1945 SARAJEVO, Stationery

Sarajevo local provisional issue stamps were on sale for only three days, from 4.7.1945 to 6.7.1945, when they were withdrawn from the post office counters. On the other hand, stationery postcards were used from Jun and until the whole stock was used up in April 1946. Therefore, there are quite a lot preserved stationery postcards available on the market and it is important to know which are more valuable than others - here is a quick guide:

• stationery postcards of type III (see here)
• stationery postcards with censorship marks send before 2.7.1945
• stationery postcards sent abroad or sent from the outside of Bosnia
• the combination of the above

1945 Sarajevo local provisional issue, stationery type Ia, sent from Ljubljana (14.07.1945) to Sarajevo. Rare usage from the outside of Bosnia.

1945 SLOVENIA, Forgeries

All three Slovenian provisional issues (Ljubljana, Maribor and Murska Sobota) have been overprinted with the same overprint composition that was adjusted only to the size and orientation of base stamps.

Recently, somebody showed me a negative to be used for etching the cliches, but under the high magnification it turns out that it is a fake. See more about the forgeries here.

Negative

Enlargement shows dotted structure that is typical of today's printers.

1941 UŽICE, Stationery

The Republic of Užice was a short-lived liberated Yugoslav territory and the first liberated territory in World War II Europe, organized as a military mini-state that existed in the autumn of 1941 in the western part of the Serbia. The Republic was established by the Partisan resistance movement (see more). On the liberated area postal service was functioning fairly normal. In addition to German occupation stamps, some provisional attempts were in use too.

1941 Republic of Užice, provisional stationery.

1945 SARAJEVO, Largest known multiple

No complete sheets of any value have been preserved. The largest known multiple is a half sheet of 2 Din / 2 Kn on the offset paper. Analyzing typical errors of base stamps shows that this half sheet is a left part (positions 1-95) of fourth printing cylinder plate. 

1945 Sarajevo local provisional issue, the largest known multiple.

White spot just behind the right side of the coat-of-arms - position 1.

White spot below the "U" in "KUNE" - position 55.

1941 MEĐIMURJE, SF Exhibit

This single frame exhibit is the most complete display of stamps, specialties and postally used items of the Unofficial Local Issue of Međimurje. The exhibit is based on my research showing that two main types of coat-of-arms were used, each with two subtypes and that a total of ten different clichés were assembled during the four separate printings.

This is a 2nd revision that was reorganized and supplemented with some additional items. The exhibit contains especially rare material, some of them unique and exhibited for the first time. Among others, I would highlight:

• a unique complete set in block of four from the second printing
• one of two known 0,25 din se-tenant vertical pairs with "Hrvatska država"
• one of two known letters franked with “Hrvatska država” error stamp
• a unique Easter greeting card sent from the post office in Čakovec

The First Croatian WWII Local Issue
Unofficial Local Issue of Međimurje

Digital version of the exhibit is available here.

1945 SPLIT, Letter from Biograd na Moru

I finally found a letter sent from Biograd na Moru and cancelled with the censor cancellation No. 8...

1945 Split local provisional issue, letter sent from Biograd na Moru (7.IV.45) to Niš - Serbia, free of charge as the sender was a military person. Censor cancellation No. 8 (Biograd na Moru).

Rare cancellation "BIOGRAD NA MORU 2" with removed Cyrillic inscription.

Philately at wholesale

Ha, ha, ha ... now you can show your wife who is the boss!

12 meters of shelving - a single lot at the next DBA auction.

1944 ŠIBENIK, Letter to Zagreb

Due to military activities in the hinterland of Dalmatia the communications were unreliable and postal traffic remained poor and intermittent. Most of the mail traveled by the German military vehicles or trains via Split and Mostar or via Knin and Bihać. 

1944 Šibenik, local provisional issue, registered letter, franked with Mi. No. 5 in block of four (14 kn) and charged with 2 kn war tax, sent from Šibenik (2.VIII.44) to Zagreb (17.VIII.44) and traveled via Split (9.VIII.44). Letter reached the destination only after fifteen days.

Back side of the letter.

1945 SARAJEVO, Cancelled stamps

Sarajevo provisional stamps have been sold on a single post office in Sarajevo from 4th to 6th of July, 1945. Therefore, it is not surprising that cancelled stamps are extremely rare - less than ten have been recorded, including three affixed to the only known letter and two affixed to the only known letter fragment. 

1945 Sarajevo local provisional issue, a fragment of a registered letter, sent from Sarajevo (9.VII.45), franked with 6 din (2 din for letter and 4 din for registration). The only known letter fragment. Certificate Vilfan.

1945 SPLIT, Military mail from Lika

Split issue was intended only for the area of Dalmatia. Letters and stationery cards from other areas are rare and valuable. There are known some examples of postage items used in southern Lika (Gospić, Otočac and Grašac) as well as some very rare items sent by the military mail.

1945 Split local provisional issue, stationery of type St.2IIa, sent by the military mail of 6th Lika Division from Otočac (9.VI.45) to Osijek. Military censor cancellation in Cyrillic. Only two such items are recorded. 

1945 SPLIT, Transadriatic mail

Transadriatic mail was established in 1944 and continued in 1945. The majority of shipments were sent by military persons, who were exempt from postage. Therefore, it is preserved more letters without stamps as those with stamps. Especially rare are private letters with full postage.

1945 Split local provisional issue, Transadriatic registered letter, properly franked with 50 kn (20kn for letter and 30kn for registration), sent from Split (30.III.45) to Bari. 

The backside of the letter with the ATC censors cancellation No. 602 and label "Examined by Allied Transadriatic Censorship".

1941 MEĐIMURJE, The famous Easter card

At the beginning of the April war in 1941, immediately after the withdrawal of the Yugoslav Royal Army and before the occupation of the Hungarians, a group of Croatian patriots produced the first Croatian WWII local issue. Printing was done with remaining Yugoslav "King Petar" stamps by the "Kraljek & Vezić" printing house in Čakovec between 12th and 15th of April, 1941.

Stamps of this issue were never sold at the post offices nor were they officially recognized. The German army did not allow any postal traffic until the Hungarians occupied Međimurje and reopened postal service on April 21st, 1941. However, it is known that about 20 letters were actually sent from the post office in Varaždin and delivered to addresses in Zagreb as well as locally.

The Easter greeting card shown below is a unique postal item that was actually sent from the post office in Čakovec. From the message on the postcard is obvious that it was written by the owners of the “Kraljek & Vezić" printing house on April 8th, just before the proclamation of the Independent State of Croatia (NDH) and before stamps were overprinted.

The postcard was overprinted on top of the previously affixed stamp and mailed through Hungarian postal authorities on April 21th. The stamp was not recognized but postage due was not charged.

1941 Međimurje, unofficial local provisional issue, unique Easter card with the overprint on the previously affixed stamp, sent from Čakovec(21.IV.1941) to Zagreb. Certificates Ercegović & Vilfan.

1943 MONTENEGRO, Nationaler

In September 1943, after the capitulation of Italy, Germans took over the Montenegro. In November 1943 they overprinted Italian occupation stamps with the inscription: Nationaler / Verwaltungsausschuss / 10.XI.1943. This issue is known as "Nationaler".

10 Lire stamp is one of the most expensive items of the Yugoslav philatelic area!

1943 German occupation, regular and air mail issues, "Nationaler". Certificate Brunel.

1941 MEĐIMURJE, Dr. Wolf's letter

Dr. Wolf was one of the main promoters for the formal recognition of this issue. He sent a dozen letters to the various protagonists of civil administration, post office leaders and known philatelists.

Dr. Wolf's letter sent to Mr. Bernšic, the head of the XIV technical 

terrain section at the post office in Varaždin.

Content

             Please find attached a report about the Yugoslav stamps with overprint "Međimurje" as well as the copies of the documents related to this issue with a request to publish them.

            In Zagreb are spreading rumors that this is just a private issue what is not true, so it would be very important that the Directorate P.t.t. in Zagreb officially recognize these stamps and to include them among the others first issues of the Croatian independent state.

1945 SPLIT, Picture postcard

Quite a few Split-issue stationery are available, but picture postcards with this issue stamps are surprisingly rare; half a dozen are known, and only one was sent registered.

1945 Split local provisional issue, registered picture postcard, adequately franked with 30 kn, sent by a military person from Split (2.VI.45) to Zemun (8.VI.45). Censor cancellation No. 3, Split.

The front side has a beautiful photo of the Split shore.

1944 Ravna Gora, Chetnik letter

It is known that Chetniks have operated in some areas of central and southwest Serbia even long after the Red Army and Partisans liberated Belgrade (20th of October 1944). Therefore, it is not unexpected that post office in Natalinci accepted a letter franked with the Ravna Gora issue still in November 1944. The basis for acceptance was a decree of postal usage of Ravna Gora stamps issued by commander Miloš V. Marković on 5th of April 1944 in which postage rates were declared as follows: standard letter: 1 din, letter with greater weight: 2 din and registration: 4 din.

1944 Ravna Gora, Chetnik issue, letter, correctly franked with 1 din, sent from Natalinci (11.XI.1944) to nearby village Rudnik. Very rare! Certificate Krstić.

1943 SPLIT, My new article

Acta Philatelica Nova is an annual almanac with quality articles of the Croatian philatelic corpus. Recently, a new Acta for the 2015 was released. Among others, you will find my article: Independent State of Croatia - 1943 Unreleased Local Issue for Dalmatia. The article brings all relevant information about the issue with some new findings, including the analysis of overprint with 32 plate errors.

ACTA PHILATELICA NOVA 2015

Croatian philatelic almanac

Independent State of Croatia

1943 Unreleased Local Issue for Dalmatia

To order please contact me at alesmarinsek67@gmail.com

1945 MARIBOR, Late usage

In an official circular letter of 27.06.1945 all post offices in the Gorenjska and Styria region were instructed that from 02.07.1945 onwards they shall cease to sell and use stamps of the Maribor provisional issue. 

1945 Maribor, local provisional issue, letter, correctly franked with 12 pf, sent from Bled (2.VII.45) to Ljubljana. Late usage.

1945 LJUBLJANA, Letter from two periods

Letter, correctly franked with 50 cent. and cancelled with a bilingual stamp LAIBACH 1 / LJUBLJANA 1 from the period of German occupation, was sent the day before the liberation of Ljubljana, on 8th of May 1945. The letter was censored and delivered just under the new military government, sometime prior to the suspension of all postal traffic that happened on 12th of May.

Letter sent loco Ljubljana under the German occupation (8.V.45) but censored and delivered by the Partisans after the liberation of Ljubljana (9.V.45). The acronym "V. K. P. Lj. 1" most likely means "Vojna Komanda Pošta Ljubljana 1" - "Military Command Post office Ljubljana 1".

1944 SENTA, Third phase proof

As already stated, overprinting was done row by row in multiple phases: first five-pointed star in red color and then, on top of it, inscription: 8.X.1944. / Jугославија in black color. For values: P1, XIII, XIV, PI, PII and PIII the third overprint phase was also required.

PIII, showing all three phases.

1944 Senta local provisional issue, third phase proof for PIII. Positions A1-10. This is the only example of third phase proof known to me.

1945 LJUBLJANA, Overfranked letter

I found an interesting letter where everything looks authentic and correct except the rate that was used. Until the 01.07.1945 the tariff for an ordinary letter was 1 Lire and not 1,50 Lire! It could be that it was simply a mistake of the sender, although there is also the possibility that it was a mistake of the postal staff.

It is important to know some circumstances at that time:

a) In an official circular letter of 26.06.1945 new postal rates were announced and new DFJ dinar was introduced. A tariff for an ordinary letter was set as 1,50 Din.

b) In an official circular letter of 27.06.1945 post offices in the Ljubljana region were instructed that they will have to use stamps of the Ljubljana provisional issue as long as they are not supplied with new federal stamps. The exchange ratio was set as 1 Lire = 1 Din.

So, taking a) and b) plus a general situation of that time with full of changes and turbulence, someone can easily imagine that the mistake could be also done by the postal worker who charged 1.50 Din = 1,50 Lire.

1945 Ljubljana, local provisional issue, letter franked with 1,50 Lire, sent from Ljubljana (27.VI.45) to Samobor. Censored by the military censor in Croatia. 

1945 SARAJEVO, Sent from abroad

Recently I found a stationery sent from Trieste what at first appeared to be something impossible. However, thanks to Mr. Novaković, one of the most reputed experts in this field, it turns out that stationery is an authentic postal item used as a reply postcard. Furthermore, it turns out that this is the only known instance of postal usage of 1945 Sarajevo provisional issue sent from abroad.

1945 Sarajevo local provisional issue, postal stationery, type Ia, used as a reply postcard (risposta), sent from Trieste (3.7.45) to Bosansko Grahovo. Unique item.

1945 GUŠTANJ, Porto provisorium

Stamps of Maribor provisional issue were used internally as porto provisorium before and after the end of general validity. 

1945 Guštanj porto provisorium, letter sent from Ljubljana (29.6.45) to Guštanj (2.7.45) with arrival postage due stamps (24 pf) cancelled with "Guštanj," / "PORTO / -2.7.45".

1945 Guštanj porto provisorium, letter sent from Ljubljana (2.7.45) to Dravograd, forwarded to Guštanj with arrival postage due stamps (24 pf) cancelled with "Guštanj," / "PORTO".

1945 MOSTAR, Souvenir cards

On the occasion of the International Labour Day (May 1st, 1945), the postal department of the National Liberation Committee issued 50 sets of souvenir cards. One full set of 20 stamps was affixed to five cards.

1945 Mostar local provisional issue, complete set on five souvenir cards. Signed Marjanović.

1944 ŠIBENIK, "T" provisionals

Every so often, you will find something interesting that was hidden for a very long time... Recently, I bought items from the ex Zorić collection where there was also a cover with stamps with additional "T" overprints. Most probably a private "experiment", however, it looks like that cover was actually traveled.

1944 Šibenik, local provisional issue, registered letter, franked with stamps with additional "T" overprint, sent loco Šibenik (21.III.44).

Stamps enlarged.

1941 BANJA LUKA, Raised "o"

Two typical overprint errors exist: raised "o" in "Slobodna" (position 10) and "Basanska" instead of "Bosanska" (position 23).

1941 Banja Luka, provisional issue, complete set in block of four. Positions 4-5/9-10. Typical error raised "o" in "Slobodna" at position 10.

Note: if you are not familiar with the raised "o" error, see this.

NDH Ministerial Albums - sale

I am selling some of my NDH Ministerial Albums...  

• 1942 Red Cross - Issued 25 albums, only two or three with white covers - SOLD
• 1943 Pavelić - Issued 15 albums - SOLD
• 1943 Legionnaires - Issued 15 albums - SOLD
• 1944 War victims - Issued 25 albums - SOLD

Albums are great rarities of Croatia philately, they are complete and in very fine condition.

Feel free to contact me if you are interested...

1944 SENTA, Award for the manual

I am happy to announce that the Senta manual received the large vermeil at the national philatelic exhibition "Koprivnica 2016".

Senta 1944

First Yugoslavian Local Provisional Issue

The Manual

1945 MARIBOR, Hindenburg

Hindenburg 4 pf with the Maribor provisional issue overprint is the rarest stamp of all 1945 Slovenian provisional issues.

1945 Maribor local provisional issue, 4 pf Hindenburg in block of four.

Certificate Bar and Veličković.

1945 SARAJEVO, Complete set in block of four

Only four complete sets in block of four have been recorded so far. Today I found out where is located one of them. So, one is with me, one is in London and the third one is in Essen. Location of the fourth set is still unknown.

1945 Sarajevo local provisional issue, complete set in block of four. Certificate Ercegović and Veličković.

1943 ŠIBENIK, War propaganda stamp

The rarest of the overprinted values are:

• 1 Lire - 2 pieces
• 5 Cent porto - 11 pieces
• 10 Lire - 17 pieces
• War propaganda stamps (different) - 49 pieces (altogether)
• Packet stamps (pacche) - a few pieces

1943 Šibenik local provisional issue, hand overprint on 30 cent war propaganda stamp.

An exceptionally rare item.

1941 BANJA LUKA, One of the most rare FDC

The literature states that the philatelic club in Banja Luka issued only ten FDC envelopes, make this as one of the rarest FDC on the territory of the former Yugoslavia.

1941 Banja Luka, provisional issue, complete set on the Banja Luka philatelic club cover, cancelled 21.IV.41 - first day cover. Certificate Ercegović.

1945 SPLIT, 30 kn red color proof

Until now the following proofs have been known:

• one full sheet of 10 kn in red color
• one full sheet of 10 kn in black color
• one full sheet of 30 kn in green color, tête-bêche
• one-half sheet of 30 kn in black color
• one-half sheet of 30 kn in dark green color
• one-half sheet of 30 kn in green color

Now I can confirm that there is also:

• another full sheet of 10 kn in red color
• another half sheet of 30 kn in green color
• and the most striking finding: the half sheet of 30 kn in red color

1945 Split local provisional issue, overprint proof with a value of 30 kn in red color, complete half sheet.

1941 BANJA LUKA, A mystery of position 10

For some time I have been dealing with the dilemma regarding the typical error on position 10. Reading the "Croatian Philately" book by Velimir Ercegović, "Croatian Local and Unofficial Issues" handbook by Mladen Vilfan as well as the Michel Kroatien Spezial Katalog 2004 you will find following about typical errors:

a) Raised "B" in "Bosanska" (position 10)
b) "Basanska" instead of "Bosanska" (position 23)

While I had no problem with the second, the raised "B" was a real mystery! The fact is that there is no raised "B" in "Bosanska" but raised first "o" in "Slobodna". It looks like that Ercegović made a mistake while all others just automatically took this as granted.

Position 10 - Raised "o" in "Slobodna".