Correos, the Spanish Postal Administration has, in one form or another, existed for more than 300 years.
During the Middle Ages, the post belonged to the crown. There was a long period of messengers, royal couriers, runners and of important positions related to correspondence, like the Main Post Office in the court of the Spanish Catholic Monarchs. From 1506, Philip I bestowed the postal monopoly on Francisco Tassis who gave us the system and organisation that he himself had used in Germany.
From the 18th century, Philip V made Correos into a state service available to all. Other important figures include men such as Rodríguez de Campomanes who from 1755 standardised charges, introduced home deliveries, created the post offices and improved the road network.
The first Spanish postage stamp was issued in 1850, bearing Queen Isabella II. This resulted in reduced delivery costs (the service being paid for by the sender rather than the receiver) and an increase in deliveries. 18,500,000 deliveries were made in 1850!
In 1992 it ceased to be a Government Department and became an independent commercial organisation, and five years after that it became a state company. In June 2001 the company became a Public Limited Company.
