Bosnia and Herzegovina existed as part of the area today known as Bosnia. After 1878, the region was occupied by the Austro-Hungarian Empire, but technically it still belonged to Turkey. In 1908, the area officially became a province of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Political tensions between the two countries deteriorated and on 28 June, 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne was assassinated and this event led to World War I.

The first stamp issued for Bosnia and Herzegovina was in 1878. In 1906, stamps inscribed “Bosnien Herzegowina” were issued. Stamps in this name were only issued until 1918 when the area became part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenians.