75 Anniversary of the UPU (Universal Postal Union)
With the industrial revolution, the need for communication became more and more important between different countries. It was therefore necessary to create an organization where the different States could meet to establish the operating methods allowing their postal systems to work together.
As early as 1841-1842, the German J. Herrfeldt mentioned in his articles a “universal postal union”.
The invention of the postal stamp now made the sender pay for postage. However, for shipments abroad, only bilateral agreements existed. The calculation of shipping costs based on the countries crossed and the means of transport used was therefore very complex at the risk of seeing the item or parcel taxed.
In August 1862, Montgomery Blair, the general director of the United States Postal Service, reported to the Secretary of State the problems encountered by American companies in their mail and their foreign trade. Blair received the support of President Abraham Lincoln, and it was under the leadership of the director general that an international conference took place in Paris in May 1863. Bringing together 15 countries from Europe and America. This conference aimed to establish common operating methods and postal rates that are simpler to calculate. Unfortunately, no truly applicable agreement was found, even if this “First International Postal Conference” resulted in a simplification of postal rates.
On September 15, 1874, Heinrich von Stephan, director of the postal service of the North German Confederation, organized the International Postal Conference which aimed to create an international postal union. The conference opened in Bern, the capital of Switzerland, and welcomed representatives from 22 countries.
The result of this conference was the Treaty of Berne, on October 9, 1874, which created the General Postal Union. Due to the increase in the number of its members, it was decided in Paris in 1878 to rename the international organization the Universal Postal Union.
On July 4, 1947, the UPU signed an agreement with the UN and thus became one of its specialized institutions.
The UPU headquarters is in Bern, Switzerland. The official language of the UPU is French. The international organization now has 190 member states.
As early as 1841-1842, the German J. Herrfeldt mentioned in his articles a “universal postal union”.
The invention of the postal stamp now made the sender pay for postage. However, for shipments abroad, only bilateral agreements existed. The calculation of shipping costs based on the countries crossed and the means of transport used was therefore very complex at the risk of seeing the item or parcel taxed.
In August 1862, Montgomery Blair, the general director of the United States Postal Service, reported to the Secretary of State the problems encountered by American companies in their mail and their foreign trade. Blair received the support of President Abraham Lincoln, and it was under the leadership of the director general that an international conference took place in Paris in May 1863. Bringing together 15 countries from Europe and America. This conference aimed to establish common operating methods and postal rates that are simpler to calculate. Unfortunately, no truly applicable agreement was found, even if this “First International Postal Conference” resulted in a simplification of postal rates.
On September 15, 1874, Heinrich von Stephan, director of the postal service of the North German Confederation, organized the International Postal Conference which aimed to create an international postal union. The conference opened in Bern, the capital of Switzerland, and welcomed representatives from 22 countries.
The result of this conference was the Treaty of Berne, on October 9, 1874, which created the General Postal Union. Due to the increase in the number of its members, it was decided in Paris in 1878 to rename the international organization the Universal Postal Union.
On July 4, 1947, the UPU signed an agreement with the UN and thus became one of its specialized institutions.
The UPU headquarters is in Bern, Switzerland. The official language of the UPU is French. The international organization now has 190 member states.