Many nations have depicted ships on stamps, since ships have long been a means of transporting the mail over long distances. Ships are also symbols of economic or military prowess, and in some cases specific ships are associated with events of historical significance to the issuing nation.

The protocol for listing ships is similar to that for people on stamps. If a specific ship is listed, it is by name, and others are by type and/or era. While this list could conceivably include any sort of watercraft, the emphasis is on large seagoing vessels.

Abu Dhabi 1964-1972

• patrol boat (1971)

Aden 1937-1965

• dhow (1937)

French Territory of the Afars and Issas 1967-1977

• freighters (1973)

Afghanistan none 1871-1970

La Aguera none 1920-1922

Aitutaki 1903-1976

• sailing ships in harbor (1920)
• HMS Bounty (1974)
• HMS Resolution (1974)

Ajman none 1964-1971

Alaouites none 1925-1930

Albania 1913-1969

• Aurora (1957)
• ship with soldier et al (1963)
• freighter Teuta (1963)
• freighter Vlora (1963)
• galleys (1963)
• 18th century sailing ship (1963)
• 19th century sailing ship (1963)

Alexandretta none 1938

Algeria 1924-1969

• freighter unloading cargo (1939)
• battleship Richelieu (1949 airmail)
• aircraft carrier Arromanches (1949 airmail)

Allenstein none 1920

Andorra none 1928-1990

Angola 1870-1990

• sailing ship (1949)
• cruiser Dom Carlos I (1967)
• corvette Mindelo (1967)
• mail ships (1970)
• galleon (1972)

Angra none 1892-1905

Anguilla 1967-1975

• Magninime (1971)
• Aimable (1971)
• HMS Duke (1971)
• HMS Agamemnon (1971)
• Glorieux (1971)
• HMS Formidable (1971)
• HMS Namur (1971)
• Ville de Paris (1971)
• HMS Canada (1971)
• HMS St Albans (1971)
• Santa Maria (1973)

Anjouan none 1892-1912

Annam and Tonkin none 1888

Antigua 1862-1969

• HMS Victory (1932)
• Sir Thomas Warner ship (1932)
• steam packet in harbor (1962)
• 17th century sailing ship (1967)
• freighter, plane, trucks (1969)

Argentina 1858-1970

• Santa Maria (1892)
• Nina (1892)
• Pinta (1892)
• ships at La Plata (1933)
• training ship Presidente Sarmiento (1939, 1947)
• rescue ship Uruguay (1953)
• frigate Hercules (1957, 1969)
• caravel (1960)
• sailing ships at Battle of San Nicolas (1961)
• icebreaker General San Martin (1965)
• clipper Mimosa (1965)
• schooner Invencible (1967)
• training ship General Brown (1967)
• frigate Libertad (1968)
• schooner Juliet (1970)

Armenia none 1919-1995

Aruba none 1986-1991

Ascension 1922-1971

• sailing ship (1924)

Australia 1913-1969

• sailing ship, Sullivan Cove, Hobart (1953)
• sailing ship and Abel Tasman (1963)
• Roebuck and William Dampier (1963)
• Investigator and Matthew Flinders (1963)
• 17th century sailing ship (1966)

Austria 1850-1959

• S.S. Maria Anna (1937)
• S.S. Uranus (1937)
• S.S. Oesterreich (1937)

Azerbaijan none 1919-1993

Azores none 1868-1924