Peru is the third largest country in South America - Brazil and Argentina are larger. The first white people to reach Peru were led by the Spanish adventurer Francisco Pizarro in the 1520's. The Spanish conquered Peru and made it a Spanish colony in the 1530's. It remained a Spanish Colony till Peru declared its independence from Spain in 1821. From the time of Spanish conquest Spanish was the only official language. In 1975 the Peruvian government made Quechua, the language of the Inca, an official language in addition to Spanish.
Stamps were issued in Peru by the Pacific Steam Navigation Company in 1857
The first stamps to be issued by Peru was in 1858
Large parts of Peru were occupied by Chile between 1879-1882, including the capital Lima, during which time stamps of Chile were in use. As a result many towns issued their own local stamps. During this period the Peruvian government made its seat at Arequipa. Stamps were also issued in Arequipa during the civil war of 1884-85 by the rebels.
Peru Philatelic Study Circle
PPSC is a virtual group, currently with members in USA, Peru, South & Central America, Canada and Europe.
New Issues - get all the latest new issues direct from the Philatelic Bureau in Peru
(the website is in Spanish)
Servicios Postales del Peru
Sub-Gerencia de Publicidad y Filatelia,
Av. Tomás Valle s/n. Cdra. 7,
Los Olivos, Lima 39,
Selected Pages on the Stamps and Postal History of Peru
Naval Cancel from Peru
Review: Peru Civil Aviation
Stamp Issues of Peru
Rainer's Peruvian Local's Pages - Catalogue
Cross Reference Lists
Literature on the Stamps and Postal History of Peru
by Herbert H. Moll, 1999, 100+ pages, published by UPSS
A priced specialised catalogue covering envelopes, postal cards, letter cards, wrappers in addition to the view card issues.
The Peru-GB Combination
The 1858 Medio Peso Error of Colour an
Pacific Steam Navigation Company: The use
of its stamps
Filatelico y Numismatico del Peru
Palacio de la Exposicion