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The Postal Rates of Bosnia and Herzegovina

From July 1, 1879 through November 30, 1918

 

Background:

I

n Bosnia and Herzegovina there was no government postal service prior to 1846 and only limited service thereafter, until the Austrian-Hungary occupation of 1878. Austria-Hungary had gained control of the two provinces from Turkey following the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878. The treaty of July 13, 1878, that ended the war, provided that Austria-Hungary was authorized to occupy and administer the provinces and to protect the Christian population of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Austro-Hungarian forces entered the area on July 29,1878 and Austria immediately set up a military field postal service. The first set of 7 Bosnia stamps was issued on July 1, 1879 bearing the Austrian coat of arms.

The classic period of Bosnia postal service continued from mid 1879 until late 1918. On September 1, 1918 the last stamps were issued and on November 1, Austria declared an end to its rule over Bosnia. On December 4, 1918 a new country, the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (SHS) was formed that included Bosnia and Herzegovina.

This study covers the classic period between July1, 1879 and November 30, 1918.

 

THE CURRENT CHARTS OF A STUDY REGARDING THE POSTAL RATES OF BOSNIA

Prepared by the Bosnia Study Group - 2004

 

 

The seven charts below cover the rates, for a variety of mailed items, during the period of interest from 7/1/1879 through 11/30/1918.

Users are encouraged to review the contents of the charts for accuracy and the format for readability. Please send an email (to bosniastudygroup@verizon.net) regarding your suggestions, corrections and additions.

Your review and help will make the charts more accurate and useful to collectors.

 

Charts are included for: Letter Rate, Postcard Rate, Printed Matter Rate, Return Receipts, Newspaper Rate, Registration and various Other Rates such as bulk mail, etc.

 

Are there other rate categories that are missing and need to be added? 

 

 

LETTER RATE

 

 

 

Time Span

7/1/1879 to 12/31/1882

1/1/1883 to 12/31/1899

1/1/1900 to 1/15/1907

1/16/1907 to 9/30/1916

10/1/1916 to

8/31/1918

9/1/1918 to 11/30/1918

 

 

 

Local

3n (up to 20g)

6n (up to 250g)

6h(up to 20g)

12h (up to 250g)

Rate discontinued

 

 

Within the Empire

5n (up to 20g)

10n (up to 250g)

10h (up to 20g)

20h (up to 250g)

15h (up to 20g)

5h (each added 20g)     

20h (up to 20g)

 

 

Serbia

 

10n (per 20g)

15h (per 20g)

Rate discontinued

 

via Austria

7n (per 15g)

Rate discontinued

 

via Hungary

5n (per 15g)

 

 

 

Switzerland

(up to 4 miles)

5n (per 15g)

Rate discontinued

 

Montenegro

7n (per 15g)

Rate discontinued

 

 

 

All Other Foreign

10n (per 15g)

25h (per 15g)

25h (up to 20g)

15h (each added 20g)

 

 

POSTCARD RATE

 

Time Span

 

7/1/1879  to

12/31/1899

 

1/1/1900  to

9/30/1916

 

10/1/1916 to

8/31/1918

 

9/1/1918 to

11/30/1918

 

Within the Empire

2n

5h

8h

10h

 

Montenegro

4n

5h

Rate discontinued

Serbia

4n

Rate discontinued

 

All Other Foreign

5n

10h

 

 

PRINTED MATTER RATE

 

Time Span

7/1/1879 to 12/31/1899

1/1/1900 to 9/30/1916

10/1/1916 to 10/1/1918

10/1/1918 to 11/30/1918

 

Within the Empire

2n  (up to 50g)

5n  (up to 250g)

10n  (up to 500g)

15n  (up to 1kg)

3h  (up to 50 g)

5h  (up to 100g)

10h  (up to 250 g)

20h  (up to 500g)

30h  (up to 1kg)

3h  (per 50g up to 2kg)

(2h surcharge for express delivery)

Hungary and Germany

 

 

 

5h  (per 50g)

 

All Other Foreign

3n  (per 50g)

5h (per 50g)

Montenegro and Serbia

2n  (per 50g)

Rate discontinued

 

 

 

RETURN RECEIPT

 

Time Span

7/1/1879 to

 12/31/1899

1/1/1900 to

 11/30/1918

 

Within Empire

10n

25h

Various European Countries

10n

Rate discontinued

All Other Foreign

15n

25h

 

 

 

 

NEWSPAPERS

 

Time Span

7/1/1879 to

12/31/1899

1/1/1900 to

11/30/1918

 

Within Empire

1n

2h

 

 

REGISTRATION

 

Time Span

7/1/1879 to

 12/31/1899

1/1/1900 to

 11/30/1918

 

Local

5n

Rate discontinued

All Other

10n

25h

 

 

OTHER RATES

 

 

Time Span

7/1/1879 to

 12/31/1899

1/1/1900 to

 9/30/1916

1/10/1916 to

 11/30/1918

 

Merchandise Samples

5n (up to 250g)

10h (up to 250g)

20h (over 250g)

10n (up to 100g)

5h (each added 50g)

 

Commercial Bulk Mail

No rate

25h (up to 250G)

5h (each added 50g)

 

Pneumatic Mail

No rate

60h

 

 

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