The first stamps of Eritrea were overprinted stamps of Italy issued on 1 January 1893

Egyptian stamps were used at Massawa between 1869 and 1885 when Italian post offices were established

The first stamps specifically for Eritrea were stamps inscribed COLONIA ERITREA and were issued in 1910

During the second World War, British forces occupied Eritrea and used British postage stamps overprinted M.E.F. (Middle East Forces)

From 1942 to 1952 the stamps used were overprinted B.M.A. ERITREA and then B.A. ERITREA, to reflect the change from British military to British civil administration

Eritrea, Ethiopia and Italian Somaliland formed Italian East Africa on 1 June 1936

Stamps were issued on 7 February 1938 and until 1941