One Country, Two Postal Administrations

Andorra, wedged between France and Spain on the southern slope of the Pyrenees, is home to 30,000 Europeans whose heritage is linked to France, Spain or both. Collectors easily notice the graphic influence of Spain and France on the respective administration's stamps.

Little of historical significance has ever taken place in this co-principality of less than 200 square miles, which presents the expected challenges for the postal administrations. Andorra was something of a gateway for barbarians heading south from Gaul following the collapse of the Roman Empire, was populated by Moors and conquered by Charlemagne.

Andorra's Spanish Administration issued the co-principality's first stamps in 1928. This was a set of overprints using the Spanish regular issues of the twenties. Original designs debuted in the fall of 1929, both with and without control numbers printed on the gum, and depciting local scenes. This series was replaced in 1948. Spanish Andorra's first Europa release came in 1972 using the common design. The first air mail stamp was released in 1951. There have been no semi-postals.

For the past thirty years Andorra's Spanish stamps have followed a relatively conservative release policy. Subject matter has ranged from mushrooms and architecture to Christmas and the Olympics stamps.

The French Administration's first stamps were issued in June, 1931, overprints of French regular issues dating back to 1900. A long, fifty plus issue set of pictorials was released starting in 1932 and it wasn't until the sixties that commemoratives began to appear with regularity. Andorra stamps have tended to be well produced, very similar to those of France, celebratring a number of themes but rooted in arts and culture. In recent years an increasing number of stamps have been released.

Visitors to Andorra enjoy outstanding skiing, highlighted in a 1993 set, relaxing village life and a leisurely pace. Stamp dealers and stamp collectors capture a taste of this with Andorra's stamps.