150 Years of the Universal Postal Union: The Revolution in Global Postal Services

In this episode of our podcast series, "Stamps Tell Stories", presented by Heinrich Köhler Auctions, we delve into a revolutionary chapter of global communication: the mid-19th century. We explore the pioneering work of German postmaster Heinrich von Stephan, the visionary behind the postcard and the main initiator of the Universal Postal Union (UPU). At the heart of the episode is a world-class collector, James "Jamie" Gough. We discover why his legendary UPU collection, soon to be auctioned by Heinrich Köhler, is considered one of the most important in postal history. We learn how his unconventional approach revolutionised philately and how letters and cards from the UPU's founding years tell the story of this chaotic and transformative era.