Constitutions That Found Their Way onto Postage Stamps

For many nations, a constitution is more than a legal document. It marks the moment when a society defines how it will be governed, how power will be shared, and which values it chooses to uphold. That is why anniversaries of constitutions are often commemorated with stamps, first day covers, and special postmarks.

1710 – Ukraine: Pylyp Orlyk's Constitution

On 5 April 1710, in the town of Bendery—then part of the Ottoman Empire, now in Moldova—the Cossack leadership elected Pylyp Orlyk as Hetman in exile. On the same day, they adopted the Pacts and Constitutions of the Rights and Freedoms of the Zaporizhian Host, a document consisting of a preamble and sixteen articles written in Ukrainian and Latin that outlined the structure of a future Cossack state.

It is often described as Europe's first written constitution. Historians, however, make an important distinction. Rather than serving as the constitution of an existing state, it was a political agreement between the newly elected Hetman and the Zaporizhian Host, setting out principles for a future independent government.

Its historical significance remains remarkable. The document shows that, as early as the beginning of the eighteenth century, Ukrainian political thought was already exploring ideas of limited executive power, representative governance, and collective decision-making.

1814 – Norway: A Constitution and a Nation

In 1814, following Denmark's defeat in the Napoleonic Wars, Norway was ceded to Sweden under the Treaty of Kiel. Christian Frederik, the Danish prince serving as governor of Norway, sought to give Norwegians the opportunity to determine their own future. He convened a constitutional assembly to establish the country's system of government.

Delegates were elected across Norway, and 112 representatives gathered at the Eidsvoll Manor, north of present-day Oslo. After five weeks of deliberations, they adopted the Constitution on 17 May 1814 and proclaimed Norway an independent kingdom, electing Christian Frederik as its king.

Today, 17 May remains Norway's National Day. Instead of military parades, the celebration is centred around children's processions, while many Norwegians wear traditional bunad costumes.

Although Norway entered a union with Sweden only a few months later, it retained its Constitution, parliament, and broad internal autonomy. When Norway gained full independence in 1905, the Constitution of 1814 remained in force. In 1914, the centenary of the Constitution inspired Norway's very first commemorative postage stamp, depicting the assembly at Eidsvoll.

1787 – United States: A National Icon

After the American Revolutionary War, the United States decided to replace the Articles of Confederation with a new Constitution. Alexander Hamilton helped bring about the Constitutional Convention, while James Madison became the principal architect of the document itself.

During the summer of 1787, delegates spent nearly four months debating behind closed doors in Philadelphia. Despite the heat, the windows remained shut, and participants agreed to keep their discussions confidential, allowing them to negotiate freely and reach compromises.

The U.S. Postal Service has commemorated the Constitution on several occasions. The 150th anniversary in 1937 featured a stamp depicting the signing of the Constitution, while the bicentenary in 1987 was marked with another commemorative issue and numerous special cancellations. Today, the Constitution remains one of the country's enduring national symbols.

on 4 July, the US will be celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, and to mark the occasion, Ukrposhta has issued a postage stamp.

1791 – Poland: A Constitution That Outlived the State

On 3 May 1791, the Great Sejm adopted the Constitution of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. It is widely regarded as Europe's first modern written constitution and the world's second after that of the United States.

The Constitution remained in force for only a short time. Within a few years, the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was partitioned by Russia, Prussia, and Austria, disappearing from the political map of Europe.

Even so, the Constitution of 3 May became a lasting symbol of Polish statehood. After Poland regained independence in 1918, Constitution Day became a national holiday. Although it was abolished during the communist period, it was restored in 1990.

Poczta Polska has issued numerous commemorative stamps honouring the Constitution, featuring the document itself, Jan Matejko's famous painting The Constitution of 3 May 1791, and Warsaw's Royal Castle.

1949 – Germany: The Basic Law

On 23 May 1949, West Germany adopted the Grundgesetz (Basic Law). It was deliberately not called a constitution, as it was intended to serve as a temporary framework until Germany could one day be reunited.

Following reunification in 1990, the Basic Law became the constitutional foundation of the unified German state.

Its opening words, "Human dignity shall be inviolable," reflect the lessons learned from the Nazi dictatorship and continue to define Germany's democratic values.

Over the years, Deutsche Post has marked major anniversaries of the Basic Law with commemorative stamps celebrating democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.

1996 – South Africa: A Constitution for a New Democracy

In December 1996, President Nelson Mandela signed South Africa's new Constitution, which entered into force on 4 February 1997. It marked the culmination of the country's peaceful transition from apartheid to democracy.

The Constitution guarantees equality before the law regardless of race, gender, origin, or religion, while the Constitutional Court became one of the defining institutions of the new South Africa.

South African Post Office has commemorated this milestone through stamps and philatelic souvenirs featuring the Constitution's preamble, the Constitutional Court building in Johannesburg, and symbols of human rights.

1996 – Ukraine: The Constitution of an Independent State

During the night of 27–28 June 1996, Ukraine's Parliament held a continuous session that lasted nearly twenty-four hours. After months of political negotiations, lawmakers adopted the Constitution of Ukraine—the Basic Law of the independent state.

The Constitution was approved by 315 members of parliament. It established the country's constitutional framework, guaranteed fundamental rights and freedoms, affirmed Ukrainian as the state language, and defined the principles of local self-government. It became the legal foundation of independent Ukraine, which had declared independence in 1991.

Since then, 28 June has been celebrated as Constitution Day of Ukraine—the country's only public holiday established directly by the Constitution itself.

To mark the 30th anniversary of the Constitution, Ukrposhta is issuing the 30 Years of the Constitution of Ukraine philatelic collection, continuing a tradition shared by postal administrations around the world. Through stamps, postal services preserve the memory of the constitutional milestones that have shaped nations and their democratic development.