The introduction of the Postal Service backdated to 1894, the 9th of March, by Imperial Edict, five years after his installation as the King of Ethiopia. Ethiopost was established almost two decades after the birth of UPU (1875).

This day marks the historic occasion of the start of the Djibouti-Addis Railway construction. Hence,135,000 sets, a set of seven stamps were issued (the Menelik Issue), in 1894, 24th of November depicting Emperor Menelik (1844-1913), and three depicting the heraldic lion.