Bolivia was the successively the home of the Tiawanaku culture during the 7th to 11th centuries, the Aymara indians from the 11th to the 15th centuries, and the Inca from the 15th to the 16th centuries. European influence began with the conquest of the Inca by the Spanish under Francisco Pizarro in the 1530s. Bolivia defeated the Spanish in 1825.
     Bolivia lost Atacama province to Chile in 1884 and in 1939 it lost most of the Gran Chaco to Paraguay.

     The first stamp to show a map of Bolivia was issued in 1928 (a set of three stamps with the same design). A second map design was issued in 1931.

     In 1933 an airmail stamp with a map of Bolivia and an airplane was issued, and a set of 14 stamps with a map of Bolivia was also issued.

     In 1945 a set of 5 stamps showing a map of showing the first international Bolivian mail flight from La Paz to Tacna, Peru by Penagra Airlines was issued, and also set of 8 stamps showing a map of Bolivian airlines.

     In 1954 both regular postage and airmail stamps were issued with agricultural products over a background map of Bolivia. This map does not include the Chaco that Bolivia and Paraguay disputed.