2nd UPU Congress,
Paris
The
second congress of the General Postal Union was held in Paris, France, from 2
May to 4 June 1878. In total 38 member states were present. The start of the
congress coincided with the opening of the World Exhibition.
The congress decided to change the name of the
organization to Universal Postal Union. This was mainly due to the influx of
new members, especially the British, French and Dutch colonies, making the
membership universal.
There were other changes to the treaty. The original
treaty allowed "overseas" countries to be admitted to the union
subject to the agreement of administrations having postal relations with them.
The 1878 congress decreed, however, that any country could accede directly to
the union merely by unilateral declaration and communication of that
declaration to the Swiss government.
Also the 1878 congress decided to introduce postal
money orders, the 'T' to be put on unstamped letters, the Registration label
with the letter 'R' and the 'Valeur declarée' (declared value).
In 1978 a number of countries issued postage stamps to
commemorate the congress in Paris and the 'creation' of the Universal Postal
Union.
Stamp catalogue - centenary
Benin 16 October 1978