Ministry of the Interior: Department of the Royal Mail Service



The Department of the Royal Mail Service is a branch of the Ministry of the Interior, and is charged with overseeing the timely and efficient delivery of mail both in and out of the Kingdom. The Royal Mail Service was originally established in 1228 (164 AP) under the reign of Queen Kelembra II, and composed its own separate ministry of the Royal Government. The Royal Mail Service flourished and was well-known for its efficiency, until it was disbanded in 1322 (258 AP) when King Johannin allowed the Kingdom to become a province of the Republic of Terramarc. During those brutal years of suppression, the Royal Mail Service was officially disbanded in favor of the Terramarcian postal union, though it did continue to operate in secret as a communication tool for the resistance. Upon the declaration of independence on May 30, 1362 (298 AP), His Royal Majesty, King Bruno II, recreated the Royal Mail Service as an official department of the Ministry of the Interior. The current head of the Service is Mail Chancellor James Massok, Jr., appointed by HRM on June 6, 1362.


Shown below are examples of the various postage stamps currently in use by the Department of the Royal Mail Service.

Domestic Stamps --- Contiguous States Mail Stamps --- Old Continent Mail Stamps --- Overseas Mail Stamps

Domestic Mail Stamps

This is the inaugural stamp issued by the Royal Mail Service immediately following the declaration of independence last year. The design was suggested by His Royal Majesty, and contains the symbol of royal authority (a gold crown overlaid by a sword) on the Kingdom's traditional black and red colors. First issued on June 10, 1362, at the price of 15 Orb'als per stamp. Good for use on any letters or postcards mailed within the Kingdom.

The second stamp issued by the Royal Mail Service was this one, known as the "Flag Stamp." The design was suggested by the Eastern Zartanian Vexillological Institute (VITZ) as being reminiscent of the Eastern Zartanian national flag, and therefore could be used to help draw the people of the Kingdom closer together in support of their government. The stamp was first issued on June 21, 1362, at the domestic mail price of 15 Orb'als per stamp. Sales through the first two months, though, were not promising, so the stamp has been removed from regular sales. There are still hundreds of thousands of sheets of this stamp still unsold, so buy now if you are interested.

In August of 1362, a third stamp was issued by the Royal Mail Service for domestic use to make up for the low sales of the "Flag Stamp." This stamp is the first in the planned series of art stamps featuring artworks by prominent Eastern Zartanian artists. The artist chosen to be on the first stamp in the series was Kelly Briana, a royally acclaimed and renowned artist whose artworks grace the Ministry of Foreign Relations Building in Imperial City and several of the Kingdom's overseas diplomatic missions thanks to her current engagement to Foreign Minister Randall Young. The artwork featured on the stamp is Miss Briana's latest, entitled "Lighthouse." The stamp went on sale on August 17, 1362, and has been an instant success. More stamps in the series are planned for this year.
[The artwork shown on the above stamp really was done by my fiancee. She drew it one afternoon using the MS Paint program on my computer. If you'd like to see the original, click here!!]

Contiguous States Mail Stamps

Shortly after the founding of the Department of the Royal Mail Service it was decided that mail being sent to contiguous states (those bordering the Kingdom of Eastern Zartania) would be given a discounted rate from the usual foreign mail. The first of the "Contiguous Stamps" to be printed was this one shown here. The design was suggested by Melissa Rust, Deputy Foreign Minister. There is no real significance to the yellow background. The design in the upper left corner is a display of the national symbols of Eastern Zartania, Whitlam, and Northern Gronk. Issued on July 7, 1362, for a price of 3 jah-dir, the first of the Contiguous Stamps was a great success, and the first of an expected bananza for the Royal Mail Service.

Old Continent Mail Stamps

On September 26, 1362, the Royal Mail Service issued its first stamp for mail being sent to states on the Old Continent other than the contiguous ones. The design is a rather simplistic one, with a white map of the Old Continent shown on a black background. Future designs for this stamp are being kept under wraps, and it is unsure at this point when a new stamp design might be forthcoming. This stamp can be purchased for 4 jah-dir 2 pieces.

Overseas Mail Stamps

The Royal Mail Service has issued a special stamp for mail being sent to overseas states. The design, suggested by commander-in-chief of the air force Commander-General Nikolas Vogle, has a light blue background, indicating the sky in which the mail will be travelling. On the background is a white falcon flying toward a gold globe, symbolic of the Royal Mail Service's commitment to deliver the mail anywhere in the world with speed and efficiency. First issued on June 30, 1362, at the price of 1 Crown, the Royal Mail Service has said that it's not planning on issuing a new one for several years.


[I'm always looking for new designs to put on upcoming stamps. If you have one that you think would look good on the next Eastern Zartanian stamp, please send it to me. I'll make sure you get credit for the stamp if used, it'll be posted here on the homepage, and you'll be made an honorary Eastern Zartanian citizen! ]

Last updated on February 11, 299.
©1999 Randy Young