Compendium of postage stamp issuers (Ba–Be)
Each "article" in this category is a collection of entries about several stamp issuers, presented in alphabetical order. The entries themselves are formulated on the micro model and so provide summary information about all known issuers. See the page for details of the project. Baden. Became part of Germany in 1871. Baghdad (British Occupation). British occupation forces issued Turkish stamps overprinted BAGHDAD IN BRITISH OCCUPATION. Bahamas. Self-government was introduced on January 7, 1964. The islands became an independent member of the Commonwealth of Nations on July 10, 1973. Bahawalpur. Pakistan stamps in  use since 1949. Bahrain. A group of islands 20 miles east of the Arabian peninsula and joined to Saudi Arabia by causeway. The largest is Bahrain itself. The site has been inhabited for over 5000 years. Bahrain was under British protection 1861–1971 and is now fully independent. Indian and British postal administration was used until 1 January 1966 when Bahrain opened its own service. Bahrain used Indian stamps 1883–1933. Since then it has had its own stamps but also used general issues of British PAs in Eastern Arabia during shortages in the 1950s. Issues during 1933–1947 were Indian stamps overprinted  BAHRAIN. During 1948–59 British stamps were used, again overprinted BAHRAIN. The first stamps exclusive to Bahrain were issued on 1 July 1960. Banat Bacska (Romanian Occupation). Romanian occupation of Hungary. The area was subsequently split between Romania and Yugoslavia. Bangkok (British Post Office). British PO issued 1867 Straits Settlements stamps with an overprint of B. Bangladesh. Formerly East Pakistan. Baranya (Serbian Occupation). Serbian occupation of Hungary. Barbados. Self-government was attained on 16 October 1961. Became an independent member of the Commonwealth of Nations on 30 November 1966. Barbuda. Barbuda is one of the islands making up the state of  Antigua and Barbuda. It had a separate issue in 1922 of overprinted Leeward Islands stamps (11 values). Apart from this, it used stamps of Antigua and Leeward Islands concurrently until 1968. During 1971–1973, Antigua stamps were in sole use. Barbuda has had its own stamps on a regular basis 1968–1971 and since 1973. Barbuda stamps are valid in Antigua and vice versa. Basle. Swiss Cantonal Administration issue on 1 July 1845 was of one stamp only. This was valued at 21/2 rappen and inscribed STADT POST BASEL. Basutoland. Used Cape of Good Hope stamps 1880–1933 and became Lesotho in 1966 . Batum (British Occupation). Batum is a Georgian Black Sea port which had been captured by Turkey in April 1918. It was occupied by British forces December 1918 to 6 July 1920 when it was included in the Republic of Georgia. Separate stamps were issued by Batum in 1919. In addition, several issues of both these and Russian types were overprinted BRITISH OCCUPATION. Bavaria. Stamps are inscribed BAYERN. Bechuanaland. Previously Bechuanaland Protectorate; now Botswana. Bechuanaland Protectorate. The territory north of the Molopo river which became Botswana in 1966. The first issues 1888–1889 were overprinted Great Britain, British Bechuanaland and Cape of  Good Hope types. During 1890–1897, British Bechuanaland stamps were used. From October 1897, overprinted Great Britain were used until 12 December 1932 when specific stamps for the Protectorate were first issued. Beirut. Stamps were issued by British, French and Russian post offices. The British office was open 1873–1914: one issue of 1906 was particular to this office which normally issued British Levant. The French office was open 1840–1914: one issue of 1905 was particular to the office which otherwise issued French stamps (to 1885) or French Levant (1885–1914). The Russian office was open 1857–1914: particular stamps issued in 1879 and  1909–10; normally used Russia or Russian Levant. Other offices were opened by Austria, Egypt, Germany and Italy. The German office was open 1900–14 and used German Levant. The Italian office was open 1873–83 and used the ESTERO overprints. The Austrian office used Austrian Levant and the Egyptian office used Egypt. Beirut (British Post Office). The office was open 1873–1914 and normally used stamps of British Levant. One issue on 2 July 1906 was particular to Beirut. This consisted of one stamp with an overprint of 1 Piastre, the stamp used being the twopence Edward VII definitive (green and carmine) that  was first issued in Britain during September 1905. Beirut (French Post Office). The office was open 1840–1914 and normally used stamps of France (to 1885) or French Levant (1885–1914). One issue of 17 January 1905 was particular to Beirut. This consisted of a single French stamp overprinted by 1 Piastre Beyrouth. Beirut (Russian Post Office). The office was open 1857–1914 and normally used stamps of Russia or Russian Levant. Occasional issues in 1879 and again in 1909–10 were particular to Beirut. These were Russian Levant types overprinted by Beyrouth and a value. Belarus. Formerly part of the Russian Empire and  the USSR, Belarus became independent in 1991 and began its own postal administration in 1992. It has previously been called Byelorussia or Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic.