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This is a survey of the postage stamps and postal history of Cyprus. The country's postal history is intricately linked to the island's political past.

Ottoman and Austrian postal services

Postal services existed during the Venetian and Ottoman periods of occupation. There was an Ottoman postal service in Nicosia from 1871 where mail was hand stamped "KIBRIS". A few Turkish Duloz stamps are known used on fragments or as singles (no complete cover has yet been found). Stamps of the Austrian post offices in the Turkish empire were used at Larnaca from 1864 with values up to 25 kreuzer.

The British administration

The British administration of Cyprus began on 11 July 1878 and initially British stamps were used which may be identified by the numbered cancels used.

The first postage stamps marked Cyprus were British stamps overprinted CYPRUS from 1880.

The first postage stamps produced specifically for use in Cyprus, rather than being overprinted British stamps, were issued on 1 July 1881.

• British Penny Red overprinted for use in Cyprus from 1880 (Plate 181)
• 1881 half piastre stamp of Cyprus from the first series designed solely for the island
• Stamp marking 50 Years of Cyprus under British rule in 1928

Independence

Cyprus was granted independence in 1960. Since 1960, the Cyprus Postal Services have issued stamps in several series per year.

Postal stationery

British postcards were first used in Cyprus from 1878, examples of such postcards used in Cyprus are very rare. In April 1880 Great Britain postcards overprinted CYPRUS were issued. Postcards with the name Cyprus in the design were first issued in July 1881. With changes in postage rates and the design different postcards continued to be made available to date.

As with postcards British registered envelopes were made available from July 1878, these were followed by Great Britain overprinted registration envelopes in April 1880 and in 1881 registration envelopes with the name Cyprus in the design were issued. In total over 150 different registration envelopes have been issued to date.

The first newspaper wrappers were Great Britain wrapper overprinted CYPRUS and issued in 1880. This wrapper is commonly found mint; only one complete used copy is known. In 1881 the island was supplied with newspaper wrappers with the word Cyprus in the design. Different designs continued to be produced until 1976, after which they were discontinued.

Pre-printed aerogrammes forms (or air letter as they were inscribed), with a 4½ piastre stamp affixed, were first made available in 1944. Aerogrammes with an imprinted stamp were first made available in 1946 and various designs have been produced since that date.

See also

• Postage stamps and postal history of Northern Cyprus
• Revenue stamps of Cyprus

References

1. ^ Stanley Gibbons Stamp Catalogue: Cyprus, Gibraltar & Malta. 1st edition. London: Stanley Gibbons, 2004, p. 1. ISBN 0852595840
2. ^ Ioannides, Alexander C; Christopher J Podger (1993). Cyprus postal stationery, 1880-1992. Littleton. ISBN 978-0-9638547-0-4.
3. Cyprus Circular Post, Vol 15, No 5, May 2005, Cyprus Study Circle

Further reading

• Castle, Wilfrid T. F. Cyprus, 1353–1986: History, Postal History & Postage Stamps. London: Christie's-Robson Lowe/Cyprus Study Circle, 1987 ISBN 0-85397-418-7 546p.
• Frangoudis, Hermes St. Catalogue of Cyprus Stamps and Postal History 1845–2002. Athens: The Author, 2003 ISBN 9609205003 336p.
• Georgallis, C. and Spencer, M. Stamp Booklets 1962–2013. Dawlish: Cyprus Study Circle, 2014 100p. Series Title: Cyprus Study Circle Study Paper, 15.
• Ioannides, Alexander C. and Christopher J. Podger. Cyprus Postal Stationery 1878–2000. Littleton; Farnham: The Authors, 2000 ISBN 0-9638547-1-2 185p.
• Mihranian, Barkev et al. Cyprus Stamps, 1880–2004: linking history and culture. Nicosia: Ministry of Communications and Works of the Republic of Cyprus, Dept. of Postal Services, 2005 ISBN 996336201X 398p.
• Proud, Edward B. The Postal History Of Cyprus. Heathfield: Postal History Publications, 1998 ISBN 1872465250 688p.
• Wigmore, J. Air Mails 1929–1960. Dawlish: Cyprus Study Circle, 2004 100p. Series Title: Cyprus Study Circle Study Paper, 3.

External links

• Cyprus Postal Services
• Cyprus Philatelic Society
• Cyprus Study Circle
• Cyprus Stamp Issues since 1960
• This Day in History - Cyprus Declares Independence APS

• Postal history by country
• Philately of Cyprus