Delivery Problem

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31113, 16 July 1966, Page 5

Delivery Problem

staJT’ STgRY

(Specialty written for “The

Preis” by

KENNETH ANTHONY)

pERCHED high up in the Pyrenees, the tiny state of Andorra has for centuries been subject to the varying influences of both France and Spain, an unsual historic background that has led to Andorra being today the only country to have two postal systems operating side by side in friendly rivalry. Andorra is so small that until quite modern times it did not have a postal service. Andorrans had to cross the Spanish frontier to the nearest town, Seo de Urgel, if they wanted to post letters. In 1880, the Universal Postal Union authorised Spain to take care of Andorra's postal

needs, but no action was taken. Spurred on by this development the French Government in 1882 unsucessfully tried to persuade the Andorrans to become port of France, offering to build roads and provide postal facilities if they agreed. The Andorrans refused. Undeterred, the French started to provide a postal service to Andorra, quite unofficially, in 1887. The French postmen of the time had a hard and dangerous life in the winter months, negotiating toe snowbound mountain passes at an altitude of more than 6000 ft. These arrangements, using normal French stamps, continued for many years. Not until 1928, after a scheme had been proposed for Andorra to start its own posts with its own stamps, did Spain finally assert its rights and set up the first post office ever openFrance promptly took up the matter with the Universal Postal Union. After prolonged discussions the French Government was given equal postal rights with Spain. This curious state of affairs has gone on ever since, the rival postal systems working quite independently of each other and each issuing its own stamps. France has issued far more stamps for Andorra than Spain. The first of these, issued In 1931, consisted of French stamps overprinted “Andorra.” One of these is illustrated here. They may be regarded as an overdue tribute to the hardy French postmen who for so long kept Andorra in touch with the outside world —several of them losing their lives in the attempt.