Today marks 80 years since the release of the Banja Luka local issue.
Shortly after assuming powers, the Ustasha Command - which had several well known Banja Luka collectors in its ranks - considered the possibility of overprinting postage stamps. Politically motivated three-line overprint read "Slobodna / Bosanska / Hrvatska" (= "Free / Bosnian / Croatia") implying the liberation of northern Bosnia and the new status of the area as the Bosnian part of the new Croatia. Banja Luka Philatelic Society issued "First Day Covers" with Society's logo to the upper left, and both values cancelled with Banja Luka counter code 6 canceller (Cyrillic inscription removed) for 21st April 1941. Given these covers and the absence of provable alternative dates, Monday 21st April 1941 should be considered the date of issue.
1941 Banja Luka local issue, Banja Luka Philatelic Society's FDC, 21.IV.41. Only about ten such covers exist.
