Albania

'''Albania is a country in the Balkans on the Adriatic Sea.
 * It was created in 1912 from conquered regions taken from the Ottoman Empire in the Balkan Wars. In 1913, its first issue was Turkish stamps handstamped with a doubleheaded eagle and SHQIPËNIA.
 * Also in 1913, a circular handstamp inscribed Postat e Qeverries se Perkohëshme on plain paper was released as a provisional.
 * (To be added)
 * In 1928, stamps were overprinted Kujtim I / Mblenhjes / Kushtetuose when President Zogu became King Zog I. Stamps followed overprinted Mbretuia Shqiptare (Kingdom of Albania) or Mbr. Shqiptare.
 * In 1930, stamps were inscribed POSTAT SHQIPTARE.
 * In 1937, the inscription became SHQIPNI.
 * In April 1939, Italy invaded Albania, issuing stamps inscribed MBRETNIJA SHQIPTARE.
 * In 1943, Germany occupied Albania, overprints stamps with 14 / Shtator / 1943.

 File:Albania double eagle.jpg|1913 overprint. There are many forgeries. File:Albania semi.jpg|Semipostal of 1924. File:Albania Ital occ air.jpg|1939 airmail, Italian occupation period. File:Albania postage due A.jpg|1914 postage due. 

In 1977, the inscription became REPUBLIKA POPULLORE SOCIALISTE E SHQIPERISE OR RPS E SHQIPERISE.
 * By late 1944, partisans liberated Albania, issuing stamps in 1945. Those were old stamps overprinted QEVERIJA / DEMOKRAT(IKE) / E SHQIPERISE / 22-X-1944. There also was a surcharged issue with U.N.CL. SHQ. and a red star.
 * Pictorials were released in November 1945 inscribed DEVERIA DEMOKRATIKE E SHQIPNIS.
 * That issue was overprinted twice.
 * Beginning in 1946, issues were inscribed, REPUBLIKA POPULLORE E SHQIPERISE, R.P. E SHQIPERISE, SHQIPERJA or SHQIPERIA.
 * Beginning in 1991, stamps were inscribed POSTA SHQIPTARE.
 * About 1995, the inscription was once again changed to SHQIPERIA.

|1977 partisan Shota Galica. File:Albania Rep Pop Alb.jpg File:Albania 1989.jpg|Stamp of 1989. File:Albania 2005.jpg|Stamp of 2005. 