The southern European country now knows as The Republic of Albania issued its own stamps beginning in 1913. Since that time, Albania stamps have reflected the complicated history of the small Adriatic sliver of a country. Albania borders Greece, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia and/or Kosovo (depending on your point of view). It has long had a relationship with nearby Italy as well. Despite all these illustrious neighbors (and don’t forget Yugoslavia) Albania has not always been an especially open country. Partly for this reason, Albania stamps today are curious collectibles from a secretive and often-unknown land.
Early Turkish Stamps in Albania
Before 1913 Albania used the stamps of the Turkish Empire. Those very first Albania stamps added an Albanian overprint: the classic double-headed eagle and the word SHQIPËNIA. “Shqipënia” would be the first of a large number of variations of the country’s name on Albanian stamps over the years.
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The First Real Albania Stamps: 1913
The first true Albanian stamps of 1913 were very simple, text-dominated designs that look more like postmarks than postage stamps. On these interim stamps, a small double-headed eagle (on most) and the phrase TË SHQIPËNIËS and the value were all encircled with the words POSTAT E QEVERRIËS SË PERKOHËSHME. In December 1913, Albania released its first stamps that look like traditional stamps. These were inscribed SHQIPËNIE E LIRË.
Complex Albania Stamp History: 1914-1946
Immediately, there began a bewildering era of Albanian stamp history. Stamps mirrored the chaotic history of the country itself. Albania stamps from these years are quite a fascinating thing to collect, since they tell such a story about Albania and about the postal twists and turns it saw.
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First, an independent republic was declared. Stamps of this time included many different overprints, plus a galaxy of different inscriptions for the name of the country. Some (but not necessarily all) include:
- SHQIPËNIË
- POSTA SHQYPTARE
- POSTE SHQYPTARE
- REPUBLIKA SHQIPTARE
- REP. SHQIPTARE
Others Albanian stamps from this time have no inscription at all and may be identified only by the prominent double-headed eagle, which also appears on Albania’s striking red and black flag.
In 1928, Albania suddenly became a monarchy under King Ahmed Zogu (formerly named Zog). Old stamps with new overprints were used at first. But in 1930 brand-new stamps were issued, inscribed POSTAT SHQIPTARE. Later inscriptions read SHQIPNI. If you want to collect, say, one of each different inscription on Albanian stamps, you’ve already got your work cut out for you. And we’re only up the early 1930s!
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Albania Stamps in World War II
Italy invaded Albania in 1939, issuing new stamps inscribed MBRETNIJA SHQIPTARE. German forces occupied Albania in 1943, overprinting the Italian stamps. These Frankenstein hybrids were used until 1944.
After World War II, Albania became independent once again. Stamps in 1945 were issued inscribed QEVERIA DEMOKRATIKE E SHQIPNIS. In 1946, the new appellation REPUBLIKA POPULLORE E SHQIPERISE was used, first as an overprint, then as an inscription on new stamp issues.
That latter phrase was subsequently shortened on some stamps to a variation of RP E SHQIPERISE, SHQIPERIA, SHQIPËRIJA, et cetera.
Modern Albanian Stamps Inscriptions
Since the 1960s the motley inscription scheme on Albanian stamps has mostly calmed down. In more recent decades Albanian stamps have tended to use SHQIPËRIA, with and without the dots over the E.
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Getting Modern Rare Albanian Stamps
Despite an ambitious schedule of postage stamp issuance in recent decades, including a wide range of international subjects and special items aimed at international philatelists and collectors, the English name ALBANIA virtually never appears on the country’s stamps. In addition to regular collectible postage stamps from Albania’s interesting history, there have been postage due stamps, air post stamps, and semi-postal stamps that appeal to collectors.
The world of Albania stamp collecting is a fun one. Sellers offers all sorts of great items from all eras at a variety of prices and with different rarities. Scan the current listings on your favorite online marketplace, find a great item from a reliable seller, and look forward to receiving your cool new Albanian stamps!
