• Visit Date: 26.01.2019 (postcards stamped 03.02.2019)
• Visited Post Office: Corner of Av. da Independência & R. de Moçambique (closed now)
• Mailing Cost: 60,000 STD / 60 STN (≈ 2.45 EUR)
• Postcard Availability: Available at the post office
• Delivery Time: 18 days to Germany

São Tomé and Príncipe is a small island nation in the Gulf of Guinea, off the west coast of Africa. Comprising two main islands and several islets, it is one of the least-visited but most breathtaking destinations in the world. A former Portuguese colony, São Tomé and Príncipe gained independence in 1975 and has since been known for its lush rainforests, volcanic landscapes, and rich biodiversity. With a population of around 220,000, the country thrives on cocoa production, pristine beaches, and ecotourism.

Postal History and Stamps of São Tomé and Príncipe

The first post office was likely established in the late 19th century during Portuguese rule. The country’s first postage stamps were issued in 1869, featuring the standard “Crown” design used in Portuguese colonies, symbolizing the monarchy’s authority.

After gaining independence in 1975, São Tomé and Príncipe developed its own postal system. The country joined the Universal Postal Union (UPU) in 1977, allowing it to participate in international mail exchanges. The national postal service, Correios de São Tomé e Príncipe, was officially established on January 1, 1982. Since then, the country has issued numerous stamps celebrating its history, culture, and biodiversity.

A unique fact about São Tomé and Príncipe is that it remains one of the few countries in the world without a postal code system, making its mail service distinctive in the modern era.

Sources: Wikipedia, Post Wikipedia, Correio, stampworldhistory.nl

Our Visit to São Tomé Post Office

Landing in São Tomé on a Saturday, our layover this time was a little bit… oddly planned. It’s just how the flights lined up for our small group, but it did mean we were scheduled to leave this sleepy, but friendly, capital city on Monday. Now, as is the case in most countries, the post office is closed on Saturdays and Sundays.

We’d actually sent emails to the post office a couple of weeks prior, hoping to organize buying some stamps, but we did not get an answer. So we just hoped we would be able to find them in one of the local souvenir shops or hotels. No luck.

We still decided to make the pilgrimage to the General Post Office on Saturday. Locked up tight, of course. But as we peered around the corner, we saw a woman filling water containers using a hose. A man was helping her. I dug deep into my rusty Spanish – English hadn’t gotten us anywhere.

I was trying to find out if they knew anyone who worked at the post office who might be willing to come and sell us some stamps – we wanted about 50 postcards. It’s a small city; you’d think someone would know a postal worker, or at least know someone who knows a postal worker. The initial response was a firm “Não, não!” But I kept at it, and something must have clicked.

After a few phone calls made by the woman, she motioned us into the back of their car, already occupied by water containers. We drove to another post office that we didn’t even know existed – also closed, naturally, on weekends. But no problem! A postal worker had been called and was on his way to open it up for us. To our relief, there was a good selection of postcards and stamps.

As soon as the postal worker arrived, a young man appeared on a motorbike with some change, because only local currency was accepted.

With our stamps and postcards secured, we headed back to the hotel, where our experienced group leader wondered if we’d broken into a government building to get them. Since we’d bought stamps generously, other members of the group joined in and sent some postcards home as well.

Later, we dropped our postcards in a mailbox, and as the stamp on the postcard indicates, they started their journey about 8 days later!

Turns out, with a little perseverance and a lot of luck, even the seemingly impossible is possible – especially when it comes to the universal need to send a postcard. Who knew a water containers and a willingness to stumble through a language barrier could open doors (and post offices!) in São Tomé? It’s a reminder that travel is often as much about the unexpected encounters as it is about the planned destinations. And in this case, it gave us a unique and memorable postal adventure to share.

The next time you’re chasing down stamps in a remote corner of the world, remember our story – and maybe brush up on your Spanish (or Portuguese!) just in case.

Until next time!

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