Trying To Understand Modern Bosnia & Herzegovina

What's up with Bosnia & Herzegovina? I was reviewing the way the Scott catalog (2011 edition) handles modern Bosnia & Herzegovina (B&H). According to Scott, B&H is divided like this:

• Bosnia & Herzegovina (Muslim Government) - Muslim Government in Sarajevo.
• Bosnia & Herzegovina (Croat Administration) - Bosnian Croat Administration Located in Mostar.
• Bosnia & Herzegovina (Serb Administration) - Bosnian Serb Administration Located in Banja Luca (Republika Srpska).

When I compared the Scott divisions with the political divisions as described in the CIA World Factbook, the story changes. The Factbook describes B&H as having one national government, and a second tier of government composed of two entities: the predominantly Bosniak-Bosnian Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Federacija Bosna I Hercegovina) and the predominantly Bosnian Serb-led Republika Srpska. The national government is headed by a three-member presidency (one Bosniak and one Croat elected from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and one Serb elected from the Republika Srpska).

So, I derive that there is no "Muslim Government" or "Croat Administration" as described by Scott.

However, I learned the postal services are structured upon the ethnicity of the population. There are three postal services serving B&H:

• Croatian Post Mostar Ltd. (HP Mostar) operates mainly in Croat-majority areas and its headquarters are in the city of Mostar. Current stamps are inscribed "HP Mostar"--older stamps were inscribed "HPT" (a different postal services company?).
• BH Pošta covers Bosniak-majority areas. BH Pošta is the successor to PTT BiH, which, in turn, was a successor to the Yugoslavia PTT (before the war).
• Pošte Srpske operates in Republika Srpska.

My end goal is to realign my Steiner album pages to more accurately reflect reality. So, knowing the above, I'm contemplating organizing the modern B&H pages like this (these will be the page titles):

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Federacija Bosna I Hercegovina
Postal Service for Bosniak Majority Areas
-----
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Federacija Bosna I Hercegovina
Postal Service for Bosnian-Croat Majority Areas
-----
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Republika Srpska


Fortunately, there won't be any migration of stamps between album pages. The basic Scott structure can be retained, only the page titles will be revised.

Before I finalize my plan, I'd like to know how the Stanley Gibbons and Michel catalogs handle modern B&H. Also, I'd like to get some feedback from the members. What do you think?

All responses will be greatly appreciated.

Robert

*** Moved by Staff to a more appropriate forum. ***

Trainwreck - that's interesting.

Michel (B3 South Europe, 2012) lists as follows:

Page 178 - "Bosnien & Herzegowina"
page 218 - "Bosnien & Herzegowina / Kroatische Post (Mostar)"
Page 243 - "Bosnien & Herzegowina / Kroatische Post / Lokalausgabe Ost-Mostar"
Page 244 - "Bosnien & Herzegowina / Serbische Republik (+ serbian spelling in brackets)"
Page 281 - "Bosnien & Herzegowina / Serbische Republik / Lokalausgabe Doboj"

Blaamand

When I do the Inventory, I will be sure to ask you for HELP !

Cheers !


René

It looks like the Michel catalog treatment is similar to Scott, although Scott does not include the local issues (Lokalausgabe). I assume the Michel listings for "Bosnien und Herzegowina" include what Scott calls the "Muslim Government" (those stamps inscribed with the PTT logo or the BH Posta logo).

Thanks, Robert

Yes Robert, that is correct. A bit strange tough that there is no further details in Michel for which of the Bosnia postal systems are listed at the first/primary one

My general 2015 SG catalog lists BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA this way:

Turkish provinces administered by Austria from 1878
and annexed by her in 1908. In 1928 it became part of
Yugoslavia.
In 1992 Bosnia and Herzegovina declared itself independent.
Hostilities subsequently broke out between
the Croat, Moslem and Serbian inhabitants, which
ultimately led to the establishment of three de facto
administrations: the mainly Moslem Bosnian government,
based in Sarajevo; the Croats in Mostar; and the
Serbian Republic in Pale. Under the Dayton Agreement
in November 1995 the Republic was split between a
Moslem-Croat Federation and the Serbian Republic.

A. AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN MILITARY POST

B. Independent Republic.

I. SARAJEVO GOVERNMENT
The following issues were used for postal purposes in those areas controlled by the Sarajevo government.

II. CROATIAN POSTS
Issues made by the Croat administration in Mostar.

III. REPUBLIKA 5RP5KA
Issued by the 5erb administration based in Pale.

Hope it helps.
Rob

...Bosnia and Herzegovina: very simple and not complicated!

Country (today as "independent"), have an three (3) part (Republics):

Bosnia and Herzegovina (Sarajevo as capital, Muslim part),
Herzeg Bosna (Mostar as capital, Croatian part),
Republica Srpska (Banja Luka as capital, Serbian part).

It is divided to separate this three nationality, and to make some kind of "peace" there.
Each of have own postal system, postal administration and issue (print), own postage stamps.
As is, with printing own stamp, main name of country must be visible and print:
Bosnia and Herzegovina, than in smaller font can be printed name of Republic, as is case on Serbian part:
Republika Srpska,
or on Croatian part where it is inscription:
Federacija Bosne I Hercegovine - HP Mostar,
and on Muslim part it is visible as:
Federacija Bosne I Hercegovine, - BH Posta.

Serbian part, sometimes didn't obey rules, and print just name Republika Srpska, so don't be confused.

Milco - Many thanks for the clarification.

As far as I can tell, Bosnia & Herzegovina is the only country with three UPU recognized postal service "designated operators". Kyrgyzstan has two; the remaining member countries have one.
http://www.upu.int/en/the-upu/membe...untries.html

Robert

Another interesting fact is that it has three presidents: a Bosniak, a Serb and a Croat.

I was born there and I gave up on understanding that country long time ago

...and they don't have a three president, they have one "cheif" from EU, under it come Representative of all three part ..... yes, someone is calling them Presidents, but it is not exactly .... last period is very problematic, and probability that Serbian par (Republika Srpska) will declare independence from Bosnia.... I will show You sample of Republika Srpska, issue, where You will not find name of Bosnia and Herzegovina:

Super interesting history. This is the best part about collecting stamps. I don't have any stamps from BH, but it was still interesting to read this whole thread.

Deprotinator -
...it is very "problematic" territory, mean, from the side of Philately!
Person that wish to collect this part of our small world, will need good knowledge, a lot of literature, and big wish to learn and explore.
Few issues from "classic" period (under Occupation of Austro-Hungary, Third Reich), have an very high price tag, as on catalog same on market.
Personally, have good opinion about any collection that specialize in Bosnia and Herzegovina!
(shown: proof-print of early issue from Austro-Hungary, for use in Bosnia and Herzegovina)