Luxembourg — Stamps & Postal Service

Postal Service Overview

POST Luxembourg (Entreprise des Postes et Télécommunications) is the Grand Duchy’s national postal operator. Luxembourg, as one of Europe’s smallest sovereign states, has produced stamps since 1852 and maintains a distinguished philatelic programme. Despite — or perhaps because of — the small number of stamps issued annually, Luxembourg’s programme is noted for quality over quantity. The country is a founding member of the European Union and issues European-themed stamps regularly.

Notable Stamp Issues

Luxembourg’s first stamp, issued 15 September 1852, depicted Grand Duke William III in an elegant engraved design. Luxembourg used German stamps during the Franco-Prussian War period and German and Belgian occupation stamps in WWI and WWII — these occupation-era Luxembourg stamps are specialist areas. The Grand Duchess Charlotte definitives (1921–1948) and subsequent grand ducal portrait issues form the backbone of Luxembourg’s definitive series. Luxembourg’s engraved commemoratives are technically superb, particularly the tourism and heritage series from the 1960s–1980s.

Collecting Tips

Luxembourg produces a modest but high-quality annual stamp programme — complete mint collections from any era are achievable. The Michel catalogue covers Luxembourg in its Western Europe volumes. Occupation stamps from WWI (German and French occupation) and WWII (German occupation 1940–1944) require specialist catalogues. Luxembourg’s proximity to Belgium and Germany means postal history documents cross-border mail flows. The country participates actively in European SEPAC joint issues.

Part of the Europe Postal Directory.