Twenty Years of BH Postal Service Postage Stamp
BH Postal Service (JP BH Pošte” d.o.o. Sarajevo), with the head office in Sarajevo, was established following the breakup of Yugoslavia and declaration of independence of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (RBiH).
The first issue of postage stamps of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina was produced in Sarajevo under the siege on 27 October 1993. The first issue consisted of seven definitive stamps depicting the image of the then coat of arms of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina displaying fleur-de-lis.The authors of the issues were JasminkoMulaomerović and SavoVasiljević. It was printed in the Sarajevo Institute of Geodesy on a plain paper without perforations in a print run of 50,000 sets, 50-piece sheets and in a booklet of 50 identical stamps.
Denominations ranged from 100 (yellow), 500 (pink), 1,000 (blue), 5,000 (green), 10,000 (yellow), 20,000 (beige) to 50,000 (gray) Bosnia and Herzegovina Dinars (BHD). A souvenir sheet (issued in 500 copies) of these first RBiH postage stamps reads: “These postage stamps were printed under the conditions of war (Without paper, colour, electricity or water. Only with the good will.)”
Only a year later, on 08 February 1994, commemorative stamps were issued honouring the tenth anniversary of the XIV Olympic Games “Sarajevo 84”. At the beginning, postage stamps of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina thematically featured situation in BiH during the war. In addition to the images of war destruction, depicted in a series of seven stamps with an image of the Main Post Office in Sarajevo in 1995, the themes included historical images, images from nature, art, sport and religion.
In the period from 15 July 1994 to 01 October 1997, postage stamps were denominated in Dinars (10,000 old Dinars = 1 new Dinar). On 01 October 1997, BiH introduced a new currency, Convertible Mark (1 KM = 100 Dinars), which is still in use. Since 1996, postage stamps depict the name of the country Bosnia and Herzegovina. BH Postal Service is a member of the UPU and thematic issues each year are similar to the thematic issues of other postal services worldwide.
BH Postal Service regularly takes part in stamp fairs of global and international significance, presenting its philatelic issues and it has won many awards and recognitions.
BiH won the award for Publishing Project in Philately at the Cologne Fair in 1995. BiH Postal Service was awarded a silver medal at the international competition in Croatia in 1997. At the international competition in which 80 countries took part, held in 2000 in Italy, the commemorative postage stamp depicting the 1537 Kurumli Madrasah, designed by MufidGaribija, was declared the most beautiful postage stamp in the world in 1999 in the field of cultural heritage.
The postage stamp of BH Postal Service, featuring four religions, is displayed in Switzerland, in the Universal Postal Union’s (UPU) exhibition hall. The stamp of BH Postal Service was ranked 6th in the 2003 postage stamps competition run by the leading philatelic magazine in the world, the French Timbropress.
The postage stamp, designed by Sanjin Fazlić, featuring the theme of “Architectural Heritage – Post Office in Sarajevo” was awarded the title of the most beautiful commemorative stamp at the international competition in Asiago, Italy in 2004. The BH Postal Service was awarded the first prize by the China Philatelic Federation in 2004. At the international philatelic exhibition“Montenegrofila 2008”, BH Postal Service’s exhibit won silver medal in the category “Modern Philately”. The exhibit included commemorative and definitive stamps issued in the period from 2005 to 2007.
In Beijing, at the 7th international stamp competition for the most beautiful postage stamp issued in 2008, BH Postal Service received an award for the most beautiful block stamp for the commemorative issue “Europe 2008 – The Letter”.
At the tenth international competition for the most beautiful postage stamp in 2010, BH Postal Service won one more award, the third one from China. The postage stamp with the theme “Fauna”, depicting “Swan” by Tamer Lučarević received award for the best designed postage stamp.
BH Postal Service won another prestigious award for the best postage stamp. BH Postal Service won this flattering award at the 11th international competition in China for the best foreign postage stamp in 2011. In a very strong competition, theflora themed postage stamp depicting the image of “GentianaJasnae” by Tamer Lučarević won the first place.
Philately in Schools
The project Philately in Schools was developed in line with recommendations and suggestions presented to BH Postal Service by the World Association for the Development of Philately, which moreover guarantees success of this project. The main objective of the project is “to develop long-term strategy for advancement and revival of philately and stamp collection, as well as to improve literacy and writing skills in schools”.
Working together with us, and through postage stamps, young philatelists have an opportunity to learn more about history, literature, important historical figures, flora and fauna, religion, ecology, sport, space and interesting events in the country and the world. The idea is that this education programme on philately should direct youth in Bosnia and Herzegovina to take the road of friendship, peace and love which will lead them to the world of truth, knowledge, happiness, world of children’s imagination …
In addition, by use of postage stamps, BH Postal Service wants to make school days to children in Bosnia and Herzegovina more interesting, pleasant and happier and invite them to peek into the chanting and wonderful world of philately.
As result of the project Philately in School, there were ten junior philatelic clubs established all over Bosnia and Herzegovina (in Travnik, Fojnica, Konjic, Sanski Most, 
Bihać, Sarajevo, etc.) gathering over 700 members. Establishment of junior philatelic clubs also included preparation of supporting materials such as: printing of “Manual for Young Philatelists” adjusted for youngsters, design and printing of membership cards for young philatelists, design of shirts with characters from postage stamps, distribution of appropriate gifts, such as books for school libraries and promotional material and school items for young philatelists. We also printed posters featuring postage stamps and organised exhibitions of postage stamps issued by the BH Postal Service that were visited by students from numerous schools in regions where junior philatelic clubs were established.
Marketing services of the BH Postal Service organised and opened the first youth philatelic exhibition in BiH on 26 May 2008 in the foyer of its Head Quarters in Sarajevo. Some 700 members of junior philatelic clubs coming from different cities of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina took part in this exhibition.
