Albania — Stamps & Postal Service

Postal Service Overview

Posta Shqiptare (Albanian Post) is Albania’s national postal operator. Albania declared independence from the Ottoman Empire in November 1912 and issued its first stamps in 1913 under chaotic wartime conditions. Albanian philatelic history is among the Balkans’ most complex, covering multiple regimes: the short-lived Principality of Albania, the Republic (1925), the Kingdom under Zog I (1928–1939), Italian and German occupation (1939–1944), the Communist People’s Republic (1944–1992), and the modern democratic republic.

Notable Stamp Issues

Albania’s first stamps in 1913 were issued from Vlorë during the First Balkan War — crude double-headed eagle overprints on Ottoman stamps. The 1914 Essad Pasha issues are historically significant. Kingdom-era stamps (1928–1939) feature King Zog I. Italian occupation stamps (1939–1943) overprinted “Shqipëria” are distinct. Communist Albania (1944–1992) produced many stamps for revenue purposes and topical collectors despite the isolated regime. Post-communist stamps from 1992 feature Mother Teresa (who was born in Skopje but of Albanian heritage), and Albanian landscapes.

Collecting Tips

Early Albanian stamps (1913–1920) are a minefield for collectors — numerous forgeries and reprints exist, expertisation is strongly recommended. The Michel and Scott catalogues cover Albanian issues. Communist-era Albanian stamps (1944–1992) are prolific and popular with topical collectors — particularly the space and wildlife thematic issues. Mother Teresa stamps from post-communist Albania attract religious thematic collectors. The Skanderbeg national hero theme appears frequently on Albanian stamps.

Part of the Europe Postal Directory.