# Bicycles on stamps

The depiction of bicycles on stamps began in 1899 with a Cuban special delivery stamp, although unofficial (local or cinderella) issues had been previously released in Germany (1887/8), in the United States (1894), and in Australia (1896). The number of bicycle-related postal items (stamps, postal stationery, etc.) exceeds 30,000 as of 2024. As a thematic topic, bicycles are notable for the wide variety of subjects that they are used to illustrate.

## Definition

The definition of what constitutes a bicycle stamp is open to interpretation. A bicycle stamp has one or more of the following characteristics:
* It depicts a human-powered cycling machine. This includes a whole (or part of) bicycles, tricycles, unicycles, toy cycles, tandems, rickshaws, exercise/standing bicycles, etc. It excludes powered or unpowered wheelchairs and motor-driven or motor-assisted cycling machines, e.g. motorcycles, mopeds.
* It depicts a bicycle or cyclist in a social context. For example, a cyclist in a street scene, cycling as an energy-efficient, green, mode of transport, or cycling promoting road safety.
* It depicts a building used specifically for cycling sport, i.e. a velodrome.
* It depicts a person notable for being a cyclist, e.g. a winner of the Tour de France, or cycling events at the Olympic Games.
* It depicts the process of manufacturing a bicycle, or a notable bicycle manufacturer (individual or firm).
* It depicts the word "bicycle" in the local language, even if the image of a bicycle is not included. The word triathlon without an image of a bicycle is excluded.
The following types of material are excluded (although they may also be collected by bicycle stamp enthusiasts):
* Postal stationery, e.g. a postcard depicting a bicycle with a non-bicycle stamp affixed.
* Cinderella, local, private or personal issues, i.e. unofficial stamps.
* Non-postal stamps, e.g. revenue stamps such as the French 1940s "Impôt sur les vélocipèdes".
* Stamps issued by non-existing/unrecognized countries and/or in excess of actual postal requirements.

## Early issues

The first bicycle stamp of the 20th century was a 1900 stamp issued for local postal delivery during the siege of Mafeking, depicting Cadet Sgt. Major Goodyear on a bicycle. The United States issued a special delivery bicycle messenger stamp in 1902. Bulgaria issued a cycling stamp as part of a set commemorating the Balkan games of 1931. In 1935 the USSR issued a bicycle stamp to commemorate the World Spartacist Games. Denmark issued a stamp showing King Christian X on horseback as part of his silver jubilee celebrations in 1937; in the background of the street scene are three cyclists.
These early issues illustrate the wide variety of subjects depicted on bicycle stamps.
* Siege of Mafeking local stamp 1900
* United States special delivery bicycle messenger stamp 1902
* Bulgaria Balkan games racing cyclists stamp 1931
* USSR World Spartacist Games 1935
* Denmark street scene 1937

## Depiction of cycle sports

Cycle sports include:
* Indoor
** Cycle racing
** Velodromes
* Outdoor
** Event racing, e.g. cycling to raise money for charities
** Tour racing, e.g. the Giro d'Italia

## Depiction of non-sport uses

Subjects depicted on non-sport bicycle stamps include:
* The history of the bicycle
* Bicycle industrial manufacturing
* Bicycle mail transportation and postal delivery
* Bicycles for commercial delivery
* People transportation e.g. by rickshaw
* Bicycle military use
* Bicycles as toys
* Bicycle tourism
* Bicycles in street scenes
* Bicycles to symbolize alternative, energy-efficient transport
* Bicycles depicting or encouraging road traffic safety