achieved on 1 January 1986 when Aruba was granted the status of internal autonomy within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The first stamps were issued on the same date. Aruba was scheduled for full independence in 1996. Dates 1986 – Capital Oranjestad Currency 100 cents = 1 gulden Main Article Postage stamps and postal history of Aruba See also Netherlands Antilles Arwad Refer Ile Rouad Ascension Used GB stamps 1867–1922. Dates 1922 – Capital Georgetown Currency (1922) 12 pence = 1 shilling; 20 shillings = 1 pound (1971) 100 pence = 1 pound Asch (Sudetenland) There was an issue in Asch (now Aš) by Germans in September 1938, not unauthorized by Czechoslovak authorities which would soon lose control after the Munich agreement. Refer Czechoslovakia Astypalaea Island in the Dodecanese which belonged to Italy 1912–1945 and used general issues of Aegean Islands (Egeo) throughout that period. Also issued own stamps inscribed STAMPALIA, which is the Italian name of the island. Dates 1912 – 1932 Currency 100 centesimi = 1 lira (Italian) Refer Aegean Islands (Dodecanese) Ataman Semyonov Regime (Transbaikal) This was based at Chita until it was overthrown by forces of the Far Eastern Republic. Dates 1920 only Capital Chita Currency 100 kopecks = 1 Russian rouble Refer Russian Civil War Issues Aunus (Finnish Occupation) The Russian town of Olonetz was occupied by Finland during the Russian Civil War. Finnish stamps were issued with an overprint of AUNUS. Dates 1919 only Currency 100 penni = 1 markka Refer Finnish Occupation Issues Australia Before 1913, the individual states had their own issues. Dates 1913 – Capital Canberra Currency (1913) 12 pence = 1 shilling; 20 shillings = 1 pound (1966) 100 cents = 1 dollar See also New South Wales; Queensland; South Australia; Tasmania; Victoria; Western Australia Australian Antarctic Territory Dates 1957 – Currency (1957) 12 pence = 1 shilling; 20 shillings = 1 pound (1966) 100 cents = 1 dollar Austria Dates 1850 – Capital Vienna Currency (1850) 60 kreutzer = 1 florin (1858) 100 kreutzer = 1 florin (1899) 100 heller = 1 crown (1925) 100 groschen = 1 schilling (1938) 100 pfennige = 1 reichsmark (German) (1945) 100 groschen = 1 schilling (2002) 100 cent = 1 euro See also Lombardy & Venetia Austria-Hungary The Austrian Empire was formed in 1804 to anticipate the dissolution in 1806 of the ancient and maligned Holy Roman Empire by Napoleon. Austria, home