[1] Plans for the conference had been drawn up by Heinrich von Stephan, Postmaster-General of the German Reichspost[1] who demanded from the neutral Switzerland the organization of an International Postal Congress following the end of the French-German war of 1870–1871.

[1] The purpose of the treaty was to unify disparate postal services and regulations so that international mail could be exchanged freely.

The signatories of the treaty were the German Empire, Austria-Hungary, Belgium, Denmark, Egypt, Spain, the United States, France, Great Britain, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, the Russian Empire, Serbia, the United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway, Switzerland, and the Ottoman Empire.

World Post Day is now observed on 9 October recalling the date on which the Treaty was signed.

The Universal Postal Union Congress of 2021 taking place in Abidjan brought about another significant change to the Treaty of Bern.