Bosnia & Herzegovina is a country is South-East Europe bounded by Croatia, Serbia, and Montenegro. 
There is also a 15-mile Adriatic Sea coastline. The country has a total land area of just under 20,000 square miles and a population of around 4.6 million – the population density is well above average at over 200 per square mile. The country consists of the plains in the Northeast and Southern regions with the rest hill and/or mountainous. The area covering present day Bosnia & Herzegovina was part of the Ottoman Empire until 1878 when the ottomans ceded the administration of the province to Austria-Hungary following the Berlin treaty. The Austro-Hungarian rule continued until after World War I which commenced when Serb nationalist youth Gavrilo Princip assassinated the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, in Sarajevo. After 1918, Bosnia & Herzegovina joined what became Yugoslovia in 1929. The province witnessed horrific war-crimes during World War II following cessation of Bosnia to Croatia following Nazi invasion of Yugoslavia. It became an independent country again in 1992 following the break-up of Yugoslavia. The GDP (ppp) stands at a modest $4500 although it has one of the highest income equality ranks – military industries and other public sector employment along with farming accounts for this. Politically, the country is divided into two entities - Republika Srpska (Serb - 49% of total area) and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Bosniak-Croats - 51% of total area), the result of ethnic wars following independence and the Dayton peace agreement of 1995. The Brcko district, a third entity in the north created in 2000 out of land from both entities is a prosperous multi-ethnic area and represents the hope of the future of the country.
The first stamps of Bosnia & Herzegovina were a set (Scott #1 to #10, no #3) of nine in single colors showing the Coat or Arms released between 1879 and 1894. A mint copy of the set is very expensive at around $1000 while a Used set can be had for less than $60. The Coat of Arms design continued until 105 – three other sister-sets were released during this period – some of the lower denominations are especially affordable and can be had for a few cents (example - Scott #11 to #16) while others are valuable and fetch several hundreds (example – Scott #19 and #20. Other significant stamp issues of Bosnia & Herzegovina during the period till 1918 include:
A set (Scott #30 to #45) of sixteen stamps released in 1906 showing local scenes in single colors and Emperor Franz Josef in the highest denomination stamp. The designs show View of Deboj, View of Mostar, Piva Gate Jajce, Narenta Pass and Prenj River, Rama Valley, Vrbas Valley, Old Bridge or Mostar, Bey's Mosque of Sarajevo, Donkey post, Jezero and tourists pavilion, Mail Wagon, Bazaar at Sarajevo, Postal Car, Saint Luke's Campanile of Jajce, and Emperor Franz Josef. The set catalogs for around $25 MNH or Used.
A long set of twenty one stamps released between 1912 and 1914 showing Emperor Franz Josef (Austro-Hungary). The set (Scott #65 to #85) catalogs for around $170 MNH or Used. The highest denomination dark-ultra-gray 10K stamp is the most valuable at around $100.
An important semi-postal set released in 1916 (Scott #SP1 and #SP2) showing a wounded soldier and a blind soldier being helped by a woman. The designs capture the reality of the times very well. The set is very affordable and can be had for around $2 MNH or Used.
A set of eighteen stamps (Scott #105 to #122) released in 1917 showing Emperor Karl I. The set catalogs for around $40 MNH and $60 Used.- After independence in 1992, the three entities that form the country of Bosnia &
Herzegovina issued their own stamps. One significant issue of Bosnia & Herzegovina after independence is the set of seven stamps (Scott #210 to #216) showing the Main Post Office of Sarajevo. The designs aim to capture the tumultuous civil-war period – the demolished interior, pre-civil war exterior, and post-war exterior serve as a constant reminder of the destruction caused by ethnic conflicts. The set catalogs for around $6 MNH or Used.
A stamp released on February 10 1994 to mark the formation of Bosnian-Croat Administration. The beautiful stamp (Scott #11) in multicolor catalogs for around $4 MNH or Used.
A stamp released on May 25 2003 to mark the World Wine Day. The stamp (Scott #102) catalogs for around $2 MNH or Used. It uses a simple design showing different types of cork-screws.
A beautiful set of three stamps released in 1994 showing monasteries. The set (Scott #37 to #39) show the following designs - Tavina Monastery, Mostanica Monastery, and Zitomislic Monastery. The catalog value is around $15 MNH or Used.- Another beautiful Costumes Set of four stamps released in 2001. The set (Scott #145 to #148) catalogs for around $5 MNH or Used.
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