The history of Sudan's mail and postage stamps is characterized by three main stages: the period of Anglo-Egyptian occupation of Sudan (with the issuance of its own postage stamps in 1897 - 1952), the period of self-government (transition to independence) in 1953 - 1955 and the post-independence period in 1956 year. Each of these stages was accompanied and marked by the release of its own postage stamps. Sudan has been a member of the Universal Postal Union since 1956.