# 279-84 - Complete Set, 1898 Universal Postal Union Colors
1898 Congress of Universal Postal Union
The Universal Postal Union was organized in 1874 to standardize and simplify the international mailing system. At its 1898 Congress, the UPU recommended green for the international single printed-matter rate (1¢ U.S.), red for the international postcard rate (2¢ U.S.) and blue for international single letter rate (5¢ U.S.). So the colors for these stamps were changed accordingly. Other stamps then had to be changed to maintain different colors for each.
First International Postal Conference
Up until this time, mail between nations had been regulated by a number of different agreements that were binding only to signing members. At one point, Germany had 17 postal agreements, France had 16, Belgium had 15, and the United Kingdom had 12. Plus, some nations used different weight measurements – the US and UK used ounces while France used grams. This made it especially difficult to calculate the postage rates as a letter traveled through different countries.
In 1898, the Universal Postal Union standardized the colors of certain stamps in order to make international mailing easier and more efficient. They proposed that member nations use the same colors for stamps of the same value. In order to conform to the UPU’s regulations, America’s 1¢, 2¢, and 5¢ stamps underwent color changes. Later that same year, the 4¢, 6¢, 10¢, and 15¢ stamps were changed to avoid confusion with current issues printed in similar colors.
In 1947, the UPU became a specialized agency of the United Nations. Today, it continues to organize and improve postal service throughout the world. It’s the oldest international organization.
1898 Congress of Universal Postal Union
The Universal Postal Union was organized in 1874 to standardize and simplify the international mailing system. At its 1898 Congress, the UPU recommended green for the international single printed-matter rate (1¢ U.S.), red for the international postcard rate (2¢ U.S.) and blue for international single letter rate (5¢ U.S.). So the colors for these stamps were changed accordingly. Other stamps then had to be changed to maintain different colors for each.
First International Postal Conference
Up until this time, mail between nations had been regulated by a number of different agreements that were binding only to signing members. At one point, Germany had 17 postal agreements, France had 16, Belgium had 15, and the United Kingdom had 12. Plus, some nations used different weight measurements – the US and UK used ounces while France used grams. This made it especially difficult to calculate the postage rates as a letter traveled through different countries.
In 1898, the Universal Postal Union standardized the colors of certain stamps in order to make international mailing easier and more efficient. They proposed that member nations use the same colors for stamps of the same value. In order to conform to the UPU’s regulations, America’s 1¢, 2¢, and 5¢ stamps underwent color changes. Later that same year, the 4¢, 6¢, 10¢, and 15¢ stamps were changed to avoid confusion with current issues printed in similar colors.
In 1947, the UPU became a specialized agency of the United Nations. Today, it continues to organize and improve postal service throughout the world. It’s the oldest international organization.