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.
Monday, February 26, 2024
1945 Postage Due
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.
Monday, January 1, 2024
2024
Thursday, December 28, 2023
1945 ZAGREB, Letter from Slavonski Brod
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:
- Unsealed envelopes were eligible for shipment at the stationery tariff.
- 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.
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
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...
Tuesday, December 5, 2023
1945 SPLIT, Small Petar
Friday, December 1, 2023
1945 ZAGREB, Official express letter
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
Aleš Marinšek
2020
Tuesday, November 7, 2023
Late usage of Vuk stationery
Tuesday, October 24, 2023
1945 Montenegro - Letter from Šavnik
Only a few postal items sent from Šavnik in the spring of 1945 are known...
Wednesday, September 20, 2023
1944 SENTA, Rubber provisional postmark
Thursday, August 31, 2023
1945 MOSTAR, 50/7 Kn on offset paper
- 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)
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 ...
Wednesday, June 14, 2023
The earliest Transadriatic censorship
Thursday, February 16, 2023
Unusual use of Ustasha stationery
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.
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...
Sunday, May 8, 2022
1945 MARIBOR, Partial & reverse overprint
Although it is most likely that the entire margin of one sheet was folded, so all ten stamps from the right edge were partially overprinted on reverse, this is the only piece I have seen so far...
Thursday, March 31, 2022
The Manual
I am very proud that the manual is now included in the library fund of the Royal Philatelic Society London...
Monday, February 28, 2022
London 2022
I just returned from the London 2022 International Stamp Exhibition. Very glad as this was my first philatelic gathering after the pandemic, and another Large Vermeil medal for my 1941 Međimurje exhibit.
My exhibit
Sunday, January 2, 2022
My philatelic plans for 2022
- Edit and sort parts of the collection that are not yet consolidated
- Finish the new book
- Make an 8-frame exhibit
Tuesday, December 21, 2021
Saturday, December 18, 2021
1943 ŠIBENIK, Early usage
Thursday, December 9, 2021
LJP, 4444
Monday, December 6, 2021
1945 MOSTAR, Mirrored Z
Three different rubber censorship cachets were used in Mostar. One was "★VOJNA / CENZURA" (= "★MILITARY / CENSORSHIP"), the other "ЦЕНЗЫРИСАНО!" (= "CENSORED!") and the third "CENZURA" (= "CENSORSHIP").
The last one is interesting because it contains mirrored letter Z. It is unknown whether this was an error in the preparation of the rubber cachet or whether the cachet was of Italian origin where the mirrored Z represents S as CENSURA in Italian means CENSORSHIP.