Thursday, September 12, 2024

1941 Banja Luka - $10,000 cover

The Cherrystone auction, featuring the Alfred F. Kugel collection, yielded excellent results for Croatian items. Eleven out of thirteen lots were sold, most fetching more than double their starting prices.

One item stands out in particular: a Banja Luka cover with both stamps in blocks of four addressed to the philatelic bureau in Zagreb. The starting price was $1,000, and the final realization was $7,500. Taking into account the buyer’s premium and, for EU buyers, potential customs duties, the total price approaches $10,000. This undoubtedly makes it one of this period's more expensive Croatian pieces.


1941 Banja Luka local issue, express registered letter, franked with 12 din (express delivery fee 4 din, registration fee 5 din, second weight letter 3 din), sent from Banja Luka (13.VI.41) to Zagreb (14.VI.41).

I also considered purchasing this item but ultimately decided against it because the odd placement of the Express sticker bothered me a lot. I can not shake the feeling that it was affixed later.


It seems the label was adjusted to avoid covering the cancellation. Or am I mistaken?


Wednesday, August 21, 2024

1945 MARIBOR, Largest multiple of Hindenburg

The rarest postage stamp among Slovenian provisional issues is a stamp with an overprint on Hindenburg 4pf. Only 20 sheets were overprinted. It appears on the market almost exclusively as a single piece. I only know two blocks of four and one block of six, which is also the largest known multiple...

1945 Maribor provisional issue, Mi. No. I, block of six with upper margin, position 3-5/13-15. The largest known multiple. Certificate Marinšek.

Wednesday, August 14, 2024

1941 MEĐIMURJE, CTO or fraudulent

When the German Army occupied Međimurje, they halted all postal traffic until the Hungarians assumed control on April 21, 1941. Despite this, approximately twenty letters franked with the Međimurje Issue have been recorded. These letters were processed through regular postal channels and successfully delivered to their addressees. Since all post offices in Čakovec and the entire Međimurje region were closed then, the mail was dispatched from the nearby city of Varaždin.


Two covers bear Međimurje stamps cancelled with Čakovec postmarks on April 12, 1941. After the closure of the Čakovec post office, its cancellers fell into private hands. Consequently, any items bearing these postmarks with dates after April 7, 1941, are considered cancelled to order or fraudulent.

Thursday, August 8, 2024

1941 MEĐIMURJE, unique letter

1941 Međimurje stamps were not sold at post offices. However, the post office in Varaždin accepted and tolerated the use of these stamps. Approximately 20 letters are known to have travelled with these stamps, all of which were sent by Dr Wolf from the Varaždin post office to various addresses in Zagreb.

I acquired a letter that is unique from several perspectives:
  • It is not on Dr. Wolf's law office stationery.
  • It includes a 0.25 Din stamp.
  • It features stamps with both types of coat-of-arms.
  • It contains a stamp with the typical "Hrvatska država" error.
  • Most importantly, it was correctly franked with 2 din for internal use.

1941 Međimurje, local provisional issue, correctly franked with 2 Din for internal usage, Varaždin (18.IV.1941). Certificate Vilfan.

Typical error "Hrvatska država" in horizontal pair with regular stamp (positions 2,3).

Tuesday, July 30, 2024

1945 SPLIT, St.1 stationery

There are three main types of overprinted stationery. The most common is the "King Petar" stationery, which comes in four variants. The other two types are extremely rare. The first is the "Young Petar" stationery, with five used and a few unused examples known. The second is the overprinted NDH stationery, with about twenty unused and only a few used examples known.

1945 Split local provisional issue, registered stationery of type St.1, franked with 80 kn and sent from Šibenik (22.VI.45) to Zagreb (28.VI.45). Very rare usage of stationery of type St.1Certificate Vilfan.

Saturday, July 27, 2024

1945 ZAGREB, imperforated vertically

In 2010, 65 years after their issuance, an important discovery was made: a single sheet of Zagreb 80kn / 2kn was found imperforate vertically between the second and third columns. This is one of the greatest rarities of this issue.

1945 Zagreb local provisional issue, 80 kn / 2 kn, block of four, imperforated vertically. 
Max 10 pairs or 5 blocks of four exist. Certificate Vilfan.

Wednesday, July 24, 2024

1943 IMOTSKI - Official letter

For a short period in 1943, the Imotski post office used a temporary provisional postmark "POŠTA - IMOTSKI" and a handwritten dispatch date... 

Registered official letter, sent from Imotski (11.6.43) to Mostar (22.VI.43) franked with 16kn (7kn for the second weight letter and 9kn for the registration), cancelled with a temporary provisional rubber postmark "POŠTA - IMOTSKI".

Wednesday, July 17, 2024

1945 MOSTAR - Unique combination

Two sheets measuring 10x10 of No. 2 10/0.5 Kn on intaglio paper were overprinted. Initially, both sheets were in the tête-bêche format. Before the overprinting, one sheet was cut down the middle and reassembled in the normal orientation, while the other sheet remained in the tête-bêche format by mistake. As a result, the overprinting process produced 150 stamps with a regular overprint and 50 stamps with an inverted overprint.

The quantities of the three common flaws on the No. 2 intaglio paper are:

  • Demokrntska normal overprint - unique
  • Demokrntska inverted overprint - unique
  • Jngoslavija normal overprint - unique
  • Jngoslavija inverted overprint - unique
  • Jugosiavija normal overprint - 2 pieces (possibly one of them in a tête-bêche pair)

1945 Mostar provisional issue, No. 2, 10/0.5 Kn on intaglio paper with inverted overprint and a typical flaw Demokrntska, overprint position 49. Unique. Ex Tiberio.


Monday, May 20, 2024

1944 SENTA, Letter franked with rare stamps

 It is scarce to see stamps from a set of Big Senta on letters... 

Registered letter, addressed to National Liberation Committee in Ada, franked with 100 f and cancelled with Senta postmark on 26.X.44. Very rare usage of Great Women stamps from a set of Big Senta. Certificate Veličković.

Tuesday, April 23, 2024

1944 Senta - SOLD

The Philadria auction on April 13th witnessed, among other things, an outstanding sale of 1944 Senta items, with all Senta lots surpassing their asking prices. It is gratifying to observe such significant interest among collectors. Here are some notable highlights:

  • Complete set of Small and Big Senta: Asking price €1,800, realized €2,700 (€3,240 with provision).
  • National Liberation Committee's commemorative sheet of type B: Asking price €750, realized €1,600 (€1,920 with provision).
  • Trial print of the entire row (10x1): Asking price €500, realized €750 (€900 with provision).



Monday, February 26, 2024

1945 Postage Due

After liberation, postage was free for military personnel sending or receiving mail. The Post Office typically overlooked cases where this was not evident. However, occasionally, specimens are found where postage due is charged. Early examples with overprinted postage due stamps are rare.

Unfranked letter, sent to Belgrade (13.II.45) where it was censored by Military censor No. 5 and charged a postage due fee of 20 din for inland postage. The place of dispatch is not visible as the postmark is obscured by the stamps. Rere usage of postage due stamps with the 1944 overprint.

Friday, January 12, 2024

1945 SPLIT - A letter to the United States

Shipments abroad were very rare. Most of them were sent to Bari, where a division of the Yugoslav Army was stationed. So far, I have come across only three letters destined for the USA, one of which is registered. This letter is truly remarkable — it was sent from a small island near Šibenik, correctly franked for foreign postage, double-censored, and bears three transit and arrival cancellations.

1945 Split provisional issue, registered letter franked with 70kn (40kn foreign letter rate, 30kn registration fee) sent from Prvić Luka, island Prvić, (20.06.45) to San Pedro, California, USA (11.08.45). Transit through Bari (03.07.45), Naples (06.07.45) and New York (07.08.45). Censored in Šibenik (CENZURIRANO / Br. 6) and by Allied Transadriatic Censorship in Bari (MILITARY CENSORSHIP / 0107 / CIVIL MAILS).

Monday, January 1, 2024

2024

I wish you a happy New Year with rare finds, valuable acquisitions, and endless philatelic adventures.


Thursday, December 28, 2023

1945 ZAGREB, Letter from Slavonski Brod

Zagreb provisional issue was valid for only 6 days, from 25.06.1945 to 30.06.1945. Postage items are very scarce and are sent mainly from Zagreb. Only a few are known to have been shipped from other locations.

1945 Zagreb provisional issue, letter sent from Slavonski Brod (??.VI.45) to Belišće (18.VII.1945) via Našice (10.VII.1945), correctly franked with 80 kn. Extremely rare use from outside of Zagreb. Certificate Ercegović.

Note that the old company name was crossed out and the new one "Slavonija d.d. Slav. Brod" was applied with a rubber stamp.  

Thursday, December 21, 2023

1945 SPLIT - small format letter

In the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, there existed specific circumstances under which letters could be sent at a reduced tariff:

  1. Unsealed envelopes were eligible for shipment at the stationery tariff.
  2. Small envelopes carrying concise messages (such as business cards or greetings) qualified for postage at the rate applicable to stationery or printed matter, depending on whichever was more cost-effective.

Although these regulations were not formally enforced in 1945, a few preserved items indicate that such practices persisted.

1945 Split provisional issue, small format letter franked with 10 kn, sent locally in Dubrovnik (1.VI.45), censored in Dubrovnik (censor cancellation No. 10). A rare example of a letter franked as a stationery.

Saturday, December 9, 2023

Large Vermeil Medal

I am pleased to share that at the philatelic exhibition, Thailand 2023 World Stamp Championship, the manual "Local Issues of Independent State of Croatia" was awarded the Large Vermeil medal (87 points).

I extend my gratitude to everyone who contributed in any capacity to the publication of the manual, especially those who ordered a printed copy or contributed through donations.

If you haven't received the manual yet, you can obtain the digital version for free...


The Philatelic Manual

Local Issues of Independent State of Croatia
Međimurje • Banja Luka • Šibenik I & II • Dalmatia

Aleš Marinšek
2020


Thursday, December 7, 2023

PODLIPA auxiliary post office

The Podlipa auxiliary office of the Vrhnika post office used two different postmarks during the period I am collecting. Both are two-line rectangular postmarks with the inscription "PODLIPA / (VRHNIKA)". The first is a bit smaller and originates from the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, measuring 58.1 x 13.2 mm, while the second appeared during the German occupation, measuring 59.5 x 16.5 mm. There is no information on why the postmarks were changed, but the first was likely damaged or lost. Interestingly, the second postmark stands out with two large five-pointed stars, which was unusual given their association with the Partisans. 

The usage of the auxiliary post office Podlipa was, in general, very rare, but usage was even scarcer during the Italian occupation from 6 April 1941 to 8 September 1943. It was also extremely scarce to find it together with stamps of the Ljubljana Provisional Issue during the Democratic Federative Yugoslavia...

The smaller postmark on the postcard sent from Vrhnika (16.III.36) to Gorenja vas. Period of Kingdom of Yugoslavia.

The smaller postmark on the money order (3.V.41). Very rare usage during the period of Italian occupation. 

The larger postmark on the money order (3.II.44). Period of German Occupation.

The larger postmark on the money order (12.VI.45). Scarce usage together with stamps of the Ljubljana Provisional Issue during the period of the Democratic Federative Yugoslavia.

The larger postmark on the stationery sent from Vrhnika (9.IX.48) to Podnart (10.IX.48). Period of the Federative People's Republic of Yugoslavia.


Tuesday, December 5, 2023

1945 SPLIT, Small Petar

"Small Petar" stationery overprinted with the 1945 Split provisional overprint is among the rarest of postal items of all 1945 provisional issues in the territory of former Yugoslavia. Only five used and two unused are known, so Croatian philatelists call it Croatian "Blue Mauritius".

1945 Split provisional issue, "Small Petar" stationery, sent from Split (21.VI.45) to Zagreb. Censor cancellation No. 3, Split. One of the five known "Small Petar" stationery. Ex Muller. Certificate Vilfan, Zrinjšćak.

1945 Split provisional issue, unused "Small Petar" stationery.

Friday, December 1, 2023

1945 ZAGREB, Official express letter

The Zagreb provisional issue was valid until July 1, 1945. However, usage was tolerated for the official needs of local and state institutions until their stock ran out. That happened sometime in the middle of July. Postage between official institutions was free of charge; only special handling was paid for.

1945 Zagreb provisional issue, express letter sent to the City National Committee locally in Zagreb (10.VII.45), franked with 160 kn for the express delivery. Late usage. Certificate Zrinjšćak.

 
Back side of the cover with the arriving cancellation (12.VII.45). Note that the main post office Zagreb 1 was using an old bilingual Latin and Cyrillic canceller from the Kingdom of Yugoslavia while the post office Zagreb 13 still used the Latin canceller from the Independent State of Croatia. 

Thursday, November 30, 2023

Thailand 2023 WSC

The Thailand 2023 World Stamp Championship is currently underway. Let's wait and see how the visitors and judges respond to my book...



The Philatelic Manual

Local Issues of Independent State of Croatia
Međimurje • Banja Luka • Šibenik I & II • Dalmatia

Aleš Marinšek
2020


Tuesday, November 7, 2023

Late usage of Vuk stationery

At first, this was the latest use of  Vuk 1.50 din stationery I had seen...

Vuk 1,50 din stationery, sent from Lazarevac (11.VI.45) to Belgrade via Valjevo (11.VI.45), where it was censored by the military censor. Late usage.

However, I found one with a significantly later usage date. The usage date is magnificent: 25.XI.46. So, more than 17 months after my previous one...

Vuk 1,50 din stationery, sent from Novi Sad (25.XI.46) to Belgrade. Very late usage.

Tuesday, October 24, 2023

1945 Montenegro - Letter from Šavnik

 Only a few postal items sent from Šavnik in the spring of 1945 are known...

Registered letter, franked with 180 occupation din (letter 80 din, registration 100 din), sent from Šavnik (26.V.45) to Bari Italy, censored by the military censor in Šavnik (cachet: "ВОЈНА ЦЕНЗУРА / == ШАВНИК =="), travelled via Nikšić (28.V.45), Cetinje (31.V.45) and Dubrovnik (2.VI.45) where it was handed over for trans adriatic delivery (cachet: "GL. PRREKOJADR. VOJNA POŠTA JUG. ARMIJE - CHIEF TRANS-ADR. MILIT. MAIL YUG. ARMY"). From Švarc's correspondence. Certificate Veličković. Very scarce item.

Wednesday, September 20, 2023

1944 SENTA, Rubber provisional postmark

The Senta National Liberation Committee's "Book of Postal Items" proves that the rubber provisional postmark was used in Senta in late 1944 and early 1945. 

1944 Senta National Liberation Committee's "Book of Postal Items"

A page from the book showing the rubber provisional cancellations.

1944 Senta provisional issue, letter, properly franked with 30 f, sent from Senta (2.I.1945) to Mol, cancelled with rubber provisional canceller "ПОШТА / __ ★ 194 / СЕНТА" (= "POST OFFICE / __ ★ 194 / SENTA")Latest known use of the Senta issue. Only two Senta letters with this cancellation are known.

Thursday, August 31, 2023

1945 MOSTAR, 50/7 Kn on offset paper

50/7 Kn on offset paper is the rarest paper of the Mostar provisional issue. Only 50 stamps were overprinted on this paper. Price ranges from 700 EUR and up. Therefore, check for a 50/7 Kn on offset paper whenever you see this set. Here are some tips you can follow: 
  • The overprint is shifted to the right and down
  • Offset paper is a non-transparent, white colour with white and shiny gum (see here)
  • The stamp with gum thickness is between 0.085 and 0.095 mm (see here)

1945 Mostar provisional issue, No. 9, 50/7 Kn on offset paper. Only 50 stamps could exist. Ex Tiberio. Note that the overprint is shifted to the right and down - all 50 stamps have the same shift, so this could be a first indicator that you may have this rare stamp.

Tuesday, August 29, 2023

Balkanfila 2023

I will participate in the XIX International Philatelic Exhibition Balkanfila in Belgrade. I prepared two exhibits: the manual "Local Issues of Independent State of Croatia" (see here) and the new, one-frame exhibit, "1944 Senta Provisional Issue." See you in Belgrade from 12. to 14. October ...

1944 Senta Provisional Issue



Wednesday, June 14, 2023

The earliest Transadriatic censorship

The Transadriatic route was established sometime in the early summer of 1944. Censorship was a joint task between Yugoslav and Allied forces. The earliest known Transadriatic censored item is a letter shown below...



1944 Transadriatic mail, letter sent from Bari (10.VII.44) to Split, censored in Bari by censor No. 603. The sealing label "Examined by Allied Transadriatic Censorship" is used. At that time, Split was still occupied by the German army, so partisan couriers organized local delivery to recipients. The recipient's name and address have been blacked out for security reasons before delivery.
The earliest known Transadriatic censored item.

Thursday, February 16, 2023

Unusual use of Ustasha stationery

After liberation, the communist authorities strictly prohibited occupation symbols, including the Ustasha flag and coat of arms. Therefore, it is very unusual to see a 1942 commemorative stationery with a large Ustasha coat of arms used after the liberation.

Commemorative stationery for the 1942 exhibition of aircraft models sent from Zagreb (22.V.45) to Negotin, Serbia, by military post and censored by the military censor. Unusual use of stationery with Ustasha symbols under the communist regime.

Saturday, February 11, 2023

Getting help from AI

I was at a local philatelic meeting today. As always, it was nice to meet fellow philatelists and browse through piles of letters, stationery and stamps. 

The lively event at the meeting.

Among other things, I also found interesting military stationery from the Second World War sent from a 331st Special Work Battalion. 

Military stationery sent from the 331. Compagnia Speciale Lavoratori (= 331st Special Work Battalion).

On the other side of the stationery is written date 12.9.43 and the illegibly written name of the city. I started looking for information about this battalion, but since it is a narrow area and a rare example, I needed help finding something concrete. I could not even decipher the name of the city. So I decided to try the use of artificial intelligence (AI). Below is a conversation between me and an OpenAI chat system that impressed me.

A conversation between me and the OpenAI chat system helped me discover the city from where the stationery was sent. 

Tuesday, August 23, 2022

What's going on?

I am getting a lot of questions about what is happening on this blog. Yes, lately I have plenty of other activities so that philately may be a bit neglected. It will probably be like this for some time. However, I am still available for certification and questions over email.


Sunday, May 29, 2022

1945 MARIBOR, Base stamp error

I recently got a stamp with an interesting error...

1945 Maribor provisional issue, No. 8 with missing "1" in "12". Signed Ercegovič.

Missing "1" and some red paint inside "2" suggest that there was some dirt on the cliché during the printing. This mistake is unknown to me. I think it is an occasional error fixed by cleaning up the cliché as soon as it was noticed.