The Aegean Islands, a historically and geographically significant archipelago in the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea, witnessed a series of individual stamp issues from 1912 to 1932. During this period, as various political changes and territorial realignments occurred, several islands within the Aegean region took the initiative to release their distinctive postage stamps.

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  1912-1913:

  Amidst the Balkan Wars, the Aegean Islands experienced shifts in sovereignty, leading to the issuance of stamps by islands such as Samos, Lemnos, and others.

  Prior to being seized by the Italians, the Dodecanese operated under a limited postal service under Turkish control. Italian interests in the Aegean region trace back to the 1897 blockade of Crete, and the establishment of an Italian civilian post office at Canea in 1900 marked a significant development. The Italian presence intensified when an Italian fleet began occupying the Dodecanese archipelago in May 1912.

  Before the official release of Italian government stamps, an Autonomous Administration known as “Commissione del popolo” on the island of Calino took the initiative to issue postage stamps for use across all the islands. In May 1912, three denominations were released by this Autonomous Administration but found exclusive usage on philatelic covers with favor cancels. Subsequently, on September 10, 1912, a decree by the Commissioner for Civilian Affairs of the occupying forces authorized the overprinting of two Italian definitive stamps (25c and 50c) with the inscription EGEO. These overprinted stamps were made available for purchase in the islands on September 22.

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  1913-1919:

  Ongoing political transformations, including the First World War and the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire, influenced stamp releases by islands such as Chios and Rhodes.

   

  Italian stamps without overprints were released in January 1916. 

   

  Before the official release of Italian government stamps, an Autonomous Administration known as “Commissione del popolo” on the island of Calino took the initiative to issue postage stamps for use across all the islands. In May 1912, three denominations were released by this Autonomous Administration but found exclusive usage on philatelic covers with favor cancels. Subsequently, on September 10, 1912, a decree by the Commissioner for Civilian Affairs of the occupying forces authorized the overprinting of two Italian definitive stamps (25c and 50c) with the inscription EGEO. These overprinted stamps were made available for purchase in the islands on September 22.

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  1920s:

  In the aftermath of World War I and the Greco-Turkish War, islands like Patmos and Kalymnos issued stamps reflecting changing political affiliations and administrative structures.

   

  Katelorizo (Castelrosso) joined the Dodecanese in 1921, having been under French occupation since December 27, 1915. Subsequently, on July 11, 1922, Italian stamps overprinted with the island’s name were issued. The Italian occupation concluded on July 24, 1923, officially designating the archipelago as an Italian colony. On May 19, 1929, a definitive series comprising nine values was introduced for Rhodes, featuring the inscription RODI in Italian.

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  1923-1932:

  The Treaty of Lausanne in 1923 further redefined borders and sovereignties in the Aegean region. This period saw the continuation of individual island stamp issues as islands adjusted to new geopolitical realities.

   

  On October 20, 1930, a series paying tribute to the Italian hero Ferrucci was issued, with each island receiving a set featuring the overprinted name. Simultaneously, a general release of the same set occurred with the overprint ISOLE ITALIANE DELL’EGEO. The 20th anniversary of the Italian takeover of the Dodecanese was commemorated through a ten-value set inscribed RODI. Subsequently, in 1932, there was another release for individual islands, but thereafter, only Rhodes continued to have its own stamps, with the remaining islands utilizing the general issues.

• 1932:

  By the early 1930s, the issuance of individual stamps by Aegean Islands gradually waned as some islands became integrated into larger administrative entities.