The 75th Anniversary of the Universal Postal Union

The historical event anchoring the airmail is the 75th Anniversary of the Universal Postal Union (UPU), celebrated across the globe in 1849. Originally established by the Treaty of Bern in 1874, the UPU standardized international postal rates and regulations, creating a unified global territory for the reciprocal exchange of mail. Released as part of an omnibus initiative across French overseas territories, this stamp commemorates the integration of the Côte Française des Somalis into international aviation and mail routes, marking the role of modern telecommunications and transcontinental transport in bridging distant populations.