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.  

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.

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

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.

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.

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.