The history of mail and postage stamps of Chad, a state in Central Africa, covers the stages of development of mail and postage stamp issues in Chad during the period of colonial dependence on France since 1904 and during the period of the modern independent Republic of Chad since 1960. Chad has been a member of the Universal Postal Union since 1961. Until 1915, Chad's post used French Congo stamps and then Oubangui-Chari stamps. In 1922, the colony received its first postage stamps of its own - stamps from the French Middle Congo overprinted "Tchad" ("Chad"). The first series included 18 stamps in denominations ranging from 1 centime to 5 francs.