see Yugoslavia.

1945 to date
At the end of Worls War Two, Bosnia-Herzegovina came under Communist rule as part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. This Federation collapsed in 1991 when Croatia and Slovenia became independent (q.v.)

The Bosnia-Herzegovina Government issued a declaration of sovereignty in October 1991 against the wishes of the resident ethnic Serbs. Independence was declared on 1st March 1992 following a referendum that was boycotted by the Serbs. Bosnia-Herzegovina was recognised by the EC and USA in April 1992 and was admitted to the United Nations in May 1992.

Fighting had already broken out in March of that year between the pro-independence Muslims and the Bosnian Serbs. This civil war, accompanied by continuing atrocities until September 1995, when a US-sponsored peace accord came into effect.

From 1996, various Peace Implementation Forces were sent to Bosnia to preserve the peace and many of these units used their own national FPOs. The situation on the issue of stamps during this period was complicated, but can be summarised as follows:

1. Sarajevo Government
Issues used for postal purposes in some areas controlled by the Sarajevo Government.

FIRST STAMPS ISSUED 27 October 1993.

CURRENCY
100 Paras = 1 Dinar.
Reformed 12 May 1995, 10,000 (old) Dinars = 1 (new) Dinar.

The issue of these stamps by the Government in Sarajevo ceased in 1997.

2. Croatian Posts
Issues made by the Croat Administration based on Mostar.

FIRST STAMPS ISSUED 12 May 1993.

CURRENCY
100 paras = 1 Croatian Dima.
Reformed 28 November 1994, 1,000 (old) Dima = 1 (new) Kuna.

Issues ceased at the end of 1996 or early 1997.

3. Republic SRPSKA
Issues made by the Serb Administration in Pale.

FIRST STAMPS ISSUED 16 October 1992.

CURRENCY
100 paras = 1 Dinar.

Issues ceased after September 1996.

4. Bosnia Herzegovina
Issues made by the Government of Bosnia Herzegovina.

STAMPS REISSUED 1997 (date uncertain).

CURRENCY
Convertible Marka.

Although Bosnia Herzegovina joined the United Nations in 1992, the date the UPU was joined is uncertain. However, it was listed as 1993 in the report of the Hamburg Congress in 1994.

Balkans 1800-1913
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