Illegal stamps are unfortunately flourishing more than ever before. The Universal Postal Union (UPU) have received official denouncements from the several countries. The fight against this proliferation of illegal issues is high on the agenda of World Association for the Development of Philately (WADP). WADP consists of UPU, International Philatelic Fedration (FIP),  International Federation of Stamp Dealers Associations (IFSDA), International Association of philatelic Journalists (AIJP), and Association of Philatelic Catalog Publishers (ASCAT). WADP has held discussions in this regard with its partners. The International Bureau of the UPU hosts the WADP Secretariat.

This matter was also discussed at WADP Seminar at Calcutta, India in December 2000. The WADP project team on Illegal issues held a meeting at Berne, Switzerland on January 16, 2001. Earlier FIP President wrote on the subject in June 2000 issue of FIP periodical publication - Flash. UPU has been issuing regular bulletins informing the members about these issues. This matter was discussed at Tunis, Tunisia at WADP Symposium and Workshop for postal administrations in Africa from February 19 to 23, 2001.

Following countries have denouncements sent to UPU:

This is definitely not a complete list of illegals available to collectors in the global market as many countries have not yet officially denounced the illegal issues in their name.

Kindly cooperate with WADP by informing the fellow collectors, in particular those collecting popular themes, about illegal stamps. 

Please feel free to contact the WADP Secretariat directly at the following address with any queries that you may have regarding stamps on the market and their authenticity: 

More information about the WADP and UPU's philatelic activities and publications can be obtained by contacting the official in charge:
Maria Libera, Programme Manager, Marketing Development Responsible for Philately, Assistant Secretary of the WADP,  WADP Secretariat, International Bureau of the Universal Postal Union, Case postale, 3000 BERNE 15, Switzerland. Tel: +41 31 350 32 15 Fax : +41 31 350 31 10/351 02 66 maria.libera@upu.int

The Guide for the Development of Philately

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