British Virgin Islands stamps year 1949 Universal Postal Union set

British Virgin Islands stamps year 1949 Universal Postal Union UPU set unused

1949 Universal Postal Union (UPU) Stamps – British Colonies

Overview

In 1949, to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Universal Postal Union (UPU), a major omnibus stamp issue was organized across the British Empire, including the United Kingdom, its colonies, and dominions. This was one of the largest coordinated stamp issues of the era, with nearly all British territories participating

• Each participating territory issued a set of four stamps, each with a unique design. The four standard designs were:
  • Mercury and Symbols of Communications
  • Plane, Ship and Hemisphere
  • Mercury Scattering Letters Over Globe
  • The U.P.U. Monument in Berne, Switzerland

The denominations varied according to local postal rates but typically included values such as 2½d, 3d, 6d, and 1 shilling (1/-) for British issues

British Colonies Participation

• The omnibus issue included 78 colonies and dominions, resulting in a total of 315 different stamps.
• Each colony adapted the designs to their own currency and included their colony’s name on the stamps, but the artwork remained consistent across the empire.
• Examples of participating colonies include Ascension, Cyprus, and many others, each issuing their own four-stamp set