Postage stamps and postal history of Sweden

Short Swedish postal history of the messenger post to modern times.

Prehistory

Official letters and writing, the so-called "King Letters" are from Sweden known from the period before 1600. As Year of the public serving Swedish postal service is called from July 28, 1636. As a first preserved state determination, on the management of the postal service, the royal " Regulation for the postman " applies of 20 March 1636th At that time, led the field postmaster of King Gustav Adolf ( 1594-1632 ), Andreas Wechel, the postal system. Once a week went his messengers from the post office in the capital Stockholm in all directions. His successors were the tenancy.

State Post

King Karl XI (1655 - 1697) picked up the lease and being taught by decree of January 7, 1677 the post office as a state institution, a transport. From now on the post connections has been significantly improved, soon there were 84 post offices in the country. 1697 was created in Stockholm as the supreme authority post the top post office in Stockholm. At first she was under the State Chancellery in 1840 the Ministry of Finance was then assigned. 1849 was its director the official title of " General of the items". In 1900, the insinuation to the Ministry of the Interior, in 1920 the Ministry of Transport. Since 1946, the top management is the Federal Council. Today it is a corporation.

Since 1822 the mail between Sweden and the continent is transported by steamships. 1855 appeared the first stamps along with a unit charge. Since 1858, the Post is also promoted by means of railways. 1861, the delivery of letters was introduced in the main cities. At the same time, " postal stations " were set up to supply the rural population. The cash and money order services in the internal service was introduced in 1866. Since 1872, there are postcards. As of 1877, the country delivery was created. 1889 came Maps Letters to the switch. From 1892 onwards postal orders could also telegraphic be abandoned and the postal order service it was introduced.

1893 was the division of the postal area in postal districts whose line inspections, later directorates, has been transferred. As so-called "Americans" in 1895 post boxes have been set up. From 1910 cars was used for mailing.

From 1914 they transferred the post as a new task the payment of state pensions ( folkpension ). From 1915 onwards the post also sold stamp duty stamps ( staatsstämplar ) and 1918 of the post tax collection ( skattenppbröd ) on the land and the sale of government debt letter has been transmitted.

Since 1920 there are Sweden, the airmail. The first post expeditions in places with moderate mail volume have been set up. Since 1925, Swiss Post pays the transport of persons with post cars. Since 1925 is the postal transfer service. The post office is constantly evolving as a modern service company further.