150th Anniversary of the Universal Postal Union - €1.30

The Universal Postal Union (UPU) is celebrating its 150th anniversary. It was established in 1874 by the Treaty of Bern on October 9th, the day now commemorated as World Post Day. The Universal Postal Union is a specialized agency of the United Nations headquartered in Bern, Switzerland. It is responsible for coordinating and standardizing international postal traffic. Together with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), it constitutes one of the oldest international organizations with the largest membership, currently counting 192 members. The historical significance of the UPU lies in its interstate cooperation in the postal sector beyond European borders and in overcoming national frontiers, thereby ensuring the free circulation of postal items within a unified and interconnected postal territory, while guaranteeing the efficiency and reliability of postal exchanges. Focusing on the future and technological innovation, the UPU also addresses today's challenges related to the rapid growth of online commerce and the need to develop secure and inclusive digital solutions for all, never losing sight of postal security and digital transformation, and always with a focus on environmental sustainability.The postage stamp perfectly exemplifies the function and purpose of the Agency through the depiction, by artist Patrizio Daniele, of a postal worker engaged in his duties, with the globe behind him referencing the UPU’s official logo.